She shook her head, irritated he’d mentioned that twice now. “No, Ryker, I wouldn’t. I like Duncan and the Callahans I’ve met so far, but there’s only you. I love you. And if you don’t feel the same way, I understand. But don’t confuse what I’m feeling with gratitude.”
He looked down at her, but remained quiet. She had no idea what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Despair began to build inside her, till finally she saw a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. “Okay, I won’t.” He swept her close and kissed her, showing her without words how he felt.
Maybe it was too early for him to say the words. That was fine with her. She loved him enough to wait.
“Hey! You’re trespassing on my property!” A cranky man shook his fist at them from the doorway of his house.
Ryker broke off the kiss and grinned at the guy. “Sorry, sir. We’re leaving.”
The man glared at them as Ryker took her hand and led her through the gap in the trees to the backyard of her house.
“Ryker?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you have a family?”
He hesitated, and her stomach clenched. “No, I was raised in foster care, until the army became my family. Now I have friends, who are like my family.”
Her heart ached for him. “You deserve so much more.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve done okay. My friends are awesome.”
He was awesome. And he didn’t seem to realize it. “You are an amazing man, Ryker. I love you.”
He stopped and turned toward her, capturing both of her hands in his. “I love you, too, Olivia. So much it scares me. I know meeting you was part of God’s plan for me and I hope you feel the same way.”
“Oh, Ryker.” She was touched by his reaffirmation of his faith. “I do. God sent me a wonderful man to protect me, and to care about me. I feel so blessed to have met you.”
“Ditto.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t want to rush you, but I’d like to keep seeing you. And Aaron. I want to be there with you every day, until your baby is born, and every day afterward.”
Her eyes misted. “I’d like that.”
“Mommy!” Aaron’s voice cut through the moment and she turned in time to see her son running toward her. Aaron clutched her around the legs, until Ryker scooped the boy into his arms. Then Ryker stepped close, putting his arm around her waist so that Aaron was cradled between them.
“I missed you.” Aaron leaned over to wrap his arms around her neck.
“I missed you, too.” She met Ryker’s gaze over Aaron’s shoulder and knew this was the first day of their new life together.
As a family.
EPILOGUE
Five weeks later
Ryker placed his arm around Olivia’s shoulders as she continued to push. “Come on, sweetheart. You can do it.”
“She’s a stubborn one,” Olivia said between gritted teeth.
“Hey, at least he almost waited until his due date.” The baby’s gender was an ongoing joke between them. Personally he didn’t care one way or the other, but Olivia was convinced she was having a girl.
“You’re doing great,” Dr. Regner said encouragingly. “One more big push and your son or daughter will be born.”
“That’s what you said last time.” Olivia sounded annoyed, but he understood that this was just part of the process.
“You can do it. Let me know when you’re ready.” He waited for her to signal another contraction was coming.
“Now!” Olivia let out a groan as she pushed. Ryker did his best to support her although how in the world any woman survived childbirth was beyond him. He was sweating as much if not more than Olivia.
“There she is!” The baby immediately started to wail. “A beautiful baby girl!” Dr. Regner wrapped the baby in a cloth and brought her over to Olivia.
“I was right.” Olivia looked down with awe at the baby cradled against her chest. “A girl. We have a girl!”
“She’s beautiful, and so are you.” Ryker blinked against the threat of tears. “You did it, Olivia. Aaron has a baby sister.”
“He’ll be disappointed,” she said with a wry laugh.
“Nah, he’ll get over it.” Ryker kissed her, then put his hand against the baby’s head. “I love you so much, Olivia.”
“I love you, too.” She looked up at him. “I’d like to call her Julia, in honor of your foster mother.”
His eyes burned with emotion. “I’d like that.”
For a long moment he gazed down at Olivia and their daughter. “Olivia, will you please marry me?”
It wasn’t the first time he’d asked her. Technically it was the third, not that he was counting. Okay, yes he was. She’d always told him she loved him, but had wanted to wait until after the baby was born to commit to marriage.
Granted, she probably hadn’t meant the exact moment the baby was born, but hey, why wait?
She looked up at him and smiled. “Yes, Ryker. I’d be honored to marry you.”
Her agreement filled him with joy. “I love you.” He kissed her again, knowing he finally had a family of his own, one he’d treasure every single day.
For the rest of their lives.
If you enjoyed this book, don’t miss these other stories from Laura Scott:
Shielding His Christmas Witness
The Only Witness
Christmas Amnesia
Shattered Lullaby
Primary Suspect
Protecting His Secret Son
Soldier’s Christmas Secrets
Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from Hunted by the Mob by Elisabeth Rees.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Ryker and Olivia’s story. I just knew as I finished Hawk’s book that Ryker and Olivia deserved to have their own happily-ever-after. And please know, that I haven’t forgotten about Duncan. I’m hard at work plotting his story, too.
Thank you so much for the kind messages you’ve sent through my website or through social media. I’m blessed to have a truly amazing group of readers!
If you enjoyed this book, I would very much appreciate if you might take a moment to leave a review. These are very
