“Is that why you moved here? Someplace so small and out of the way?”
“Partly, and partly because I want Sadie to have a happy, wholesome place to grow up, where she can run and play and picnic.”
“She does love a picnic,” I said.
“I have a great deal of money, some of which I’ve set aside for Sadie’s future. I had a successful career as a broker and also had a trust fund from my parents. I don’t live a flashy life here, but the money isn’t a secret. It’s just not something I advertise is all. And I absolutely did not take the baby away from Jenna.”
“I never thought you did. But I’m sorry I doubted you. The way you ran off with no explanation, the secrets and the way you dismissed me was really hurtful.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said, and he took my hand. “You had every right to doubt me and question my intentions toward you after the way I acted. But I never want to be away from you again. I’m in love with you, Rachel. I never want to hurt you. You mean so much to me, to both of us.”
I blinked back tears, almost unable to believe it was true, that Max really loved me and was saying so right out loud. I swallowed hard and decided to be brave. I took the hand that held mine and pressed it to my belly.
“You mean so much to both of us, too,” I whispered.
“What?” he said, his eyes meeting mine with dawning understanding.
“I mean that I love you, and that you mean everything to me and to our baby.”
“You’re pregnant?” he asked incredulously, his face transforming, so much joy and love beaming from him.
“I am. It was a total surprise. While you were in New York, I found out. I didn’t want to call you and tell you over the phone. Plus you’d run off the way you had and I wasn’t sure how you felt about me.”
“You will never have to wonder how I feel about you. About you and our baby. I love you, Rachel. I love you so much.”
Max touched my cheek so tenderly and lowered his lips to mine and kissed me.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“Rachel?” I heard Max’s soft whisper against my cheek.
“Ugh. If Liam’s awake again, please go feed him, okay?” I mumbled, throwing my arm over my eyes, sleepy.
“That’s not why I’m waking you up, my bride.”
His voice was full of wicked promise and I felt a smile curve my lips before I even opened my eyes. He kissed my neck, and I felt my body warm and tingle at the touch. I rolled over in our bed to face him. His big hands found my breasts and fondled them, making me squirm deliciously. His mouth rocked over mine and I parted my lips, sucked his tongue into my mouth. In seconds, he’d pulled my nightgown over my head and his hands skated over my bare skin, over my belly and down between my legs.
“Mmmm,” he said appreciatively as his fingers stroked between my legs, finding me wet for him already.
“Yes,” I whispered, “take me one more time before we’re husband and wife.”
“You liked living in sin with me, you naughty girl,” he teased. I giggled.
“Every second of it,” I admitted, wriggling against the pleasing stroke and press of his long fingers on my sex.
“Then allow me to make sure we go out with a bang.”
“I do like a good bang,” I laughed.
Max slid down my body and disappeared beneath the sheets. He worked my clit with his hot mouth as his fingers traced the sensitive folds of my core. He plunged a finger in me, curled it as the pressure built inside of me. I bucked and jerked as he lapped at my clit and I rode his fingers to a shuddering orgasm. While I was still shuddering from the powerful climax, he loomed over me, thrust his cock into my slick, aching sex and my head went back with a moan. It seemed impossible that sex with Max could get better and better, but it was true. In no time I was sucking his neck the way he liked, making him lose his rhythm and thrust into me wildly, pumping his cock into me, filling me so that I felt myself climb to the heights of pleasure again so swiftly it was dizzying. When he grabbed my thigh and gave me a deep, rocking thrust, I saw stars, crying out as I felt him empty into me with his powerful orgasm. I was panting, my arms wrapped around his neck as he kissed my lips.
“That was just a warm-up for the wedding night,” he said wickedly.
“I can’t wait.”
A few hours later, I pinned the flower wreath on Sadie’s hair and gave her the basket of petals to sprinkle down the white fabric runner we used as an aisle. We were marrying in our backyard, the forest and mountain a more beautiful backdrop than any decorations could be. I smoothed the skirt of my simple, gorgeous gown—Laura and I had gone to Savannah to pick it out. It was elegant, a lovely shade of soft cream chiffon with an empire waist, a narrow belt of delicate crystals twined with silver thread above the flowing column of a Grecian skirt. Laura hugged me. “You look gorgeous. Now go marry that hot lumberjack.”
“I plan to,” I said with a grin.
The music began and
