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He was saying everything she’d ever wanted to hear, but she couldn’t help waiting for the other shoe to drop. “We tried. We failed. Some things just aren’t meant to be.”
“You’re right.” He continued before she could fully process how her heart dropped at his agreement. “Some things aren’t. But we aren’t some things. A love like ours doesn’t come around more than once in a lifetime, and the fact we get a second chance to do it right is miracle enough. I don’t deserve a second chance—or third or fourth or whatever number chance we’re on now—but I’m here asking for it all the same.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Except she knew what she wanted to say. Hope opened her mouth, forcing the words past her pride demanding she stay silent. “I…I need my own place.”
He didn’t blink. “I suggest you rent.”
“Uh, what?”
“I’m going to marry you, Hope Moore. It can be on your timeline, but it’s going to happen.” He glanced at her parents, watching the whole thing with unreadable expressions on their faces. “I know I’m not good enough for your daughter, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life working to be.” He squeezed her hand again. “I know it’ll take time, but the beauty is that we have the rest of our lives to work up to it.”
She’d woken up this morning on the very edge of despair, sure that history was repeating itself, and yet here he was, proving her dead wrong. It felt too good to be true.
But, as she looked up at him, she realized it was really happening. “My timeline?”
“I can’t promise I won’t be pushy from time to time, but I’ll respect whatever boundaries you put into place.” He reached out and tentatively touched her stomach, as if expecting her to slap his hand away. “Whatever it takes, darling. I’ll do it. Just name the price.”
Price. For the first time, she understood. That was what he’d never been able to get past before. He was trying—he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t—but part of him still expected her to reject him and cut him out of her life. She lifted her chin. “Kiss me.”
Daniel’s slow grin did a number on her stomach, just like it always had. “You’re going easy on me.”
“I figure there’s a mighty good chance I’ll spend the next seven months putting you through the wringer.” She covered his hand on her stomach with her own. “Then we have the rest of our lives catering to the whims of this one. And the others.”
“Others.”
“Danny, you know very well that I want a whole handful of kids.”
He smiled so wide, it made her heart leap, because the shadows that never seemed to leave his face were gone. “I guess I’ll have to get a few more dogs like Ollie and teach them all to herd so the kids don’t run us ragged.”
“I guess you will.” Was it possible for a person’s heart to burst from happiness? Because she was reasonably sure that hers might in that moment as he pulled her into his arms. He paused and looked at her parents again. “While your blessing isn’t strictly necessary, I sure would like to have it. On account of the grandbabies.”
Hope’s dad opened his mouth, but her mom put her hand on his arm and spoke first. “Do right by our daughter, Daniel.”
“I plan on it, ma’am.”
It wasn’t a blessing, strictly speaking, but it was as good as a declaration that her mother would try. Really, that was all anyone could ask for. Hope looked at Daniel, her heartbeat picking up at being so close to him, just like it always did. “I love you.”
“I know.” He leaned down, stopping just short of actually kissing her. “I love you, too, darling.”
