“But...” She wanted to ask,Do you want me?The words got stuck in her throat.
When she said no more, his expression turned guarded. “Doyouwant the baby?”
“Yes.”Until she saw his shoulders relax, she hadn’t realized how stiffly he held himself.
“Do you plan to marry me?”
Next to wanting her baby, she wanted that the most. Marriage, her own home, an opportunity to show the world how a baby should be loved, how family should be. “Is that what you want?”
“I love you, Glory. Of course, I want to marry you.”
Her world changed, all her irritation evaporating, crowded out by pure joy. “You love me? Really?”
“You being who you are, how you are—I never stood a chance.”
Her smile came with a small, flustered laugh. “I’d like to both smack you and kiss you.”
The sincerity of the moment kept his own smile at bay. “I vote you just go on loving me.”
“Guaranteed, but...”
“But nothing.”
“I’m such a mess. Largely out of commission, with a dirtbag hot on my heels. And look at me.”
“I love looking at you.”
That made her heart flutter. “I mean... I know I look awful.”
“Silly, Glory. Your appeal isn’t only your very pretty face. It’s those eyes that always look vulnerable but also ready to take on the world. The mouth that begs to be kissed, even while giving me a hard time.”
She smiled.
“And that. The smile that always reaches inside to poke at my heart.”
“I don’t poke.”
His level look said otherwise, in the nicest possible way. “It’s also you, Glory, the sister who always has Callie’s back. The woman who thinks about a dog when she has broken bones and cuts. The caring soul who immediately forgives a kid who landed on the wrong track even when it caused her pain.”
Is that how he really saw her? She felt her eyes growing damp, knew tears would only make her look worse, but these were happy tears, and she couldn’t seem to control them.
“The daughter,” he continued quietly, “who loves, even when the pseudo mom offers more criticism than care.”
“Liz has been terrific lately.”
Pleasure curled his mouth. “Loyal, sexy, strong—and now carrying my baby.” One hand covered her stomach. The other cradled her cheek as he leaned in to kiss her. “Everything will be fine; you’ll see.”
“How can you be so sure, when I’m so unsure about it all?”
“Easy. If we’re together, I can figure out the rest.”
She frowned at him, kissed him, and said, “You meanwecan, right?”
“Yeah.” The intimate smile showed in his eyes, if not on his mouth. “That’s exactly what I meant.”
Kam had doubted that she’d be able to sleep. He’d doubted that he would sleep. But here it was, morning already, and he’d only stirred awake when PB stretched.
Once settled together on the couch, the dog had joined them. Funny how much Kam adored the little pooch already. She was a cute, smart thing, quickly learning that she needed to be easy around Glory.
