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A woman dressed in full Victorian garb greeted them at the door and showed them to the front desk.
"Mr. and Mrs. Malone," said the man behind the reservation desk. "Right on time. "
Conlan filled out the paperwork, offered his credit card, then whisked her upstairs. Their room was a beautiful two-room suite with a huge four-poster bed, a river rock fireplace, a bathtub big enough for two, and a magical view of the moonlit coast.
"Ange?"
Slowly she turned around to face him.
How can I tell him?
"Come here. "
She was helpless to resist the sound of his voice. She moved toward him. He pulled her into his arms, held her so tightly she felt dizzy.
She had to tell him.
Now.
If they were to have any kind of future, she had to tell him. "Conlan--"
He kissed her then, so gently. When he drew back, he looked down at her.
She felt as if she were drowning in the blue of his eyes.
"I couldnt believe you gave the baby stuff away. Im so proud of you, Ange. I look at you now and I can breathe again. I dont think I realized until yesterday how long Id been holding it all inside. "
"Oh, Con. We need--"
Very slowly he bent on one knee. Smiling, he held out her wedding ring. "I figured out what to do with it. Marry me again. "
The way Angie dropped to her knees was more like folding. "I love you, okay? Dont forget it. As Papa used to say, I love you more than all the drops of rain that fall. "
He frowned. "I expected a simple yes. Then a rush to the bed. "
"My yes couldnt be any simpler, but I need to tell you something first. You might change your mind. "
"About wanting to marry you?"
"Yeah. "
He looked at her for a long time, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Okay. Hit me. "
She drew in a deep breath. "Yesterday, when I called you about the nursery, I was so excited. I couldnt wait to get home and tell Lauren. " She stood up and moved away from him. She went to the window, looked out at the crashing surf. "When I got home, shed been crying. And David was there. "
Conlan stood up. She heard the creaking of the old floorboards. He probably wanted to come stand behind her but he didnt move.
"She got a full ride to USC. Her dream school. "
"And?"
"It changed everything," she said softly, echoing Laurens exact words. "Maybe if she had a toddler, she could swing it, but a two-month-old? Theres no way she could handle USC, working, and raising a newborn. "
It was a long time before Conlan spoke. When he did, his voice was ragged; not his voice at all. "And?"
Angie squeezed her eyes shut. "She wants to give the baby up for adoption. She thinks it will be the best thing for the baby. "
"It probably will be. Shes so young. " He came up behind Angie, but didnt touch her.
