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It was almost awhisper.
He pulled her into his arms and leaned back against the couch. “I know this sucks. I’m sorry. But we needed to have this conversation.” He kissed her head. “If you don’t want to do it for you, at least think about ourchild.”
She looked up at him. “Whatchild?”
He smiled. “We haven’t exactly been careful lately,” he said. “What if there is a child? Don’t you want to be able to take care of him or her? Because I feel a lot better knowing you can do that withoutworrying.”
She chewed her lip. She and Max had never been very careful. She’d assumed it was out of an implicit understanding that they would be together forever. They didn’t have to have the kinds of conversations other couples had — no big discussions about whether they were exclusive or whether it was serious or where it was allgoing.
A lifetime of friendship had been leading here allalong.
There would never be anyone else for either ofthem.
It was going to end in a lifetime together — as long as Max made it out of the Tangieralive.
Even still, his mention of a possible baby quickened her heart. Was there anything she wanted more than to carry Max’s child? To build the kind of family she’d always dreamed of having with the one man who lit up hersoul?
Max was right. If it were to happen, and he wasn’t there to take care of them, Abby wanted to make sure his child had the kind of security he or shedeserved.
“What do I need to know?” sheasked.
He tightened his hold on her. No amount of money could ever provide the security of his presence, but she would do this forhim.
“Not much really. Just that all my assets go to you — all the money, this house, the car. If there ever is a chid, you can set up a trust as you see fit. You’re more equipped than I am to do that anyway. You’re probably more equipped thanCharlie.”
“I doubtthat.”
“You shouldn’t feel obligated to spend the money in any way you think I’d want you to spend it. You shouldn’t feel obligated to keep this house or any of the things in it. If something happens, and I’m nothere— ”
“Itwon’t.”
“If it does,” he continued, “you should take the money and live your life exactly as you see fit, and you should know that wherever I am, I’m cheering you on, whatever that maybe.”
Tears leaked from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and dropping from her jaw. “None of it will mean anything without youanyway.”
“Don’t say that.” He lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Whatever happens tomorrow, you’ve given me more happiness in the past few months than I had in all the years before I finally stopped being stupid and kissed you.” He smiled. “I’m planning on sticking around to enjoy more of it, but if that’s not in the cards, I’ll go with more happiness than I deserve. And that’s because of you,Abby.”
“Can we be done talking about this?” sheasked.
He grinned. “What do you suggestinstead?”
“Are you trying to distract me from your possible death by taking me to bed, MaxCartwright?”
“Would you have any objections if I were?” heasked.
She took his face in her hands, pulled him toward her, and touched her lips to his. “Not a singleone.”
And she didn’t. No objections. Noregrets.
She laughed through her tears as he lifted her into his arms and raced for thestairs.
