perfect when she said they looked like rain in the moonlight.”
“They’re beautiful.” She laid her hand on his chest and admired the diamonds twinkling on her finger.
“I’ll never forget making love to you in the rain. I saw the painting and it was like a punch in the gut seeing the lonely bench in the moonlight with the rain pouring down. I don’t want you to remember it that way. Somehow, some way, I will make everything up to you, sweetheart. I want to make a thousand happy memories with you.”
“That’s all I ever wanted. You’re all I ever wanted. You and Emma and our baby.”
“You have to believe me. After everything that’s happened, you have to know I always wanted you. I didn’t want to turn my back on you, but I wanted to give my children what I never had, a whole family. I thought I owed them that after what happened to Caroline.
“You are the most amazing mother to Emma. I would have been the same kind of father to the baby. I can’t tell you how relieved I am we’ll never have to deal with Shelly again. I have the proof. I’ll show you she isn’t pregnant.”
“I don’t need the proof.”
“No, you already knew she lied about the pregnancy.”
“I don’t need the proof because I trust you.”
“And I didn’t trust you,” he said and lay his forehead to hers.
“I don’t believe that.” She brushed her lips to his in a soft sweet sweep of her mouth over his. “I think you wanted to do the right thing, and you got caught up in trying to be there for the baby and trying to hold onto me too. You thought you couldn’t have both, so like a good father you chose the baby. I understand. That’s why I came back today. I could have sailed away with our baby and let go of an amazing dream to punish you for everything that’s happened. I’d rather have the dream. I’d rather have you and a life with Emma and our baby.”
“I’ll give you the world if you say you’ll marry me.”
“You already know I’ll marry you. But if you need to hear me say the words. Yes, I’ll marry you. Anywhere. Anytime. I already have the world.”
“Your ship.” He looked up at the amazing painting of Marti standing on the bow of her ship looking up at the moon and stars he’d hung above the fireplace last night. From the bed, he’d stared at the painting all night wishing for her.
“No. You.”
Wish granted. He smiled, happier than he’d ever felt in his life. Everything was going to be all right now. Actually, it was perfect.
He kissed her gently and ran his hand over her face, mapping her beautiful features. Her green eyes watched him, and in those eyes, he saw the world, his world.
And don’t miss the previous two books in THE HUNTED series,
SAVED BY THE RANCHER
and
LUCKY LIKE US,
available from Avon Impulse!
About the Author
* * *
Jennifer Ryan writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances featuring strong men and equally resilient women. Her stories are filled with love, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, dog (Bella), and cat (Shadow). When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home and in how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
Please visit her website at www.jennifer-ryan.com for information about upcoming releases.
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Also by Jennifer Ryan
THE HUNTED SERIES
Saved by the Rancher
Lucky Like Us
Give in to your impulses . . .
Read on for a sneak peek at a brand-new
e-book original tale of romance from Avon Books.
Available now wherever e-books are sold.
ALL OR NOTHING
A TRUST NO ONE NOVEL
By Dixie Lee Brown
An Excerpt from
ALL OR NOTHING
A TRUST NO ONE NOVEL
by Dixie Lee Brown
Debut author Dixie Lee Brown launches her Trust No One series with this tale of a hunted woman and the one man who can save her life . . . if she’ll let him.
“Trust me. This is the safest way.”
Everything required trust with Joe. So, did she trust him? If she ever got back on the ground, she might be able to answer that question. Cara