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“What happened to you moving here until I decide?” Finding her face squished into the front of his coat, Haley felt free enough to let herself smile into the wool material.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m afraid you’ll take off again.”

Haley pulled herself out of his arms. “You’re not saying this because I helped you find what you were searching for? I would have used the letter as soon as you told me about the people on Sherguevil Island, but I truly didn’t think George knew. When I went to see him, I was bluffing that I would give him the letter if he told me where they were. I didn’t expect him to tell me. I knew he was evil; I just didn’t know to the extent he is.”

“You had the original letter sent to him,” he stated.

“Truthfully, I wouldn’t have ever done anything with it. I didn’t want the house or money left to me, and I couldn’t bring myself to hurt Amelia.”

“Why? She’s a bitch.”

“She’s Julia’s daughter. There has to be some good inside of her.”

“It has to be pretty damn deep, then.”

“I hope, one day, she can become the daughter Julia could be proud of. I have every faith she will.”

Desmond plucked another leaf from her hair. “Can you take a chance on me, and extend some of that faith in my direction?”

Haley lifted watery eyes to his. “Why should I? You’ve lied to me over and over—”

“I love you.”

His simple response had her stomach doing another cartwheel.

“Trust me one time, and I swear I won’t disappoint you ever again.”

Haley shook her head. “You came here in vain, Desmond. I …”

A tortured expression came across his face at her words.

Giving another shake, she smiled at him. “I was coming back. You wasted a trip here. I have an airplane ticket for tomorrow morning. I was going to call you when I arrived home.”

His relief was palpable. “You were?”

“Yes.”

Finding herself tucked backed into his arms, she hastily pulled herself back. “Not so fast.” Haley took a deep breath, trying to find a way to say what she needed to get out. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Desmond stared down at her, waiting, his eyes searching hers. Then his face went bland as he took a step back. He handed the grocery bag to her, and they maintained eye contact when she took it and he slowly unbuttoned her coat. His eyes left hers to travel down her body, lingering on her stomach.

“You’re pregnant.”

A joy she had never experienced before filled her when he reverently pressed a gentle hand against her stomach.

“I’m not showing yet.”

“You were coming back to tell me you’re pregnant.”

“Yes. You’re not upset?”

“No, I’m not upset,” he said huskily. “For the last twenty years, I’ve been consumed by becoming richer and chasing every business opportunity I could to fill a void that no one could fill.”

“What if you get bored with me and the baby? We should take our time,” she suggested.

“You’ve worked for me over the last three years. When I make a decision, I stick with it. My instinct has never steered me wrong.”

He had her there.

Haley nibbled on her bottom lip. She loved him and was concerned his feelings didn’t match hers. Desmond saw her indecision in her expression.

“I don’t want you regretting—”

“What am I going to regret? I’m going to be consumed with my new project. I plan to give the project my undivided attention and make sure every single need gets met.”

Haley frowned. “What new project?”

“It’s spelled H-A-L-E-Y.”

Thirty-Six

A pang of melancholy struck Haley as she looked out of the window of the house they had continued to rent. She’d fallen in love with the small town, and the picturesque views. The day Desmond had arrived, the trees outside their house had been covered in autumn leaves. Now they were bare and covered in snow, and she wished they could stay long enough for her to see the new leaves sprouting.

“We can stay longer if you want,” Desmond said, coming up behind her to cross his arms over the swell of her stomach.

“I miss Nadia, and I think she is missing me, too. She wants to get started decorating our nursery room. You know she’s already calling herself Auntie.”

Their peaceful existence had come to an end here, and much as she was frightened about leaving, it wouldn’t be fair to Desmond if they continued to stay just because she was terrified he would lose interest in her once they were enveloped in their normal everyday lives.

They had assumed a daily routine of him taking phone calls two hours in the morning, and two in the evening. She had accepted a few assignments from prior clients to keep herself busy while he worked. The rest of the day had been spent with them taking walks, playing board games, and talking. Idyllic days had turned into nights where they had done nothing but make love.