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“That she would only do it if I didn’t pay her. I could tell she really wanted to be with Brooke, but I can’t not pay her. So I stuck to my guns and I said no. She caved and agreed with me.”

“You’re kidding?” An amused grin lit up his face.

“I’m serious. I got my way.”

“Well, I’m glad you guys worked it out. This is going to make her so happy. Do you have any idea how much she loves babies?”

Alyssa smiled and shook her head.

“You just wait.” John leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Alright, honey, we need to get going. I want to spend as much time as I can with you girls, but I have to head back to base. I probably won’t see you until next weekend.”

The flutter in her belly caused her to swallow hard. “Will you, though? Are you really coming over next weekend again?” For some reason it was hard for her to believe that he was.

“You’ll see. I’ll be there late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Either way, Sunday you’re mine.”

“Johnny …” she mumbled under her breath.

John placed a finger under her chin and tipped it up. Looking deep into her eyes, John asked, “What is it?”

“I just don’t understand why you’re so nice to me.” Tightness griped her chest. “Why you’re going out of your way when y

ou could spend the weekends with friends. Why your mom is so willing to help me … I don’t understand it all.”

“There’s nothing to understand.”

“I don’t deserve your generosity or your mom’s kindness. I almost don’t know what to do with it.”

“Hey, don’t start that. You deserve it all and more. Now let’s go get our girl and say goodbye.”

Alyssa never once corrected John when he called Brooke his. She couldn’t bring herself to because deep down it felt right. In some way, regardless of who her biological father was, Brooke had always belonged to John. It was going to be tough on her, but Alyssa was going to give John a chance. She was going to risk everything for him, her heart and all. She just prayed he wouldn’t break it.

Looking into the mirror, Alyssa hooked an earring in her ear.

Four months passed since that day at his parents’ house, and everything was going really well between her and John. Almost too well. Alyssa was worried that something would cause strife between them, but nothing had. Once she stopped doubting John, he was everything he said he would be–her strength, her rock, a father to her daughter, and most of all, her other half.

She loved him so much. Now all she had to do was tell him that she did.

Alyssa reached out to her mother once more, but she declined any kind of relationship. Lauren told Alyssa that she wasn’t ready and hung up on her. Ready for what, though? Brooke was the light in her life. She never knew how much joy a child could bring until Brooke was born, which made it hard for her to understand her mother’s rejection. The pain was still fresh, but John worked to erase it every chance he got. Maybe one day she would come around.

John … just thinking about him made her heart soar so high. He was a true gift, one she didn’t know she needed so much in her life. He was her best friend, her confidant and she couldn’t imagine her life without him. While they hadn’t officially become a couple, they were definitely more than friends. They just didn’t have the label. She was so completely caught up in John that it was only a matter of time before she gave him everything he wanted.

When the anniversary of Jace’s death came, it was a rough few days for John. Just as he’d been there for her, Alyssa stepped up and became his rock during that difficult time. He held his emotions in as he was forced to relive the tragic day. It was so fresh and real. John had driven down to South Fork to visit Maryanne and Ford while Alyssa and Brooke stayed with Diane. That night when he returned, Alyssa had never seen him so drained. She ran to him with opened arms and he nearly collapsed into her. He was suffering, the anguish in his eyes evident. It consumed her entire being, rocking her to the core.

Alyssa stared at herself in the mirror. Curls cascaded down her back and she wore a smoky eye look with nude lipstick. A black satin, rouched dress with lace high heels and she was ready to go. The eye makeup and black dress made her blue eyes pop. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this beautiful.

Today was Olivia and Luke’s wedding day and she was attending it with John. Luke proposed soon after that day he teased her at Diane and Clark’s house. From what she was told, Olivia wanted more time to plan her wedding, but Luke wanted to marry her as soon as possible, so he hired wedding planners to get the ball rolling. When Alyssa asked Olivia how the proposal happened, she smiled dreamily and said, “It’s a story for another day.”

The bathroom door opened and John sauntered in looking more attractive than ever before. Her heart speedup and her lips parted as she scanned the length of his body, desire hitting her hard. He sure knew how to clean up well. A form fitted tux with one hand in his pocket, coupled with that grin, and she was done for. She remembered the first day she met him covered in dirt and riding a four wheeler with Jace by his side. Alyssa smiled. A lot had happened since then.

“What are you smiling about?” he asked, bending over to kiss her forehead.

“Just thinking about the first day we met.”

John grinned. “You were so reluctant to get dirty that I made it my mission to get you as filthy as I could.”

“I knew you did!” she laughed. Standing up, she slapped his chest playfully. “I guess your persistence paid off.”

John grabbed her waist and pulled her in close so they were inches apart. “Not yet. You’re still not mine completely …”