Part 4 (1/2)

But then she seemed to catch herself. She jerked her glance away. Her smile vanished.

She dropped her hand. ”I'll be right back.” She slid around the chair and headed for the hall.

He watched her until she'd disappeared from view, reluctant to relinquish the sight of her, wondering at her swift change of mood. For a moment, she had been so d.a.m.n ... tender.

Just as she'd been when he woke and found her standing over him in the cabin an hour before. He'd seen the softness in her eyes then, too. And something else. Worry, maybe.

But softness, definitely.

And even earlier, while he unpacked his few things. She had sat in that rocker and watched him, a

dreamy, contented expression on her face.

As if she...

It came to him. Right then, at the Bravo family's dinner table, as he watched her waddle away through

the living room, then disappear beyond a door that led to the front hall. It all snapped into place.

For Lacey, this was more than a matter of s.e.xual attraction. More than affection, more than the

commonality of a shared past. More even than the most important issue of the child she was about to have.

She was in love with him.

It made perfect sense. The abrupt way she had broken it off in September-that must have been when

she had realized.

And what about the times he had called her and she'd never called back? That hadn't been like her.

Before, she would have called, if only to insist that she was fine, that he was not to worry about her, that

he needed to get on with his life and let her get on with hers.

Yes. She was in love with him-and she feared, because of Jenna, that he would only hurt her.

He wouldn't. Never. Jenna was gone for good now, living inFloridawith MackMcGarrity , a baby on the

way. She was no threat to whatLoganand Lacey might share.

d.a.m.n. Lacey loved him.

True, he didn't have a lot of faith in love lately. He'd loved Jenna for all those years and in the end, his

love had not been enough to hold her.

But this situation was different. He was already committed to making a life with Lacey. He had been

from the moment he'd learned that she carried his child. If Lacey thought herself in love with him-whatever the h.e.l.l that really meant-it could only work in his favor.

A lightnessseemed to move through him. A feeling of rightness, of ease.

And of power, too.

She loved him.

He knew now, with absolutecertainty, that she would say yes to him. She had that wild streak. And she was willful. She might not be the wife that Jenna would have been. But she would be his in a way that Jenna never had.

She was already his.

Because she loved him. Lacey Bravo loved him.

He hadn't realized that doubt had been eating at him, eroding his self-confidence, setting his nerves on

edge. He hadn't realized it until now, when doubt was gone.

He turned back to the table, a grin pulling at his mouth-and found six pairs of eyes focused on him. Even the baby was watching him. ”That girl's a pistol,” Edna muttered under her breath. ”She's independent,” said Tess warmly, speaking right up in Lacey's defense. ”I admire independence.” Edna gave Tess a fond smile. ”Of course you do. So doI . But the fact remains. She needs a husband.” Zach Bravo was still staring atLogan. ”You're here to marry her,” he said. It wasn't a question. Loganfelt satisfaction, to have it out in the open, to be able to answer simply, ”I am.” Zach nodded. ”Better not waste any time about it. That baby is likely to show up any minute now.”

Chapter 4.

It was barely eight-thirty when they got back to the cabin.

Logansuggested that they sit outside for a while and watch the sun set behind the mountains.

Lacey vetoed that idea. ”I'm tired,” she said.

It was a lie. She wasn't tired. She simply had to get away from him. Having him so near, having to be so very careful, was making her crazy.