Dare to Desire (Dare to Love 2)

She placed her finger over his lips. “But I realized I can’t live waiting to be miserable. That will happen—or it won’t. But I need you in my life, and that means getting over my past and my fears.”

“I’m here to help you, Angel.”

She smiled, but it was far from genuine. “I’m broken, Alex,” she said with tears in her eyes. “But I want to get better. I want to get it right with you.”

He slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her hair tight. “Let’s get one thing straight, okay? There are no other women in my life. None who matter. Want to know why?”

She nodded, staring at him with wide eyes.

“Because I love you. I. Love. You.” He said the three words he’d only said to one other woman before, when he’d been nothing more than a kid who didn’t know better. He hadn’t known what life had in store. Couldn’t imagine that this wounded woman who needed him would find a place so deep in his heart he could never let her go.

Madison’s breath caught, and a sob escaped. “I love you too.” Her throat hurt from holding back tears, but her heart … that she thought might burst out of her chest.

Those three words meant everything to her. Hours earlier, they might not have been enough to ground her and keep her from leaving. She might not have trusted them. But time with a wise woman who’d lost herself had managed to teach Madison the one lesson she’d desperately needed.

“I love you,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his.

He kissed her back, devouring her mouth, sealing them together deeply. “You’re not getting rid of me, Madison,” he promised, separating from her only to pull her against him tightly.

Her cheek rested against his, and she breathed him in. “Whatever happens with the job, we’ll make it work. Don’t give anything up for me. I promise you, I’m not going anywhere. I know I’ll struggle, but I’ll work through it.”

“No more pulling away? No more giving into fear, right? You have a problem, we talk it out.”

She nodded.

“Good. Because I want to give you everything you’ve never had. Love, trust, a home…”

Another sob rose up in her throat at his words.

“And a family.”

She smiled at him. “You already did. Your family accepted me, and I’m so grateful for that.”

He pressed his forehead to hers. “I don’t mean just my family. I mean our family. Yours and mine. I want kids I can teach to throw a baseball and girls who look just like you.”

She shook her head back and forth, unable to speak or form a coherent word.

“You don’t want kids?” He reared back in shock.

“I do. I just never let myself think about having them. I didn’t ever allow myself that dream.”

“Well, it’s not going to be a dream. It’s going to be our reality. I’m going to make sure of it.”

“You’re so good to me.” She looked into the face of the man she loved, unable to believe life had given them a second chance. Had given her a chance to get her head on straight and not lose the best thing that had ever happened to her.

“We’re good together. Don’t forget that.”

She grinned. “You can be sure I’ll remind you … if you ever forget.”

“Not likely. Got a question for you now.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Marry me. Make this official.”

She blinked at him, stunned, surprised, and overwhelmed. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?”

“What kind of question is that? For one thing, we belong together. For another, don’t you think you’ll feel better knowing I want to make a lifetime commitment to you?”