Off The Clock (First Responders 1)

“The only thing you’ve ever had to do to deserve me is love me,” she replied. “It still is.”

“I promised myself I’d take it slow. That I wouldn’t rush you…” Gabe had wanted to take his time. To rebuild the friendship and trust they’d always had. To make Carly see that they could be happy together. To show her that not all marriages were doomed to failure like hers had been with Jason. But going slow wasn’t working out so well.

“Take it slow?” Her light laugh reached in and grabbed him. “Gabe, you’ve had nearly fifteen years. If you go much slower…”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I do love you. Not because of obligation, or duty, or guilt. I love you because I always have and I don’t know how to do anything else. And I always will, if you let me.”

Carly’s breath caught as the glorious words seemed to echo through the garden. She hadn’t really realized how badly she wanted him to say them until he actually did, making her heart sing. She turned her head so she could press her cheek to the soft fabric of his shirt and spied Nathan sleeping nearby in his playpen in the shade of an oak tree. Everything in her seemed to soften as she looked at her baby son. He deserved the best life Carly could give him. Jason hadn’t wanted him, but did Gabe? He seemed naturally good with Nathan, but it was a big leap from there to fatherhood. And perhaps the past made her overly cautious, but this wasn’t something she wanted to find out later rather than sooner.

Gabe seemed to follow the path of her gaze and his hand rubbed along the small of her back. “You’re wondering about Nathan, aren’t you?”

“He can’t speak for himself,” she murmured, watching as Nathan flinched at something in his sleep, his tiny lips twisting. “I have to make the right decisions for him, you know?”

His smile was soft and loving. “One of the things I love about you most is how you put Nathan first. You could have made other choices to save your marriage but you chose him. The night of your accident, your only thought was for him, and you fought so hard to bring him into the world. It’s a beautiful thing. He’s such a lucky baby.”

Her eyes filled as she realized Gabe understood. Without her ever saying it, he seemed to know that there had been the question of whether or not her pregnancy would ever go to term. And he knew what it had cost her—and what she’d gained.

“You do know you can trust me, right? I’d never hurt him. I know I made mistakes before—”

“Haven’t we all?” Carly smiled wistfully. “I thought Nathan’s father would come around once he got used to the idea of being a dad, but he didn’t. I can’t do that again. If you want to be with me, I need that same commitment to my son. He deserves nothing less.”

Gabe stepped away and went to the playpen, leaned over and gently picked up Nathan. He cradled him in his strong arms. Nathan’s eyelashes never even fluttered. He curled into the warmth of Gabe’s shoulder, let out a sweet baby sigh and slept on.

Seeing Gabe with her tiny boy in his arms filled Carly with so much hope she wasn’t quite sure what to do with it all.

“You want Nathan to be loved?” Gabe whispered. “He already is.” Gabe came over to where Carly stood and smiled. “Tell me what you want. In a perfect world, what do you see? Say the words. Let me make them real.”

Her throat tightened against the threat of the sweetest tears she’d ever known. “I want you,” she whispered back, taking the leap. “Oh Gabe, I want you. I want a home and a family and a father for Nathan.”

“All you have to do is say yes.”

“Say yes to what?” she asked—then held her breath.

“Every time you say I ‘rescued’ you I was off the clock, don’t you see? Being there for you has never been a job. It was never an obligation. I was there because I was meant to be there. I truly believe that. And I’d like to be there for the rest of my life. I know it’s sudden. This isn’t how I’d planned it. I planned to woo you…”

She smiled at the old-fashioned term and he grinned back. “I know,” he replied. “But I want to marry you. I want you and this precious baby and maybe even a few others to keep him company. I want to put a swing set in the backyard and hear their laughter in the evening when I’m holding your hand. I have wanted those things for a very long time, and I can’t keep it inside any longer. Marry me, Carly. Marry me and make me happy.”

Carly looked up at him, so wise and strong and sexy holding the slumbering Nathan in his arms. It was everything she ever wanted, and it was right here within her grasp.

“Yes,” she replied, and as he touched his lips to hers, Carly felt all the pieces slide perfectly into place.