Nicole didn’t think he could have surprised her any further, but he just had. She sucked in a mind-clearing breath. “Excuse me?”
“I said I’ve been wrong.”
Nicole blinked. “I never even imagined those words coming out of your mouth.”
One side of his mouth lifted in a cryptic grin, but his eyes remained serious. “When I found out you’d made plans to take Joel out of the country-”
“Back-up plans,” she had to remind him, because she’d never imagined how she could go through with them.
He dipped his head. “Back-up plans. I was so angry,” he said. “Terrified.”
She made an audible gulp.
“I finally had what I’d wanted my whole life and it could have been gone like that. The possibility that you could take away everything important to me just-” He took a deep breath. “You haven’t just been Joel’s dream mom. You’ve been my dream woman.”
Nicole gasped and shook her head.
He nodded. “Your father was wrong,” he said. “You’re no replacement for Tabitha. I don’t want to be disrespectful, but you’re so much more. You’ve turned my life around in a good way.”
“Oh, I hope you mean that,” she said.
“I do.”
“Because I’ve fallen in love with you,” she said.
Rafe’s heart stopped. “Do you realize what you just said?” he asked.
She nodded. “It’s one of those things that was bursting to come out, but I was so afraid to say it. I know you don’t feel the same way, but-”
“Whoa,” he said. “How do you know I don’t feel the same way?”
She met his gaze then looked away. “You said you didn’t believe in love.”
“Give me a chance to recover from emotional whiplash, sweetheart. I’ve never met anyone like you. You make me want to be your only man, your protector, your everything.”
She sucked in a quick breath. “You are.”
He closed his eyes and twined his fingers through hers. “I never knew what love really was until you came into my life,” he said, then opened his eyes. “I love you, Nicole. I’ve wanted and needed you in my life before I even met you.”
Her eyes grew shiny with unshed tears. “I love you and I will do anything to protect you.”
He squeezed out a hoarse chuckle. When had any woman said she would protect him? “I’m the luckiest man in the world,” he said, lowering his lips to hers.
“You just made all my dreams come true,” she said, murmuring against his mouth.
“There’s more Nic,” he said. “So much more. And we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”
Three weeks later, Nicole shared a large, comfy chaise lounge with Rafe by the pool after Joel went to bed. With her back resting against his and her head tucked beneath his shoulder, she couldn’t imagine a better place in the world to be.
His hands wrapped around her, making her feel surrounded by him. She sighed, looking up at the stars.
“Happy?” he asked, his lips brushing her forehead.
She smiled and closed her eyes, savoring the moment. “Yes, and you?”
“More than I ever dreamed,” he said.
She turned to lift her lips for a kiss. She intended it to be a quick caress, but Rafe clearly wanted more. Nicole didn’t mind at all. When he pulled back, she looked into his eyes and shivered at how incredibly lucky she was.
Leaning back against his chest, she lifted his hand and stroked his wide palm. “As much as I love you and I know you love me, there’s still a lot we don’t know about each other.”
“Like what?” he asked.
“Well, I want you to get enough time on your yacht in the ocean because I know it makes you feel better. How much time do you need?”
“Not as much as I used to,” he said, lifting his hand to play with her hair. “I feel better when I’m with you and Joel.”
She nodded. “And what about travel? What’s the maximum time you think you would be gone?”
“No more than a week,” he said. “Two, tops. In either case, I may just have to drag you and Joel along with me.”
“Did you ever have a pet as a child?” she asked, gradually working her way to the topic most important to her.
“We had a stray dog before my father died, but had to give it up when my mother let us go,” he told her.
Another loss, she thought and lifted his hand to her mouth to comfort him. “Did you help take care of it?”
“Yep. We took turns. Why? Does Joel want a dog? I’m okay with it,” he said.
“That’s good,” she said absently. “Have you ever changed a diaper?”
He paused. “Not that I can remember. Why?”
“Well, you know, I’m a godmother and Julia may want to leave Sidney with us sometime so she and her husband can take a little break.” She turned slightly to look up at him. “Would you be willing to help?”
“With diapers?” he asked.
She nodded. “And if she should get up in the night. And giving her a bath.”
He cleared his throat. “I may need some training, but hell, yeah. Why not?”
She smiled, lifting her head. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“The diaper thing may not be my favorite,” he said.
“But you’re still willing to help?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“That’s good,” she said. “Because I’m pregnant.”
He blinked. “What?”
“I’m pregnant,” she repeated.
“But I think we just had that one time without protection,” he said, staring at her in disbelief.
“Right, and you said something about people don’t necessarily get pregnant from just one time. Well, we did.”
He continued to stare at her for several seconds.
Nicole felt a ripple of nerves. “This is when you say, Sweetheart, this is great news. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”
He opened his mouth then shut it. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
She gave him a soft punch. “Lame, lame, lame.”
He slid his hands through her hair and looked at her in amazement. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Two e.p.t tests and I went to the doctor this morning.”
He closed his eyes then opened them. If she didn’t know better, she would say that her type A, tough-guy husband’s eyes had a sheen of moisture. “How do you feel about it?”
“I’m so happy I almost can’t stand it,” she whispered.
“I love you, Nicole. I can’t wait to be with you every step of the way through this. Every step, every day. You keep making my dreams come true.”