“It was why you were on the porch when I came over.”
“She had just left. You barely missed her. God, I was so furious when she came here. It sounds dumb but it felt like she violated my home and my daughter by coming here and trying to meet Sadie. She stood there and cried about how she was young and confused and regretted giving the baby to me. She begged me to just tell her about Sadie. I told her to leave and I’d meet her to talk the next day, away from Sadie.”
“And that’s the day you butt dialed me and sent me that awful recording,” I said.
“Yes. And yes, I acted like a complete ass. While I’m not sorry about how I spoke to her—I was protecting my family and I’d do that and more again—I’m sorry you had to see that side of me. The side that wanted her to shut the hell up and go away. It turned out she came here for a handout. She’d been tracking me down since she figured out my family was wealthy.”
“She didn’t really want to see Sadie?” I asked, a sick feeling in my gut.
“No, she didn’t care about her at all. She just wanted money. So I took Sadie—I panicked and wanted her the hell out of town where Jenna couldn’t get near her and make trouble. We went to New York, where I’m from, and I met with my lawyers.”
“What did they say? Is she going to get visitation or something?”
“No, she doesn’t want that. The original paper she signed was iron-clad. All she can really do is slander me or upset Sadie. So against my better judgment—truth is I just wanted to tell her to go to hell—I wrote her a check as long as she signed an agreement that it was a one-time payment and she would not come back to extort me again or try to contact my daughter or myself or slander me in any way under penalty of a lawsuit. But I don’t want to drag her through court. I want her to go live her life somewhere far away from us and never bother us again.”
“Is that why you moved here? Someplace so small and out of the way?”
“Partly, and partly because I want Sadie to have a happy, wholesome place to grow up, where she can run and play and picnic.”
“She does love a picnic,” I said.
“I have a great deal of money, some of which I’ve set aside for Sadie’s future. I had a successful career as a broker and also had a trust fund from my parents. I don’t live a flashy life here, but the money isn’t a secret. It’s just not something I advertise is all. And I absolutely did not take the baby away from Jenna.”
“I never thought you did. But I’m sorry I doubted you. The way you ran off with no explanation, the secrets and the way you dismissed me was really hurtful.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said, and he took my hand. “You had every right to doubt me and question my intentions toward you after the way I acted. But I never want to be away from you again. I’m in love with you, Rachel. I never want to hurt you. You mean so much to me, to both of us.”
I blinked back tears, almost unable to believe it was true, that Max really loved me and was saying so right out loud. I swallowed hard and decided to be brave. I took the hand that held mine and pressed it to my belly.
“You mean so much to both of us, too,” I whispered.
“What?” he said, his eyes meeting mine with dawning understanding.
“I mean that I love you, and that you mean everything to me and to our baby.”
“You’re pregnant?” he asked incredulously, his face transforming, so much joy and love beaming from him.
“I am. It was a total surprise. While you were in New York, I found out. I didn’t want to call you and tell you over the phone. Plus you’d run off the way you had and I wasn’t sure how you felt about me.”
“You will never have to wonder how I feel about you. About you and our baby. I love you, Rachel. I love you so much.”
Max touched my cheek so tenderly and lowered his lips to mine and kissed me.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“Rachel?” I heard Max’s soft whisper against my cheek.
“Ugh. If Liam’s awake again, please go feed him, okay?” I mumbled, throwing my arm over my eyes, sleepy.
“That’s not why I’m waking you up, my bride.”
His voice was full of wicked promise and I felt a smile curve my lips before I even opened my eyes. He kissed my neck, and I felt my body warm and tingle at the touch. I rolled over in our bed to face him. His big hands found my breasts and fondled them, making me squirm deliciously. His mouth rocked over mine and I parted my lips, sucked his tongue into my mouth. In seconds, he’d pulled my nightgown over my head and his hands skated over my bare skin, over my belly and down between my legs.