"Yeah, well, it's good that someone is," she grumbled. I decided right then that I wouldn't share Ethan's "proposal" of the previous night. I needed some coffee before I tackled anything of that magnitude. Better wait about telling her of Ethan's ultimatum to move in with him too. Gaby had no trouble giving her opinion on things. And at the moment I didn't need to hear the resulting noise it would bring."Iley," I asked her, "you didn't answer my question. Are you okay? Last night was so messed up. I know we exchanged texts and no damage done, but still..."Silence."Gabrielle?" I asked again, notching up the intensity by using her full name."I'm fine." Her voice sounded flat and I knew she was holding back. "Where did you go? I wanted to introduce you to Ethan's cousin, but that obviously never happened.""I got distracted... and then that alarm went off and I had to get out just like everyone else. I waited outside on the street for a while until I got your text. Once I knew you we

I don't know what compelled me to open my eyes. Probably the breathing on my face smelling faintly of jam, but regardless, I now understand why horror movies with children in them are, without a doubt, the most terrifying films of all. There is nothing quite like a silent child staring at you while you're sleeping or even worse, to wake up to. Some questions come to mind pretty fuckin' quick. Like how long have you been standing there watching over me like one of the ill-fated Grady sisters in The Shining?Scared the ever-living shit out of me for about two seconds. And then she smiled. "Uncle Ethan is awake!" she yelled at the top of her lungs as she ran to the door, flinging it wide open."Zara! Shut the door behind you, please." I sat up carefully, well aware I was nude and taking care to keep the blankets arranged. I was also alone in the bed, so I leaned around and looked toward the bathroom to try and catch sight of Brynne.No Brynne."She's downstairs talking to Mummy. They're

She attached herself and hung her arms around my neck as I held her little legs tucked under my arms. I groaned, pretending to struggle to rise to my feet. I stumbled into the wall with exaggerated movements, being careful of her head. "God, you weigh a lot. Been eating a lot of ice creams, have you?"She giggled and dug her heels into my sides. "Go, Uncle Ethan!" "I'm trying to!" I grunted, pretending to crash into the walls as I stumbled along. "Feels like I have an elephant back there! Did you change from a princess into an elephant?" "No!" she laughed at my antics and poked me harder. "Go faster than this!" "Hold on tight," I said, as we whooped and yelled our way down the grand staircase and into the family area. My sister and Brynne were both waiting for us when we ducked into the homey kitchen. I'm sure all the screeching laughter preceded our arrival, but it was the look on Brynne's face that gave me a kick. Her eyes widened at the sight of us. probably shocked to see me playi

"I know you do and I love you too." I nodded and twisted my hand to hold on to his, meaning my words with all my heart. "I do. Nobody else has ever got that out of me before... but you.""Good."He looked vulnerable then, and I wanted to reassure him, make him feel that he mattered to me. Because the truth was, Ethan did matter. So very much. I stroked the top of his hand with a finger, brushing it back and forth.The past twenty-four hours had been so insane, I was merely trying to keep up. What Ethan was suggesting did make me feel pressured, but he also made me feel loved. He was a good man willing to make a commitment to me, and only asking for the same in return. Why was I having so much trouble with it? The truth was something I pretty much understood even if I hated to acknowl- edge it by digging down deep into my psyche. Being with Ethan forced me to examine my demons."I'll move in with you. How's that for a start?" "It's just that a start," he said dryly. "I told you that pa

"That's the third time you've yawned. Are you going to make it back to the house, or do I need to carry you before you collapse?""Oh, right," she scoffed. "We both know why I'm so tired today." She gave me a sassy smirk that made me want to do naughty things to those pretty lips of hers.Well, yeah, you kept her up half the night fucking, what do you expect her to be? I wanted to smile at the remembrance, though. My girl never turned me down. even when I was the freakiest. I'm a lucky, lucky man for sure. But then that's not news and it hasn't been for a while now."Sorry, baby. You'll be happy to hear I enjoyed every single minute of keep- ing you awake. I reached down and gave a squeeze to her lovely bum and watched her jump."You are crazy!" she yelped, shoving me off her. "Crazy for you," I said, wrapping my arm back around her and bringing her in close to me. "We're almost there anyway. I hope Fred and the boys are home so you can meet them.""I can't wait," she said, trying to