Angel's Rest(61)

Nic shut her eyes. How humiliating was this? He wouldn’t be her husband. He’d be her roommate. If I wanted a roommate, I’d have taken out an ad.

“If I were to agree to this,” she said slowly, “there is something I refuse to compromise on. If you decide you’re, um, adjusted again, don’t let me walk in on you and another woman. Like they say, been there, done that. Totally no fun.”

“Hey.” He put a finger beneath her chin and tilted her face up, then stared deeply into her eyes. “That’s one promise I can make you, Nic. I will not be unfaithful. Put that worry out of your mind. You have my word.”

She believed him. After all, he was still struggling over faithfulness to his first wife a year after her death.

“Say yes, Nicole,” he urged. “Let me do this much for you, for the baby. Let me give him, give both of you, my name.”

“Why do you care, Gabe? I don’t understand.”

“I’m not sure I understand either, to be honest. What I do know is that as I stood on that mountaintop yesterday, I understood that this is the way it’s supposed to be. Maybe it’s because it’s the way I was raised. Maybe it’s because this is one thing I know I can do for this baby. If, in the end, I have to walk away, at least he’ll know I respected his life and his mother enough to do this.”

Nic thought about it for a long time. If she agreed to marry him, she would be taking an awful risk. What if she fell all the way in love with him and he never healed enough to love her back? Or, even worse, his heart healed and he decided he wanted someone else?

But, like Sage said, the potential reward was great. They could have a happy marriage. Her baby could have both her parents.

Gabe Callahan could fall in love with them.

“If I were to agree to this,” she slowly repeated, “I’d want a kill switch.”

“Excuse me?”

“We can’t have an open-ended agreement. That doesn’t work for me. I need to know that if you can’t commit to us by the time the baby is, say, six months old, you’ll leave. That you’ll go away and stay away so that I … we … can get on with our lives.”

He considered it, then nodded. “Okay. We can do that. I don’t have a problem with that.”

Nic looked at Gabe for a long minute. He really was a good man. Troubled. Damaged beyond repair, perhaps. But when he loved, he loved with a capital L. He could be her brass ring, but marrying him would require a leap of faith on her part. Could she do it? Dare she do it?

Again, Celeste’s voice echoed through her thoughts. Allow yourself to love him, Nicole. That’s one of the greatest gifts a mother can give to her child, you know. To love her child’s father. I firmly believe that once Gabe’s heart heals, he’ll discover that you and your child already have a place there.

“Okay,” she said, expelling a heavy breath. “I’ll do it. For the baby’s sake, I’ll marry you.”

“Good. I’m glad.” He wiped his palms on his pants legs, then stood.

If he tries to shake my hand, I’ll kick him.

He took her hand, but didn’t shake it. Instead, he tugged her to her feet, leaned down, and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “Thanks, Nic. I’m honored.”

He’s honored, and I’m a goner.

“So, how do you want to do this?” he continued. “You go to St. Stephen’s, don’t you?”

“No. Not at the church. Let’s just go to the courthouse. In Gunnison. I don’t want to do this in Eternity Springs.”

He shrugged. “That’s your call.”

She considered her appointment schedule for the coming week and frowned. “This week is bad for me. How about next week? Maybe Wednesday?”

“Sure. That’s fine. Whatever you want.” He gestured toward the hallway. “Ready to go back to the dance?”

“Guess I’d better. I’m supposed to be guarding the punch bowl.”

They didn’t speak as they returned to the gym. Sage was standing at the refreshment table, and when Nic gestured that she would take her friend’s place, Sage shook her head and waved her away. That left Nic standing awkwardly with Gabe. She expected him to say good night and escape, but instead he surprised her—shocked her—by asking, “Would you like to dance?”

She smiled at him. “Look at the gym floor, Gabe. This is a father-daughter dance.”