Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss (Pregnancy & Passion #3)(55)

“Wow,” she whispered. “I have no idea what to say, Devon. I had no idea I affected you so badly.”

He shook his head. “Oh, God, no, Ash. Don’t you see? You are the very best part of me. It wasn’t you. It was never you. It was me.”

No longer able to keep his hands from her, he stepped forward again and pulled her close so that their faces were almost touching and he could feel the warmth of her breath on his throat.

“You are the very best part of my world. You are my life. I cannot imagine an existence without you. I don’t want to. What I did was unforgivable. It was the result of ignorance and stupidity of the highest magnitude. I can only tell you that if you let me back into your life that you’ll never have cause to doubt me again. I’ll spend every single day proving to you that you are the absolute center of my universe. You wanted a man who adored you beyond reason. Someone who accepted you for the beautiful, amazing woman that you are. Look no further, Ash. He’s standing in front of you with his heart in his hands. No man will ever love you more than I do. It isn’t possible.”

Her eyes were huge in her face. Brilliantly blue, sparkling like the most exquisite gems. Her cheeks were brushed with rose and her throat worked up and down as she swallowed. Tears glittered like diamonds, clung to her lashes but didn’t fall. He wouldn’t let them this time. If she never cried again, it would be too soon for him.

When she opened her mouth to speak, he simply put his lips to hers and kissed her long and sweet. He was shaking as he crushed her to him. For the last week he’d despaired of ever getting this close to her again and now she was warm and soft in his arms and so very precious.

“Don’t say anything yet,” he whispered. “There’s still something I want to show you.”

He pulled away, gathered her hand in his and pulled her along the road. She walked with him haltingly, as if she were in a solid daze. As they rounded the sharp bend, she stopped in her tracks and gazed in wonder at the sprawling house on top of the hill.

In the distance, dogs barked and she turned her head, her brow furrowing as she searched for the source of the noise. And then over the hill, two dogs bounded, making a beeline for Ashley.

“Mac! Paulina!”

She dropped to her knees just as the dogs launched themselves at her, licking and barking excitedly as Ashley tried to hug them.

“Oh my God, where did you come from?” she whispered.

Devon glanced up the hill to see Cam standing there and Devon waved his thanks before turning his attention back to Ashley and the sheer joy in her eyes.

One of the dogs knocked her over and she went laughing to the ground, snow sticking to her coat as she lay gasping for air.

Devon carefully picked her back up and fended off the animals as they tried their best to lick her to death.

“They come with the house,” he said solemnly. “Since you’re the new director of the shelter, it only stood to reason that some of the animals find their home here.”

She brushed herself off and then stared back at the house again. “Is it… Is it yours?” she asked hesitantly.

“No, it’s yours.”

She turned to stare at him, excitement flashing like fireworks in her eyes. “You mean it? Really? How? Why? When?”

He chuckled indulgently and then because he couldn’t help himself, he pulled her into his arms so that he was wrapped solidly around her. They stood staring up at the house as her heart beat solidly against his chest.

“You wanted a home where you could envision children playing and you could be surrounded by your animals. I ignored that because I wasn’t ready for anything in my life to change. My apartment was comfortable and I saw no reason we couldn’t live there. But the simple truth is, I want to live wherever you are and wherever makes you happy. A good friend told me to go big or go home. I’m going big, Ash. Because I’ll do any damn thing in the world to have you back in my life.”

“Oh my,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to say, Dev. You’re saying everything I’ve ever dreamed you saying. I want to believe you. I want it more than anything. But I’m afraid.”

He tugged her even closer and rested his forehead on hers. “I love you, Ash. That isn’t going to change. I was an ass. I just need a chance to prove to you that you’re safe with me and a chance to show you that I’ll love and cherish you every day for the rest of your life. You and our children.”

“You’re okay with the baby?”

“If I was any more okay, I’d burst wide open. I can’t think of anything better than this house with you and our son or daughter plus the half dozen or so more we’ll fill it with.”

“Oh I love that,” she said, her eyes lighting up like a thousand suns.

He stroked a strand of her hair away from her face and then he kissed her softly, lingering over her lips as he savored being this close to her again.

“I love you,” he said. “I love you more than I ever thought it possible to love another person. I won’t lie. It scares the hell out of me, but being without you scares me even more. Give us a chance, Ash. I’ll show you that you can trust me again. I swear it.”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and moved her forehead down to nestle in the side of his neck. “I love you too, Dev. So very much. You have the power to hurt me like no one else. But you also have the power to make me happier than anyone else in the world.”