“I want to stay there until I have the baby,” she said quietly. She didn’t want her baby born here. She didn’t want to be surrounded by people who despised her. She didn’t want her child exposed to the animosity she herself had been a victim of.

“Already arranged.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Come with me, Kell. Trust me. At least for now.”

Maybe she could stay on the island after the baby was born. Surely Ryan saw the impossibility of them having a relationship by now. But she and the baby could live there. They wouldn’t need much. A small cottage or even an apartment. As soon as she was back on her feet, she could find work. She’d waitressed. She wasn’t afraid of hard work.

And when Ryan wanted to see their child he could come to the island. For a man with his own jet and a resort that would be completed within a year, it wouldn’t be a hardship to visit his child often.

Encouraged by having a goal, a plan, she nodded.

Ryan’s relief was palpable. He leaned forward to kiss her, but she turned her head so that his mouth glanced off her cheek instead.

“I have to leave for just a little while,” he said when he pulled back. “I need to finalize all the arrangements for our departure and make sure your needs will be met for the entire trip. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Is there anything I can bring you?”

She shook her head and he rose but before he walked away, he stroked a hand over her hair. “I’ll do anything to make you smile again, Kell.”

Before she could respond, he turned and walked quietly from the room, leaving her to stare out the window as it snowed.

* * *

The flight and subsequent transportation to the villa on the beach was seamless. Ryan had ensured that she was given every consideration. She was endlessly pampered and waited on and when they arrived on the island, they were greeted not only by the physician who would be monitoring her care, but a personal nurse who would reside at the villa with her and Ryan.

When Kelly got her first look at the sprawling villa, it took her breath away. They drove through a gate and down a winding driveway that was lined with lush, gorgeous flowers. Just for a moment the driveway paralleled the beach before it ended in front of the main house.

The house couldn’t be more than a few steps from the beach. The idea that she could walk out the back door and be on the sand sent excitement coursing through her veins.

Ryan insisted on carrying her inside. He cradled her close as he walked through the front door and she craned her neck to take in the interior.

Instead of showing her around, he took her to the glass doors that led to the wraparound porch in the back. As she had suspected, there were only three stones marking the very short pathway from the porch to the sand.