“Faith!” Liz hurried from the kitchen and reached the porch in time to see Faith hurl herself at Jonas. With a laugh, he caught her, tossed her in the air then set her down again in a move so natural that it seemed he’d been doing so all his life. Liz knotted the dishcloth in her hands.

“You came early.” Pleased, Faith hung on to his hand. “We were talking about you.”

“Were you?” He tousled Faith’s hair but looked up at Liz. “That’s funny, because I was thinking about you.”

“We’re going to make paella because that’s what Grandpa likes best. You can help.”

“Faith—”

“Love to,” Jonas interrupted. “After I talk to your mother.” At the foot of the stairs he crouched down to Faith’s level. “I’d really like to talk to your mom alone.”

Faith’s mouth screwed up. “Why?”

“I have to convince her to marry me.”

He ignored Liz’s gasp and watched for Faith’s reaction. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth pursed. “She said you weren’t her boyfriend. I asked.”

He grinned and leaned closer. “I just have to talk her into it.”

“Grandma says nobody can ever talk my mom into anything. She has a hard head.”

“So do I, and I make a living talking people into things. But maybe you could put in a few good words for me later.”

As Faith considered, her eyes brightened. “Okay. Mom, can I see if Roberto’s home? You said he had new puppies.”

Liz stretched out the cloth then balled it again. “Go ahead, but just for a little while.”

Jonas straightened as he watched Faith race toward the house across the street. “You’ve done an excellent job with your daughter, Elizabeth.”

“She’s done a great deal of it herself.”

He turned and saw the nerves on her face. It didn’t displease him. But he remembered the way she’d looked when she had opened her arms to Faith at the airport. He wanted, he would, see her look that way again. “Do you want to talk inside?” he began as he walked up the steps. “Or right here?”

“Jonas, I don’t know why you’ve come back, but—”

“Of course you know why I’ve come back. You’re not stupid.”

“We don’t have anything to talk about.”

“Fine.” He closed the distance quickly. She didn’t resist, though she told herself she would. When he dragged her against him, she went without hesitation. Her mouth locked hungrily to his, and for a moment, just for a moment, the world was right again. “If you don’t want to talk, we’ll go inside and make love until you see things a little more clearly.”

“I see things clearly.” Liz put her hands on his arms and started to draw away.

“I love you.”