“I haven’t been any of those things in a long time. Don’t get me wrong—I’m happy every minute I get to spend with Ethan. He’s the best thing to ever happen to me. But I’ve missed having someone special in my life. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it until very recently.”

“What happened very recently?” he asked.

She flattened her hand over his chest. “You happened.”

He covered her hand and linked their fingers. “Is this a good thing?”

“I think so.”

“You’re not sure?”

“I want to be sure, but I’m wired differently than I used to be. I’m skeptical and overly cautious. I haven’t been as cautious with you as I usually am.”

Paul rested their joined hands over his heart, hoping to quell the ache that settled there on her behalf. “I wish I’d met you first, before you were skeptical.”

“I do, too. But I believe I was meant to be with Carl so I could have Ethan. That was the whole point of everything I went through.”

“That’s a great way to look at it.”

“That’s the only way I can bear to think about it.” She looked up at him. “I’m going to try my best not to ruin a very nice thing by being skeptical and jaded.”

He took her cup and put it next to his on the table. Then he snuggled in close to her, cupping her cheek to kiss her. “And I’ll do my best not to let you.”

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“Is he asleep?” Jenny asked Alex when he came into their bedroom and started removing his clothes. If she lived forever, she’d never grow tired of the sight of his sexy, muscular body. And after what he’d done for her today, she loved him even more than she had this morning, which she wouldn’t have thought possible.

“Out like a light,” Alex said. “He was so excited to be sleeping in Paul’s room. I didn’t think he’d ever go to sleep.” He took a closer look at her, his eyes bugging adorably. “What in the name of hell are you wearing?”

“Oh, this old thing?” She toyed with the bodice of the sexy silk gown she’d intended to save for their honeymoon. She’d broken it out early to reward him for being the most amazing husband in the history of the world. After what he’d done for her today, he deserved nothing less. She loved watching him harden before her eyes as he wrestled his way out of his clothes.

Then he was upon her, pulling the covers back for a closer look at the gown she’d bought at Tiffany’s shop.

“Someone’s been keeping secrets,” he said, running his hand over the silky baby-doll nightgown that ended at mid-thigh.