Had Dare talked her into adoption? Ashley couldn’t imagine giving up a baby if she were pregnant. But as Dare said, with Helen’s issues, it probably was for the best. But that didn’t mean she would be happy about it.

“At first. But more because her father walked out on her and her mother and she didn’t want to do the same. I explained that with adoption, the baby would go to a family that really wanted it. In the end, Helen’s main concern is that the baby have a good home. It’ll be hard on her, but it’s for the best.”

“It’ll be hard on you, too, won’t it?” Ashley asked, gazing into his sad blue eyes.

“It’ll be hard to watch her go through the pregnancy, then have to give up the baby. To never see it again. And for the baby to never know her mother.”

Or her father. But Dare probably didn’t want to think about that.

“You know, the three of us want to have a baby,” Adam said. “And we would be a great home.”

Dare’s gaze darted to Adam’s. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that maybe the three of us could adopt the baby.”

Ashley’s eyes widened at the suggestion and her heart thumped loudly.

“But you want to have a baby that’s yours,” Dare said.

“I want a baby that’s ours. And this baby is part of you.”

Ashley bubbled with joy at the thought that … what they were talking about was them all having a baby together. Tears welled in her eyes and she blinked them back. If this happened, then … she was going to be a mother.

She gripped Dare’s arm. “And if we adopt the baby, then Helen will be able to be a part of her life.”

Dare’s gaze turned to her. “You’re on board, too, Ash?”

She smiled broadly. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

“What do you think, Dare?” Adam asked, eagerness lacing his words.

“I don’t know, I…” Then Dare smiled broadly. “I think it’s worth asking her.”

*   *   *

When Dare returned to the room and sat between Ashley and Adam again, Ashley’s stomach clenched at his deadpan expression. None of them had wanted to wait so they’d decided Dare would phone Helen right away and ask her what she thought.

“So?” Adam prompted.

“Well…” Then a smile spread across Dare’s face. “It seems we’re going to be parents.”

Adam laughed, a glorious sound full of joy. “Oh, my God. That’s incredible.”

Ashley gazed from one man to the other, the words and their meaning slowly sinking in.

“We’re really doing this? We’re adopting her baby?” Ashley asked.