“Yes, Ash.” Dare took her in his arms and hugged her. “You’re going to be a mother.” He gazed down at her. “It’s what you want, isn’t it?”

She smiled so broadly, her cheeks hurt. “More than anything.” She rested her hand on Dare’s face. “Except when I have your baby. And Adam’s.”

Adam chuckled. “So we’re going for three?”

She giggled, reaching for Adam’s hand and holding it tight, while Dare still held her in his arms. “Or more.”

Adam wrapped his arms around the two of them and they sat in the warmth of their embrace for several long moments. Ashley felt so much love around her it made her heart swell.

Finally, Dare drew back, then stood up, breaking the embrace.

“There is another matter we need to discuss. It’s especially important now that we’ve made this momentous decision.”

Ashley and Adam stared at him expectantly.

Dare knelt down on the floor in front of the couch and Ashley’s heart beat faster. He took her hand in his. The feel of his big fingers enveloping hers sent warmth through her. He took Adam’s hand, too.

“You both mean so much to me and I love you with all my heart. I can’t imagine my life without the two of you in it. I may not be able to marry both of you, but I want us to spend the rest of our lives together.”

“Oh, Dare.” Tears sprang from Ashley’s eyes and Adam wrapped his fingers tighter around Dare’s hand.

“I’m hoping you’ll both move in here, or we can buy a new place we all choose. I just want us to be together.”

“What about New York?” Adam asked.

“I’m going to move back here. I’ve always loved Autumn’s Ridge. That’s why I moved here in the first place. I hated having to leave, but it was too hard after the divorce. Now … everyone I care about is here. Even Helen will be moving to town so she can be close to the baby.”

Ashley reached for Adam’s hand, searching his dark brown eyes. His eyes sparkled and he gave her a quick nod.

“Yes, Dare. Oh, yes,” she said as she threw her arms around him. His lips found hers and he kissed her deeply.

When he released her, they both turned to Adam.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Of course the answer is yes.”

Dare laughed, then embraced Adam. Their lips met with passion. Tears of joy trickled from Ashley’s eyes and she swiped them away.

Dare stood up, a broad grin on his face, then he walked through the dining room and into the kitchen. He returned with champagne in a bucket of ice in one arm and three tall stemmed glasses in his hand. The bottle was frosty, so clearly he’d had it on ice before they’d arrived.