“If it makes you feel any better, I’m a little guilty, too.”
“Why?”

“I’m so damned happy to have you back in my life and in my bed, but I know how difficult this step is for you.”

Sydney reached up to brush the hair off his forehead. “I’m glad I took the step with you.”

Luke hugged her. “So am I.”

She drew back to look up at him. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

His entire body went rigid. “What?”

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the nerves that suddenly gripped her. “Remember when we talked about whether or not I want more kids?”

He nodded. “What about it?”

“Well, the thing is, I can’t have any more. Not naturally, anyway.”

“Oh.”

“I know I should’ve told you sooner. It just didn’t seem like the right time the other day. But I wanted you to know.”

Luke looked over her head at a point off in the distance.

“I’d understand if that changes things for you—”

He brought his gaze back to meet hers. “It doesn’t change anything.”

“You must want kids of your own someday.”

“I haven’t given that much thought, to be honest. I’ve never come close to being married, so it hasn’t been an issue.”

“You’d only have kids if you were married?”

“I didn’t know my own father, so I’d never want a kid of mine to grow up that way. Marriage seems to seal the deal.”

“You should think about this, Luke, and be sure how you feel about it.”

He drew her into a hug. “If I had a choice between five kids with someone else or no kids with you, I pick you.” He brushed a soft kiss over her lips. “I pick you every time.”

Overwhelmed by him, Sydney rested her forehead against his chest.

“Were you worried about what I might say?”

She nodded.

“That’s good.”

Looking up at him, Sydney laughed. “Why?”

“It means you care.”

“I do care.”

He kissed her nose and then her lips. “I know you do. Come on, let’s eat.”

Luke and Sydney arrived at the marina just as Big Mac was pulling the garage doors closed on the dockside restaurant.

“What’re you still doing here?” Luke asked him.

“Linda had a thing with the ladies, so I stuck around to have a beer with Owen.”

“Syd, you remember Mr. McCarthy, right?” Luke said.

She extended a hand to the older man, who enclosed hers between both of his. “Nice to see you again, Mr. McCarthy.”

“That’s Big Mac to you, and it’s good to see you, too. I was so sorry to hear of your terrible loss.”

“Thank you.”

“Good day off?” Big Mac asked Luke.

“It was. Thanks for the time.”

“You don’t have to thank me. In fact, take tomorrow, too. We’re slow this week.”