At her words my mouth goes dry. I can see it so clearly. Jessie in the meadow with a baby in her arms, a toddler rolling in the grass next to her. She smiles and looks up at a man. Her soul mate. His back is to me. I can’t see his face.

My chest tightens.

“You want kids?” I ask, my voice comes out rough.

She shifts on her elbow and puts her chin in her hand. Her eyes grow happy. “I want a house full of kids, so that the halls are always full of laughter and noise. The more noise the more love.”

I reach out and run my hand down her cheek. “That sounds wonderful. And Romeo’s just the place for it.”

If I had my way, I’d make sure she spent the rest of her life surrounded by noise and laughter and love. I know how much living in a silent house hurt her.

“Could you live here year round?” she asks.

“So that’s what you’re aiming at. You like me best for my house. It’ll easily fit, what…ten, twelve kids?”

She snorts, then starts laughing. “You nailed it. It’s your massive house I’m attracted to.” She wags her eyebrows suggestively.

I laugh and grab her, pull her under me. I kiss her nose, her cheeks, her lips.

“Tell me,” I say.

She stills and shifts under me until she’s comfortably nestled in my arms.

“Well, I guess it’s not actually just one thing,” she says.

I’m suddenly, strangely nervous about what she’s going to say. She reaches over and places her hand over my heart. Her fingers drift over me, stroking gently.

“I’ve seen you at work, you’re skilled, powerful, clearly the best at what you do. I used to purposely sit near you when you worked in the park or outside the bakery and listen to your phone calls. I was always amazed at how you handled crises or treated your employees with so much respect. Even when I didn’t want to, I admired you.”

I frown. “The thing you like best about me is my business acumen?”

She shifts. “No. I’m not done explaining. It’s hard for me to put it in words.” She presses her palm to my chest.

I smile. I do like the part where she admitted she sought me out. She’s been as drawn to me as I have to her.