Her baby stared up at her with what looked like wonder. Her heart squeezed so tightly. She needed to hold it together. Needed to be strong for her daughter. Candy swallowed thickly. “It looks like it’s just you and me, kid. We’ll be okay though.”

“Can I hold her?” Torrent stood at the doorway. He looked stricken. His eyes were dark and anguished. His jaw tight. There were two deep lines on his forehead.

A tear slipped down her cheek. Was this him saying goodbye? Was this Torrent double-checking that her baby was, in fact, human before he turned his back on them or was it… She chewed on her lip and nodded once, holding the little one out to him.

He took the baby from her. Holding her like she was the most precious thing in all the world. His eyes were filled with tears, his gaze firmly on her daughter. Seeing the baby in his arms, against his huge frame, made her look even tinier.

Candy could hardly breathe. Her eyes stung and there was a huge lump in her throat.

“I’m sorry I left just now.”

“It’s okay,” she blurted.

“No, it’s not.” He lifted his gaze from the infant in his arms and directed it on her. “I scared you, hurt you.”

“It’s… understandable.”

“I didn’t leave because I’m angry or hurt. I don’t blame you for anything. I left because I…” He cradled her daughter more firmly against his chest. “The truth is, I was scared, petrified.” He paused, his throat working. “I’m not her father.” He stumbled on the words.

It hurt her to hear him say it. Her lip trembled and by some miracle she managed to keep from crying all over again.

“I want to be though. I really want to be, Candy. I hope that you’ll let me. It doesn’t matter to me that she—”

“Yes, of course I want that…I want it more than anything…” A tear escaped. So sue her, she couldn’t help it. “I don’t know how it happened. I was always so careful. It must’ve been that last time, with Charles. The timeframe works.” Her mind raced through all that had happened. “I must have arrived here already pregnant. I…”

“It doesn’t matter. I have a daughter. We have a daughter.” He looked down at their baby with adoration in his eyes. “I’m the luckiest male on the planet because I have you. It doesn’t matter to me that she is human. Our daughter is a part of you and that makes her a part of me too.” He scooted closer and kissed her. Torrent broke the kiss and looked deep into her eyes. He grinned. “Besides, we’ll make a little brother for her to play with…”