I pushed the little speedboat farther than I should, but Crescent Lake had never felt so big in my goddamn life. Fireworks had brought her to me. I’d hoped, but I knew it was a big gamble.

If my girl wanted to stay lost, she would stay gone.

I blinked away the grittiness from the wind and spray off the water. The only thing that mattered was getting to the pier. Lenny let off one more spray of white cracklers and a waterfall from his waning arsenal. I’d been worried we were going to run out of them before she showed up.

But there she was.

Standing among a crowd of our peers from graduation day. All the people who had rallied around me in my days of lacrosse. While not as big as football, we enjoyed a status of our own. Slight outlaws with our contact sport that was even more rough and tumble than the town’s beloved football.

Ally hadn’t really been in that scene. She’d always been on the fringes thanks to her mother’s health.

And if I wasn’t such an asshole I would have realized that before I got so excited about the reunion. But here they were, all behind her hooting and hollering like we were at a champion game.

She moved to the side ramp where the docks were.

I rode the waves I was making with the motor on my speedboat. I rarely took it off my dock preferring to drive most of the time. Not to mention the small nightmares that my little girl would go flying off the back and be lost in the lake. So, yeah—not so much of a boat guy these days. But right now? Right now all I wanted was to get her alone.

I wanted to tell her everything that was bursting out of my chest.

It started with the silly hearts I’d shot off into the sky. I needed to get her attention. She couldn’t deny that I was making a statement now. She couldn’t hide behind the little lies we told herself anymore.

I fishtailed on a wave and bumped over the wake I made in my haste to get to her.

I finally made myself throttle down the engine so I didn’t come in too hot. I didn’t want to hurt the one person on this earth who had been created for me. The one person I’d been desperate to lock down only to do the exact opposite in every way.

The last sparks of the waterfall fireworks lit her beautiful face and the smile splitting her face. She dropped her trusty knapsack by her feet and folded her arms as I slowly puttered to the dock.

Brad and JT were hooting behind her as well as a few catcalls from other members of my team.

The front of my boat bumped into the mooring as I tossed a rope up to tie me off before I drifted back out to the cove. She rested her sneakered foot against the sloping bow and tipped her head. “Had to make a spectacle?”

I widened my stance against the wild rocking from the waves. “Yep.”

“Don’t you do anything small, Hamilton?”

“Nope.” I leaned forward. “I’ve got a secret.”

“Is that right?” Her lips twitched as she tried not to smile.

“Yeah. It’s kinda a big one. Though maybe not such a big secret now.” My stomach pitched in time with the waves banging my little boat against the moorings.

She pushed her chocolate and caramel hair out of her eyes as it whipped around her shoulders. “I’m listening.”

I looked behind her for a second. No one was dispersing. At all. Everyone was leaning in to see what I had to say. I took a deep breath. I valued my privacy, but this was important. “I love you, Alison. In a big, stupid, crazy way. So much that I can’t even put it into words.”

Her dark eyes widened and her hands fell to her side. “What?”

“You had to know.”

Her hand flew up to her mouth as a smile broke between her fingers.

I glanced behind her and growled when I spotted JT with his hands over his heart.

She waved her hand to the idiots catcalling behind her. “Never mind them. I’m not sure I heard that.”

I pulled out of slip that was too far away from her and moved myself closer to her. “I love you. I wanna marry you.”

“Marry me?”

I gripped the throttle and spun around until the boat was sideways at the end of the slip. I held my hand out out to her. “Yeah you. This is the marrying kind of love. Being the mother of my kid kind of love. The one I already have,” I quickly corrected at her crestfallen face. “I want to build a life with you and a family. I want forever, Ally Cat.”

She blinked madly and looked down at me, her hands fisted at her sides.

“Please take a chance on me, Al.”

She lifted her bag and tossed it into my boat then jumped in and I caught her. There was nothing else I could possibly do.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and dragged her into me. “You’re killing me, Alison.”

“I love you so much.” Her voice was ragged and her eyelashes starred with tears. “Besides, if I didn’t I would have after you gave me fireworks for God’s sake.”

“Go big or go home, baby.”

She lifted her arms around my shoulders and went on her tiptoes. “I really like the idea of going home.”

Jessica made a whoop-whoop call and everyone clapped on the pier. I settled her in the seat beside me and throttled back away from the dock and waved.

JT curved his fingers around his mouth. “Lucky bastard!”

“You’re damn right I am,” I called back.

I sat down and dragged her close as I opened up the motor again and raced across the cove to my house—our house. We couldn’t talk above the wind and waves, but I didn’t need words right now.

I just needed her by my side. It only took a few minutes to get to the dock by my house and to moor the little speedboat. I tied off and jumped out to help her up on the dock.

She wouldn’t look at me as I handed her the oversized knapsack she forever carried.

There was no way I was going to stand for that. Not now. I dragged her close and lowered my head to catch her mouth in a swift, hot, heavy kiss. I poured everything I couldn’t say into her. She made a little squeak and gripped the front of my shirt.

“I swear you’re all I’ve ever wanted. I was just too stupid to actually say it out loud. All I could think about was fucking things up between us and losing you forever. I’m still going to have nightmares about it,” I said with a harsh laugh against her mouth. “But it’s better than not having you be mine. And most of all, being yours.” I touched my forehead to hers. “It’s scary as hell to know you could break me into pieces.”

“I’d never.” Her voice was a sandpaper whisper.

“I know. That’s what I figured out. I trust you.”

Her fingers twisted tighter into the dress shirt I was wearing. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Just you.”

“Well, you got me. And you’re never getting rid of me, baby or not.” Ally would always be enough, even if a small part of me wanted a baby to make it just that much more amazing. “And if you want, we can practice all night long. Laurie’s at my dad’s place.”

A little hiccup bubbled up in her bubble of laughter. “Yeah, about that.” She dug her hand into the endless bottom of her purse and she came out with a little white bag.

There was just enough illumination coming from the solar lights that lit up the dock and the path to my house for me to see a telltale logo through the plastic. My chest tightened. I pushed it back and my breath stalled. “Are you?”

“I wanted to wait for you to do it with me.”

I lifted her into my arms, her canvas bag and the test crunching between us. “Can we do it now? Is it too early?”

She laughed. “It’s a little early, but this test is made for that.”

I blinked away the quick prick of tears. I didn’t want to ask, but I knew I had to. “Is this okay? I mean it’s okay if you’re not. We can wait until we get married. You know, make it all official. And if you want to do the school thing…” I swallowed down the nerves. I didn’t want to wait, but I would for her.

I’d do anything for her.

“I don’t remember saying yes. Or you really asking.”

My breath stalled. “I mean, you’re going to say yes, right?”

She tried to keep a straight face, but her lips kept twitching into a smile. Her fingers slid up my chest and around to the nape of my neck, then finally to the longer part of my hair where she could grip me tight. “I just might.”

I looped her legs around my waist and kept on walking. “Well, then I’m just going to have to convince you.”

She giggled. “Put me down, you idiot.”

“And let you run again? I think not, lady.”

“I’m never running again.”

I lowered her to feet. Mostly because I was afraid I’d do something stupid in the dark and drop her. No way was I ever going to let anything happen to her. I took her knapsack and stuffed the test back in and put it over my shoulder, then turned her around and slapped her ass. “Get going, we’ve got a test to take.”

She dashed forward and we both ran up the stone steps to the house. When we reached the back porch stairs, I couldn’t wait any longer. I scooped her up at the threshold and rushed through the house, depositing her in front of the bathroom door. “Okay. Go, you know. Do whatever it is you do.”

“What if I don’t have—”

I pushed her into the bathroom and turned on the taps full strength. “Need a glass of water?”

She slapped at me and took the bag before shoving me out the door. “Neanderthal.”

I paced outside the door and was sort of glad that she left the water running. Not that her peeing on a stick was weird—much. I mean, I did have a kid. Bodily functions were just part and parcel of my day.

But this was a really important stick.

She opened the door and I spun around. “Well?”

“Five minutes, buddy.”

My shoulders slumped as she dried her hands. “That’s forever.” I looked down at my watch and set the timer.

She grinned and walked into my space. “Then maybe we should make out for a few minutes.”

“Well, I can certainly do that.” I lowered my mouth to hers and slowly drew out the kiss. I tried to concentrate on the little things I knew she liked, but I kept sneaking glances at my watch.

She plowed her fist into my belly. “You’re incorrigible.”

I rubbed my ribs. “Ow. I can’t help it.” She tried to hide behind her curtain of hair, but I saw the nervous smile peeking through. “You want to know just as bad as I do.”

“No, I don't. Well, maybe. What time is it?” She grabbed my wrist. “It has to be time.”

“It’s only been three minutes.” She dropped my wrist. “Ugh.” I tried to loop my arm around her waist but she wiggled free. I lifted her off her toes. “Seth, don’t try to distract me now. You had your chance.” She couldn’t stop laughing. “What time is it now?”

“Twenty seconds later.” I banded my arms under her butt and lifted her until our mouths lined up. I stared at her as our lips met. “It doesn’t matter what it says.”

She looped her arms around my shoulders. “No?”

I shook my head, but then my timer started beeping and she scrambled down and we both raced to the bathroom. She elbowed me out of the way and grabbed the little plastic wand.

“What does it say?” I said over her shoulder.

Her hand flew up to her mouth.

I banded my arms around her waist as we stood in front of the stick. “It’s okay, Al, we’ve got—”

“Positive.”

I swear I went blind and dumb for a full ten seconds. “What?”

“Positive.” She twisted in my arms. “I think we’re having a baby.”

I crushed her to me.

“Seth, the stick.”

“Who cares. I’m getting that sucker framed. My girl said yes, and the test said yes. Best day ever!”

“I didn’t say yes, yet.”

I scooped her up into my arms again and strode out of the bathroom. “Oh, you will.”

She grabbed my shoulder. “You’re so certain?”

I locked my gaze with hers. “More certain than I’ve ever been about anything.”

Her eyes were shiny, but the biggest, brightest smile lit her face. Finally, I got the words right.