“Maybe we should cool off with the runs?” Braiden slowed his pace, beads of sweat running down his forehead. Tugging up his white wife beater, he wiped his face.

“Let me handle Ana, okay?” I slowed beside him.

“I’m just saying I don’t want to tread on any toes, not with the due date so near. She doesn’t need any extra stress. Cara said—”

“I said let me handle it.” I ran a brisk hand over my damp hair, droplets of sweat flying everywhere. Usually, our three-mile morning run left me feeling pumped, but today, I felt restless. Something I hadn’t felt in a while.

“Are you oka—”

“For fuck’s sake”—I groaned—“can’t you just leave it?” Pushing off again, I sprinted past Braiden. His protests rolled off my back as I pounded the sidewalk.

Things were supposed to be getting easier, not harder. Braiden and Cara had been in Tampa for four months now. But every week, Ana seemed to grow more uncomfortable with his presence. I should have recognized the signs when they first appeared. Ana stood there, on our doorstep, facing off with the guy who had tried to ruin her life—our lives—and invited him in for coffee. Few women would do that. But my Ana was strong. Stronger than she gave herself credit for.

But I’d known she was only doing it for me. Not for her or in the name of forgiveness, no—Ana let Braiden into our home because I silently asked it of her.

“Wait up, fucker.” Braiden fell into a steady pace beside me. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Yeah?” I kept my eyes ahead, focused on my stride and keeping my breaths even.

“So I was thinking, hmm, shit, this is ... Well, this is ...”

“Will you get to the point?”

“Right, right.” He hesitated, and I smirked to myself. One thing Braiden had never been was unsure of himself, so I knew this had to be big. “So I was thinking of asking Cara to marry me.”

I halted, dropping my hands to my thighs and sucking in a couple of deep breaths. “That’s”—I looked up at him—“serious.” And the last thing I expected to fall from his mouth.

“Yeah, well, she’s a keeper. Not many chicks would put up with what she has for a guy like me, but I guess you know all about that.” My jaw tensed, and Braiden threw up his hands. “Whoa. I’m not trying to be a dick.”

“I know.” I did. Braiden had changed. Maybe it was Cara or maybe it was his stint inside, but either way, I’d seen it in his eyes when I answered the door. Braiden wanted to make amends. But I knew better than anyone that sometimes absolution didn’t come from those around you; it had to come from inside yourself ... and the guy had a long way to go to forgive himself.

“So what do you think? Do you think she’s too young?”

“She followed you out here, didn’t she?” That said all it needed to in my book.

“I guess. But what if she decides she wants more? More than a life hiding away with me. She’s twenty-one, Jackson. Am I a selfish jerk for even thinking this?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Do you love her?”

“More than anything.”

“Then that’s all that matters. Hasn’t she proved herself enough? It’s time for you to step up and show her how much she means to you.”

Braiden considered my words for a second and ran a hand around to his neck, tilting his head to one side. “I guess.”

“You guess?”

He shook his head. “You’re right. Of course, you’re right.”

Clapping him on the shoulder, I laughed. “Guess this is an early congratulations then.”

“She hasn’t said yes.”

“I think you have it in the bag.” I began to run again.

“Cool.”

“Cool?” I laughed, glancing over my shoulder. “I think Cara will want something a little more than ‘cool.’”

“Fuck, you think?” Braiden jogged up beside me. “I figured we’d just do something quiet. It’s not like we have anyone to invite except you and ...” His voice trailed off.

“You can say her name.” I felt bad for the guy. I couldn’t help it. Even now, after everything, a part of me still remembered the bond we’d once shared. “Look, you have us, and you could always invite Fran—”

“Oh shit, do I have to ask for his blessing?”

I smirked again. “How do you think he’ll take it?”

“I’m fucked.”

We both laughed, our feet pounding against the sidewalk.

“You haven’t thought about asking Ana?” Braiden blurted out of nowhere. I stuttered out, “I mean yeah, sure, I have ...” But I’d wanted us to heal first. To have a chance to grow and discover each other out from under the Donohue shadow. Time just slipped away as we adjusted to our new lives, and now, the baby was coming.

“So what are you waiting for?”

Shit. He was right. What was I waiting for?

~

“ANA, IT’S ME,” I CALLED out, grabbing a towel off the counter to wipe my face.

“In the den.” Her voice floated into the kitchen, and I went in search of her.

Walking into the room, my lips curved into a smile at the sight of her lying flat on the sectional, reading a book to her bump. “What are you doing?”

She turned her head. “We’re reading Shakespeare.”

I shook my head with gentle laughter. Of course, they were.

“Shouldn’t you be at the office?”

“I decided to take the morning off and work from home.”

“Jax”—she sighed—“you don’t need to babysit me. We’re fine. Aren’t we, baby?” Placing the book down, Ana smoothed her hands over her stomach. I’d never get used to the sight of her, and the glow that seemed to radiate from her. She looked even more beautiful if that was possible.

“Come here.” I went to her, helping her up a little so I could slide in and rest her head on my legs. Ana smiled up at me. “I like working from home days.”

Leaning down, I dropped a kiss on her nose. “Me too. Now, what are we reading?”

“Well, we were reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Okay.” I stroked my fingers through her hair, curling a loose strand around my finger.

“Names.”

My chest filled with excitement. “You’re ready to talk about them?”

She nodded, a grin tugging at her soft lips. “I think it’s time.”

Damn right, it was. Ana had wanted to wait. Until every milestone, every OB appointment. In the early days, we’d discussed a few names, but Ana didn’t want to decide anything. Not until she knew with absolute certainty that everything was okay.

“So I know you like Isabella but what about Emma?”

“Emma?”

“You don’t like it?” Anna frowned, cute little lines creasing the corners of her eyes.

“It’s nice enough; I guess I just never thought about it.” It had never come up before.

“The English meaning is whole or complete. And I thought—”

I slid my hand down her body and rested it on the bump. “You thought it was the perfect name for the thing that would complete us.”

“Yes.”

“I love it.”

I did. Words were Ana’s thing. Usually, it was Shakespeare, but Ana had a gift for choosing the right word for the moment. And this was perfect. We’d come so far. Overcome so much. The life growing inside Ana—our daughter—was a testament to that.

“Emma,” I whispered over the lump in my throat. Maybe it was the conversation with Braiden or maybe it was this moment right here, but I realized I didn’t want to wait for the perfect time. Ana was already my everything. She was going to be the mother of my child. She owned my heart and soul.

“Marry me?”

Her eyes widened as she gasped. “What?”

“Marry me,” I said with more conviction.

“Jackson, I ...” Ana’s eyes glossed over, and my heart swelled in my chest until I thought it might burst.

“I should have done this a long time ago. You have owned me since that day you climbed out of that cab, Savanah Parry. I’ve never known a more determined, strong, and brave woman. You are my strength, my reason, my life, and I should have given you my name the second you left Chastity Falls with me. I love you, always.”

Tears streamed down her face. I did my best to swallow the ones burning in my eyes, but I felt wetness around the corners of my eyes.

“Yes, yes! Of course, the answer is yes.”

I had no ring. No surprise engagement party planned. Nothing. But our love had never been about that. It was about two lost souls finding one another and making the pieces whole. Ducking my head, I covered her lips, sealing my promise to love and honor and cherish her forever. If it were possible, I would have married Ana right then and there on our duck egg blue sectional.

“I want to make you Mrs. Ana Pierce as soon as possible,” I murmured into her mouth.

“Jax ... Jackson.” Ana pulled back, breaking the kiss. “What’s the rush? We have all the time in the world. The baby is—”

“Ana?” I watched in horror as Ana’s body tensed and pain contorted in her expression. The room closed in around me, and panic constricted my chest. “Ana, what is it?”

“Something’s wrong,” she cried out, clutching her stomach.

“Shit, okay, let me get my cell phone.” I kept one hand on Ana while digging in my track pants for my cell. Ana winced in pain as I dialed her doctor and waited. “There’s no answer. Do you think you can move?”

“Y- yeah, I think so.” She panted, her face twisted with alarm.

I slid out from under her and helped Ana to her feet. There was no water or blood, which I figured was a good sign, but I didn’t like her quiet moans. We still had six weeks until the baby was due. It was too soon. And while I led Ana out of the house and to my Jeep, all I could think was, Please let my girls be okay.

~

“HOW IS SHE?” BRAIDEN handed me the bag. “I got here as fast as I could.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Anytime. You know that,” he said. “Has the doctor been in yet?”

“They’re still running some tests. The pain has subsided, but Ana’s blood pressure was too high, and they think it was distressing the baby.”

“Shit.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “If you guys need anything ...”

“Yeah, thanks.” I’d asked him to bring me a change of clothes since I was still in my running gear. The nurses had told us to prepare for Ana to be admitted for a few days for observation. “I’d better get back in there. Ana is a mess.”

“Okay, well, you know where we are if you need us. Tell Ana that Cara was asking about her.”

“Thanks.”

Braiden watched me go; I felt his gaze on my back. I didn’t know why, but I’d lied to Ana and said Max would bring me a change of clothes at the hospital. With the stress she was already under, I didn’t want her thinking about Braiden.

“Hey.” I slipped into Ana’s room and closed the door behind me. “Any sign of the doctor yet?”

She shook her head, worry shining in her eyes. “The nurse said he shouldn’t be too much longer.”

“How do you feel?” I moved to the side of the bed, and Ana reached out to me. I clasped her hand in mine, placing the bag on the chair beside me.

“Tired. Scared. I just want to know if everything’s okay. It’s too soon for the baby to come, Jax. She’s too small. She isn’t ready. We’re not ready.” Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, and I brought a hand to her cheek, sweeping them away with my thumb.

“Hey, hey.” I moved my hand back to hers. “Everything is going to be fine. The nurse said it’s probably your blood pressure. The baby just got a little distressed. It’s going to be fine.”

It had to be.

A knock sounded on the door, and Dr. Benns poked his head inside. “Ahh, Ana, Jackson, nice to see you both again; although I wasn’t expecting you for another six weeks.”

I knew it was his attempt to lighten the mood, but I tensed, feeling my jaw clench. It wasn’t the time to joke; I needed to know that Ana and my daughter would be okay.

“Is everything okay with her?” Ana rushed out, and he smiled. “Everything with the baby is fine. I’m more concerned about you right now.”

“Me?”

The blood drained from my face. Ana was already under orders to take it easy, so whatever was coming wasn’t good.

“We found protein in your urine, and your blood pressure is higher than we’d like to see.”

“You think I’m developing pre-eclampsia?”

His eyes softened. “We don’t think, sweetie; I’m afraid the signs are all there.”

Ana sighed, the fight leaving her body, and then something cracked in my chest. I didn’t need to look at her to know she was crying. Her body shook with her silent tears.

“What does this mean, doc?” I asked, rubbing my temples to stay focused.

“Well, we’ll start meds to stabilize Ana’s blood pressure and monitor the baby closely.”

“Can I go home?” Ana clutched my hand like a vise.

“We’ll need to keep you for a few days, but if you respond to the meds, we can discuss release. Either way, it’ll be bed rest for the duration of your pregnancy.”

“Worst case?” I blurted out, a million scenarios running through my head. None good.

“Well, sometimes there are complications, and we have to deliver the baby early, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You did the right thing by bringing her straight here, Jackson. Now, I’ll give you some time. The nurse can answer any questions you have, okay?”

“Thank you.”

He went to leave but doubled back, Ana’s chart swinging by his side. “Ana, I know it’s easier said than done but try not to worry. The baby is fine for now. We’ll monitor you both closely. You’re in good hands.”

Dr. Benns left the room. As the door clicked shut, Ana burst into tears. I watched the woman I loved more than anything fall apart, knowing this was one thing I couldn’t fix.