Time did that funny thing where it slowed down until images blurred and feelings washed away. She heard her heart beating fast and furious, but she didn’t feel it. Just as she saw Nash’s lips moving, forming words and questions, but she didn’t hear them.

Honey turned away. She couldn’t do this. What the hell had she been thinking? She was nowhere near prepared to face Nash. Shivering like crazy, she scooped up the cardigan and stared at it dully, her fingers rolling over the buttons as she tried to figure a way out of the mess she’d landed in. The letter Nash had left for her stuck out of the pocket, and the sight of it made her stomach turn.

“You’re pregnant.” Nash’s voice managed to break through the haze that surrounded her. And now her shame was complete. Judgment day was here. It was time to face her past. All of it.

The baby kicked, and she smiled sadly as she turned around. Nash looked grim, and her stomach dipped. He wasn’t happy. But then had she expected him to be? She couldn’t stop the tears if she tried, and they rolled slowly down her face.

“Yes.”

“But…” He ran his hands through his hair and swore. “How?”

“I don’t know… I forgot to take my pill a few times and I doubled up, but…” Did he believe her? Did it matter?

“I found out about a month after I left town. I didn’t tell you because I figured there was no point.”

“No point? You thought I wouldn’t want to know about my child?” Anger colored his words, and she flinched. “What kind of asshole do you think I am?”

“I don’t think that. Please.” How could she make him see? Make him understand? “Do you remember when I asked you about children? About what they meant to you?”

He shook his head, and she saw his confusion.

“You told me once you would never consider being a father unless you found a woman as giving and as loving as your mother. I know how much you love her, how much you respect her, and I know I’ll never be anything like your mom. You made your feelings clear to me that last night at the gala.” Pain sliced through her. “You told me that I was the worst kind of human being there was, and I knew you were disgusted. I knew your feelings for me weren’t strong enough to handle my reality. I thought that if I told you about the baby, you would take her away from me. And I…” Her voice broke, and she swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I’ve spent my whole life looking for something, and I finally figured out what that something is. It wasn’t acceptance. It wasn’t me wanting the Blackwells to know who I am. I was looking to belong to someone. It was as simple as that.” She shrugged. “I was looking for a family.”

“You were going to have this baby and not tell me.” It wasn’t a question, and she had nowhere to hide.

All his proclamations of love were gone. His face was hard as he stared down at her. This final lie was just another on a pile of crap she’d served him the entire time they were together. He would never forgive her for keeping this from him. And yet, she was still going to beg. Hell, she’d get down on her knees if she had to.

“I was afraid that if you knew about the baby, you would come for her and take her from me. You have the Blackwells behind you. All of Crystal Lake behind you. No judge would ever side with someone like me. Someone who’s done the things I have. I saw their faces when you told everyone about the prostitution thing. I was protecting myself, Nash. I won’t survive without her. I won’t.”

He swore and looked away, his body tense, his hands fisted at his sides. “This is not… Jesus, Honey I didn’t expect this.”

“Don’t take her from me. Please, Nash. I’ll look after her, I promise. I’ll make sure she’s loved and never needs for anything. I can do this. I can be a family for her. I’m not my mother. I will put her above everything else.” Her voice caught, but she charged on. “I’ve saved money, and I have a job and a home, and she’ll…she’ll have me and…” She gulped in air and tried to calm herself. “And she can have you too. I’ll do whatever you want, just please don’t take away my baby.”

Honey bowed her head and tried to get her shit together. Never had she lost it like this before. But then she’d never had so much at stake.

When Nash spoke, she jumped and looked up. “You never answered my question.” Nash moved until he was inches from her. She tried to avoid his gaze, but he grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.

“What question?” she whispered, her heart hammering so hard, she was sure he heard it.

“Do you love me?” He spoke slowly, clearly, and never took his eyes off her.

“Nash…” She licked her dry lips and shook her head.

“Answer the fucking question, Honey. No more lies. Just the truth. Do you love me?”

She felt as if her heart and mind were exposed. As if the entire world was pressing in on her and she had nowhere to hide. As if she was on the edge of a cliff waiting to jump off. “Yes, Nash. I love you.”

“Do you forgive me for the shit I put you through?”

“Do I forgive…” Surprised, she didn’t know how to answer. “You had every right to be angry with me. I know how things looked. I know what I was. What I did.”

His hand slid along her jaw. “Do you forgive me for hurting you? I need to know. Because if not, we’ve got some stuff to work on.”

She thought of those first few months after she’d left Crystal Lake. How many nights had she cried herself to sleep? She hadn’t wanted to blame him for her pain, but there were times she did. The darkest times when it was three in the morning, and she was alone. “Yes.”

“Please tell me you don’t believe I’m the kind of man who would rip a child away from her mother.”

As she looked up into his face, Honey realized how wrong she’d been. She’d been protecting herself—protecting her heart. “No,” she answered carefully. “I don’t believe that. I just… I’ve never reached the finish line before. Never won the race. I was afraid because I’ve never in my life had what I wanted. Happiness. Family. And it was there, right in my hands, and I screwed it up.”

Nash was quiet for a few seconds, and when he spoke, his voice was so gentle, it made her soul weep.

“You don’t have to look anymore, Honey. You’re done with that.” He cupped both sides of her face. “I am your family. Got that? You. Me.” His hand slid down her body, and she cried out when she felt his large palm on her belly. “This baby. We’re a family now, and nothing will break us apart.”

He bent closer, his breath a warm whisper against her ear. “Nothing.”

Honey’s knees gave out, and she sagged against him. She couldn’t help it. Everything inside her had to come out. She sobbed into his chest as her body shuddered and her teeth chattered. Nash picked her up into his arms and made his way inside her home. He sat down on the small sofa and held her until she had no more tears left. Until she was spent, pliant as rubber band. Until the warmth from his body seeped into hers, and the sound of his heart had hers singing.

Stinker curled up beside them on the sofa, her tail wagging like crazy, her dark eyes twitchy as she watched them curiously.

Nash moved slightly, and Honey looked into his eyes, for the first time with no fear, and her heart swelled. All she saw was love. Acceptance. And, maybe, excitement?

“So,” he murmured, his hand sliding along her belly once more. “A girl?”

“I’m not sure, actually.” Her voice was scratchy, and she worked to clear the frog from the back of her throat. “I just have a feeling it’s a girl.”

The baby kicked, and Nash jerked, his eyes wide with wonder.

Every bone in Honey’s body relaxed, and she placed her palm on his hand. “She must know her daddy is here.”

“I like the sound of that.” Nash swooped down, and his mouth claimed hers in a sweet, searching kiss. When he finally dragged his lips from hers, his face was serious.

“You should know that John is sick again. Cancer this time. He’s home and medicated, but they don’t give him much time. He’s actually lasted longer than they thought.” Nash tucked a piece of hair behind her ears. “He wants to see you. To have a chance to make things right. You said in your letter that you forgave him. I think he’s holding on, hoping to hear the words from you.”

She yanked her head up. “He knows about me?”

“Hudson told him. He figured it out the day after the gala when we went to your apartment. He’s been with me the whole way, trying to find you. He’s sick about this and feels responsible for turning you away from the family.”

Nash pressed a kiss to her forehead. “The next move is your call. I’ll stand behind you whatever you decide. If you want to forget about the Blackwells, stay here, and make a life in the Keys, I’ll do it.”

Honey’s heart couldn’t swell any more than it already had. Had she ever been this selfless? “You would move away from your family. From your best friends. From everything you know if I asked you to?”

He didn’t hesitate. He nodded. “We’re family now, Honey. That’s what we do.”

Stinker must have sensed her turmoil. The small dog hopped onto her lap and licked her hand. Slowly, she stroked the top of the dog’s head, her mind thinking ahead to what she had to do. It was time she faced her past. Time to lay those demons to rest. It was the only way she could truly move on.

She kissed Nash once more. “I better pack.”

“We’ve got a couple of hours.” His hands were in her hair. On her body. Pulling at her clothes.

“We do?” Her voice was husky as she positioned herself on top of him.

He nodded. “I booked our flights back when I arrived.”

“That’s ballsy.”

“I’m a ballsy kind of guy.” His fingers grazed her nipples, and she hissed. “I haven’t seen you naked in five months, so I’m going to apologize now, because this is going to be a quick one.” He froze, a look of panic on his face. “We can do this, right? I don’t know how this works.”

Honey kissed him. “It works the same as always, though I might be too much for you to handle.” She reached for his shirt. “All the hormones.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Nash grinned, and Honey ordered the dog off the sofa, and they got down to the important task of getting naked.

The flight back to Detroit took about three hours. They flew from Key West at five a.m. and landed around eight in the morning. The air was crisp and the sun brilliant as they loaded up Nash’s truck, which was waiting for them. Spring was in the air, and Honey’s heart felt a little lighter.

Stinker had never been in a car before, so Honey was pleasantly surprised when the small dog flopped down in the backseat and slept the entire ninety minutes it took to get from Detroit to Crystal Lake. By the time they got to Nash’s place, Honey was exhausted. She hadn’t slept much because of the sex. And her nerves. And the sex.

Good God, the sex. Who knew that pregnant sex could be that good? Nash had been ravenous. Relentless. Curious of the changes in her body. Her nipples were extra sensitive. Her orgasms explosive. And he said she tasted better than anything he’d ever had before.

She blushed as she pictured him between her legs, his hands holding her thighs apart so he could see and taste every single inch of her.

“You okay?” he asked as he parked the truck and cut the engine.

She slid from his vehicle and waited for Stinker to follow. “I will be after a shower, and then we’ll go to him.”

He rounded the truck and folded her into his arms, his face concerned, his touch gentle. “Are you sure you want to do this today? It can wait until tomorrow.”

“No,” she said, inhaling his scent and melting against him. “I don’t think it can. I don’t want John to wait. It’s not fair. I want to start my life with you, and I can’t do that until I see John. I need to finish this, Nash. I need to have closure.”

“Okay. Whatever you need.” He loosened his grip, and they headed inside. He tried to talk her into a nap, but Honey was so wired, she knew it wouldn’t happen. They both showered and in under an hour were on their way to the Blackwell home. By the time they got there, Honey had regained her strength, and she slid from the truck, determined to see this through, and, more importantly, determined to be strong.

Hudson was waiting on the step, and behind him, she spied Wyatt and Travis. The three Blackwell boys. Her brothers. They looked tired and sad and unsure.

“Ready?” Nash slipped her hand into his and squeezed gently. She let him lead her to the house. None of the men said anything about her pregnancy, but then Nash must have told them. It was awkward at first. She tried not to think of the things Hudson had said about her, but they were there, on the edge of her mind, pecking away at her courage.

“I’m sorry, Honey,” Hudson said simply. “We’ll talk, we will. But later If that’s okay?”

“Of course.”” she replied, offering a wan smile. “How is John?”

Hudson shook his head. “He’s refused to take any kind of pain medication because he knew you were coming. He wanted to be able to have a conversation with you.” He stood back. “We should do this. You should go see him.”

There isn’t much time. Hudson didn’t say the words, but she saw them in his eyes and in the fatigue around his mouth.

Subdued, Honey walked inside and followed Hudson up to John’s room. It smelled of sickness and despair, and death. She supposed no matter what your lot in life was, everyone ended up in the same place, knocking on death’s door. It was the grace with which a person handled the end that told the true strength of their character. Her mother had not done well with it, too many regrets, it seemed, which made a sad situation that much harder.

Honey had no idea how this would go; she just knew it needed to be done.

Darlene got up from the bed and, without hesitation, drew Honey into her arms. “I’m so glad you came,” she whispered, her voice hoarse and weak. “It means a lot to him.” She stepped back. “We’ll leave you alone. He’s resting his eyes, but he knows you’re here.”

Hudson and Darlene left, and Honey found herself alone with a father she’d longed to call her own since she was a little girl. He was a shadow of the man she’d met the year before. His skin was sallow, and he’d lost so much weight, he barely made an impression in the king-size bed. She heard his breathing from where he stood. It rattled and banged against his chest like a ghost with chains.

She approached the bed and stopped beside him just as his eyes opened. She wasn’t sure he knew who she was, but a small smile tugged at his mouth, and he struggled to sit up.

“No, don’t,” Honey said gently. She sat in the chair Darlene had vacated. “Please, John. Just rest.”

He cleared his throat, and she helped him drink some water from the glass on the table beside his bed. After a few minutes, he spoke, his voice scratchy as if unused.

“I know your face.”

“Yes.”

“You have my eyes.”

She found herself nodding and whispered, “Yes.”

He looked desperate, in that way that people who are dying do. It was a feverish glow to the eye, a yearning in the expression. John Blackwell had never been a man to mince words. To say more than he had to in order to convey his meaning. There was no reason to start now.

“I never loved your mother. I barely knew her.” His words were direct and honest. John’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “But I would have loved you. That I know. You are beautiful and kind and generous. Nash is a lucky man.” He smiled then, a sad sort of thing, and she felt his fingers loosen as if the last of his strength was slipping away. “I wish I had more time.”

“Maybe… Regan said you’ve rallied before. There’s always hope.”

“Just a fool’s hope now.” His chest rattled as he exhaled, and she took the cloth beside his bed and gently cleaned the paper-thin skin on his forehead. John settled back onto his pillows and closed his eyes. “I’ll see my Angel soon, and all those who’ve gone before me. God willing.” Again, his chest rattled, and Honey winced at the sound. He must be in incredible pain. All because he wanted to be lucid enough to talk to her.

“I wish you a happy life, my girl.”

Those were the last words John Blackwell uttered. He slipped into unconsciousness and passed away three hours later.

A week later at the celebration of his life, he was remembered as a generous man who gave to the community. As a family man who was devoted to his wife and children. There was no mention of Honey because she wouldn’t have it. She didn’t want gossip at his funeral. Nor did she want those who would judge coloring his legacy, taking away from all the good he’d done for those less fortunate than him. In the end, she stood with the Blackwell men, her brothers, and ignored the curious stares. With Nash at her side, she felt fearless. And with a hand on her stomach, her child kicking restlessly inside her, Honey laid her father to rest. A man who would have loved her.

It was the circle of life, and she was glad to be part of it. It meant she belonged.

It meant everything.