“Okay, out with it.” Cecily followed Chase onto the cabin’s wide-planked porch. “What gives?”

He glanced over his shoulder at the door. “What? I didn’t say anything.”

“Exactly. You’re too quiet.”

“I thought you preferred less talk and more action. Or is there another reason you want my tongue in your mouth?” He swung her into his arms and whirled in a half circle, flopping with her onto the porch swing.

She squealed, laughing as he settled her on his lap. “I hope you took out insurance for this contraption, too. It doesn’t look strong enough to hold you let alone the both of us.”

“Don’t be so cynical. Most things are stronger than they appear.”

Cecily’s laughter hushed to a thoughtful sigh. “You’re not talking about the swing, are you?”

He ran his fingertips over her cheek. “No, not really.”

“Then will you please tell me why you’re so quiet? What’s going on?”

“I’m quiet because of you.”

“Me?” She pulled back slightly. “Why?”

“Because of how calm and loving you were with Daisy.” He gave a sheepish shrug. “Made me think about you as a mom. Someday.”

She angled her head so he’d meet her eyes. If there was ever a prime moment to tell him about the pregnancy clause, it was now. She sighed. “Well, timing and circumstance didn’t exactly lend themselves to a conversation about kids, but I suppose now is as good a time as any. How do you feel about children? Do you even want kids?”

A shadow crossed Chase’s eyes. Nothing that said he’d rather get pubic crabs or have his teeth drilled, but still. He didn’t move to get up or push her away, but he didn’t reply, either.

“Chase—” Cecily began, but her cellphone buzzed in the pack they took to the lake. Malcolm’s ringtone.

“You better get that.” Chase slipped her legs from his lap, getting up. “I’ll grab us each a beer.”

Cecily reached for her phone in the pack’s side pocket. “Please don’t leave. I want you to hear whatever Malcolm has to say.”

He hesitated at the screen door. “You sure?”

“We’re giving this our best shot. A team, right?” Phone in hand, she gestured for him to sit again.

Chase slid onto the swing beside her, and Cecily pressed answer on her phone. “Hey, counselor. ‘Sup, dude.” She grinned, laughing out loud. “No, the Colorado mountains haven’t turned me into a hippie. Yet.”

“Great,” Chase whispered, shaking his head. “Now he’ll never like me.”

She winked, but then lifted a staying finger. “Yes, Chase is here. In fact, we’re sitting on the porch together admiring the sunset.” She paused. “Okay, let me put you on speaker.”

Cecily pushed the speaker icon and held the phone between her and Chase. “Malcolm? Can you hear me?”

“Yes. Can you both hear me? Because this is important, and it involves you both.”

“We can hear you, Mr. Baxter,” Chase replied. “What’s going on?”

“Please, call me Malcolm. I hope you’re sitting down, kids.”

Cecily spared a glance for Chase. “It’s that bad?”

“Depends. No sooner did I receive the signed prenuptial agreement, than I had a letter from Jackson’s attorney. He hired himself a doozy. The man’s already making demands, and my sources tell me he’s got calls into the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. By all accounts, Jackson’s lawyer is a real piece of shit, out for whatever he can get. He’s going to make trouble, Cecy. A lot of trouble.”

Cecily snorted. “Sounds like Jackson’s legal soulmate.”

“I’m serious, Cecily. You and Chase need to announce your marriage. I suggest a writeup in every major society column. A big splash. We’ll get your father’s PR firm to spin it as a whirlwind romance, love at first sight.”

“No.” The word from Chase’s mouth was not only final, it was absolute.

Cecily turned to look at him. “No to what? The society columns or the spin-doctoring?”

“Both. It’s bad enough you had to get married because your father forced your hand. We’ve been lucky so far, Cecy. We’re getting closer every day that passes, but our foundation isn’t solid. Yet. It’s not strong enough to withstand whatever center ring the press circus creates.”

Malcolm chuckled on the other end of the phone. “Attaboy. I like you already, Chase. And you know what? George Montgomery would have liked you, too. You’ve got balls, and it sounds like you say what you mean and mean what you say. A man of integrity.”

“Well, I don’t have as much at stake as Cecily, but I do have my pride, and my family name. I’ve given both to Cecily without reservation. They might not seem like much by today’s standards, but pride and family mean the world to me, and I plan on protecting them—and Cecily.”

Cecily hesitated a moment, but then took Chase’s hand in hers and squeezed. “No society column, then. What about a reception, instead? I had Elvis walk me down the aisle, the least you can do is agree to let me have one part of the wedding day I’ve dreamed about since childhood.”

Malcolm laughed out loud this time. “Gird your loins, boy. I’ve heard that tone of voice before, and it means she’s about to get her way.”

“I’m finding that out. Fast.”