It was sunset by the time they began thinking about going home. Luke had kept her nice and warm for hours, definitely the most enjoyable afternoon she'd ever spent in the hut. Neither of them had talked about what would happen next, just enjoying the exploration of each other's bodies.

Paige snuggled against Luke, listening to the wind roar through the trees. She never wanted to move again.

"Paige?"

"Mmm."

"We didn't use any protection."

Paige chuckled and nestled her face against his chest. He still smelled like the woods. "It's a little late to be having this conversation, isn't it?"

Luke caught her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. "I'm serious, Paige."

She grinned and kissed him. "That was pretty irresponsible of us, wasn't it?"

"I don't have time for kids."

"I want to have kids."

He sat up quickly, nearly sending her tumbling to the floor. "Not with me, you don't. I can't be a good father."

She propped herself up on her elbow, watching him fumble for his clothes. He was awfully cute when he was flustered. "You didn't think you had time to be a dog owner, but you do. Once you realized you loved Muffin, you made time. It's the same thing with kids."

His shorts on, but unfastened, Luke grabbed her by the shoulders. "Paige! We're talking about kids, not a dog." He let go of her to pace the small shack, running his hands through his hair in agitation. "I wasn't even thinking, just swept away by you. I've never done that before. Never. I swear. I'm not irresponsible."

"It's okay."

"No, it's not." He sat next to her on the cot and grabbed her hand. "If you're pregnant, we're getting married."

Her mouth dropped open. "Married?" She couldn't believe he'd actually said that. In today's society, people didn't have to get married just because there was a baby…and yet, that was the first solution that had popped into his mind. She smiled. He loved her.

"Of course. It's the right thing. When will you know?"

Paige pulled her shorts on, still grinning. "Well, that's just the most romantic proposal I've ever heard. Will you catch me while I swoon?"

He clenched his fingers in his hair. "This isn't funny, Paige."

"When I get married, it'll be for love. Do you love me?"

Luke stared at her, frozen in place as he reached for his shirt. "What?"

"Mmm…that's too bad for you. I'm really quite loveable, and you're missing out by not letting yourself bask in my awesomeness." She sighed dramatically and picked up her bra. "Well, you can stop panicking, because I'm on the pill."

He frowned. "What?"

"The pill. Birth control. Surely, you've heard of it."

Luke jumped up from the couch. "What? Why are you on the pill? It's that lumberjack, isn't it?" A string of oaths poured from his lips as he paced the cabin.

She tried to keep the smile off her face. If he didn't love her beyond words, he wouldn't have thought to solve an accidental pregnancy by marriage, and he wouldn't be getting so worked up about a lumberjack that didn't even exist. She grinned. The man was blind not to see his own capacity to care, including his dog, the town, this life…and her. "Not that it is any of your business, seeing as how you've declared that I mean absolutely nothing to you..."

Luke interrupted her. "It is my business who you sleep with. Tell me the truth."

She grinned wider. "I get really bad cramps during my period. The pill makes them almost non-existent."

He didn't move away from her. "Cramps?"

"Cramps," she said firmly. "Ask any doctor. I'm not the only woman who takes the pill for cramps."

"You're not sleeping with the lumberjack?" His voice was doubtful, but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously with that question, Luke? Do you really think I'd be sleeping with anyone? After all the time we've spent together, don't you know me better than that?"

Luke studied her face, his face softening. "Just me?" he asked, his tone almost wondrous.

Paige smiled and gently patted his cheeks. "Yes, you big oaf. Just you. If you ask me again, I'm going to start thinking that you think I'm a harlot or something."

"No, no, no," he said quickly. "I don't think that at all." He managed a sheepish smile. "I just got jealous and it made me a little crazy for a sec." He lightly framed her face with his hands and kissed her. "I've never been jealous before," he admitted. "It caught me unprepared."

She beamed at him. "You were jealous?"

"No. Yes. Maybe a little."

"Why would you be jealous?" she teased. "If I were in love with someone else, there'd be no chance that I'd try to tempt you into my New Hampshire life. Wouldn't that make your life less complicated? Wouldn't it be beautiful for you if my heart was somewhere else?"

A muscle ticked in his cheek. "I don't want you to be in love with someone else."

She pulled her shirt on, her heart pounding. "Then what do you want?"

He opened his mouth, then shut it, running his hands through his hair. Finally, he shrugged. "I'm not sure I know anymore."

The man was definitely making progress. She stood up and slipped her hands around his waist. "I don't hear any thunder anymore. Think we could make it back?"

"Paige..." Luke stopped.

"Don't overthink, Luke. Let's go back. You'll figure it out eventually."

Luke cupped her upturned face between his hands and kissed her softly. "I didn't get a chance to tell you how wonderful it was to make love with you."

She smiled. "It was, wasn't it?"

"You're incredible, in every way." He accentuated his words with a deep kiss that had her ready to go back to the cot for another tumble. "Think maybe I can sleep over tonight? I'm not quite ready for this day to end."

She grinned. "I think that can be arranged. As long as you give me a piggyback to the boat. Not that I need it, but it's kinda fun."

"Deal."

Luke carried her to the cot, so she could climb onto his back. Paige wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and rested her cheek against his back. What was she going to have to do to make Luke realize his capacity to love? To realize that being a workaholic wasn't making him happy? It had taken a nervous breakdown before she'd realized what that life was doing to her. There had to be a less painful way than that.