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Other syue, and her brsts were so tender that at ti Dash had been extreave hi how sick she felt, and cupped his jaw after he’d kissed her pal better," she said truthfully "Usually within an hour of oes away and I’ood care ofoing to be here every step of the way or that I won’t give you rowl

Her smile broadened "I love you And I’ine how happy I am about our baby It’s such a dreained being so happy again and you’ve given loarmth--and love--as he stared tenderly back at her "I’rateful for the precious gift of you and our child," he said gruffly "I love you too, Joss Always have, alill As much as I want our baby to be born and as row our farow up in front of our eyes, I plan to savor every nancy Watch you sith our baby I’ll never forget these moments Other than the day you told me you loved me, the day our child is born will be the most precious moment of my life I hope you never doubt that"

"Never," she said with fervor "I’ll never forget, Dash Just as I hope you’ll never forget how much I love you"

He stroked her cheek and then motioned toward her phone

"No word from Chessy yet? I knoorried you and Kylie were And well, I ad sooing on with Tate but I hope he pulls his head out of his ass soon"

Joss grilanced toward her phone as well "Not a word Which could be good or bad I’ they were able to work everything out and that Chessy finally confronted him with her unhappiness I want so much for her, Dash I kno hard it was for her when I told her I was pregnant I almost didn’t tell her, but it would have only hurt her more and made her feel that much more conspicuous about her troubles with Tate"

He rubbed his hand fro to squeeze her knee

"You did the right thing, Joss Chessy would never want you to withhold such wonderful news out of worry over her And you have the right to be happy She’d never begrudge you that"

"I know," Joss said quietly "I just love her and want so badly for her and Tate to resolve the issues in her ain Just like Kylie and me"

Dash smiled "She will be Just like her best friends Now try to eat so in your stoured we’d take it easy today Enjoy the weekend together Maybe sit on the couch, you in ht if you’re up to eating sohed blissfully "You take such good care ofI love you for that"

He leaned in and kissed her on the nose and then patted the top of her thigh "Eat up I don’t want to leave you to taketo be able to keep down your toast"

EIGHT

CHESSY awoke, the late afternoon sun filtering through the bayof their bedrooth Tate’s body rapped around her, ar thrown possessively over hers while her head was pillowed on his broad shoulder

She let out an i to wake him and spoil the firsttiht with the world She wasn’t a fool to think that everything had been ic peen, but it was a start

Their loveether of two lost souls Or at least hers had been lost until now She’d been bereft of his presence for so long and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d awakened in his arms, or that they’d spent the better part of a day in bed

He was always hurrying out to work in the ruff "hope ood day" before he was off, with her never even knohen she’d see hireat times even when here and now the world seemed perfect He’d certainly nailed it when he’d said that their relationship couldn’t be fixed in a single weekend, but the ever-optiiving her so her in over a year Himself His absolute priority and attention His love that in her darker ht she had lost But he’d been utterly sincere last night and thiswhen neither of them was so volatile and overly eht before with things still unresolved between the it off until a tiht to reflect and better think of how and what needed to be said