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"What’s wrong?" he asked as he approached "Is it Gabe?"

"It’s not Gabe," she said, her eyes bright with an e is fine I wanted to talk to you"

He set down his briefcase "About what?"

She moved closer, then put her hands on his chest "I still reht you had a lot of potential"

He’d been a total geek without a clue "Not irl he’d wanted to ask out had blown hi"

She was staring at hi As if…as if she still cared As if he had a chance

Relief and hope ripped through hi him want to pull her close, kiss her, take her home and make love to her until she was too weak to resist But he held back, knowing she had to take the first step He’d been saying the words over and over Noas her turn If they were going tothere was torture Waiting for her to see that they belonged together made his chest ache

"I’d never been in love before," she told hi into his "I didn’t knohat to expect and I didn’t think it would be so powerful or last so long Moving away didn’t change anything I still loved you And I love you now"

He sensed she wasn’t done, that there wasthe prize orth the effort

"I know you were angry and hurt and that you wanted revenge," she told hiht up in your plan and didn’t think it through I believe you’re genuinely sorry and that you loveyou or I can take a leap of faith You’ve said you want us to be together I want that, too"

He didn’t know if she had rabbed her and hauled her close, then kissed her until they both couldn’t breathe

"I love you," he ainst her mouth "I’ll love you forever"

"Good Because the wo tiain "I can’t wait" He straightened "Marry me, Jess Marry me and have more babies withyou that you ht choice"

"I already know that" She smiled at him "And yes, I’ll marry you"

"Soon?"

"Let’s take it one step at a time"

"I LIKE THE BLACK," Claire said as she stepped in front of the full-length mirror

"Me, too" Nicole stood next to her twin and brushed her hands against the sleek, sophisticated black dress

Jesse grinned as she re for bridesmaid dresses She’d tortured her sisters with pink-and-sea-foa them the dozen or so black cocktail dresses she’d picked out

The black and white color sche at six and dinner and dancing to follow, their guests would party through ht safely at the hotel

Gabe leaned against her "You look pretty, Mommy"

"Thank you"

"You do make a beautiful bride," Nicole told her

Jesse se" Or in her case, someone to put up her hair while her sisters had laced her into her strapless white gown She loved the beaded bodice and flowing skirt, but she hadn’t thought the whole lace-up back through She would never be able to get out of the dress herself Not that Matt would irls about ready? All the guests are here and Matt is pacing, poor guy"

Jesse hugged her soon-to-be mother-in-law "You look fabulous" Paula’s dress was a flattering black-and-white floor-length gown She eyed the black pearl necklace that iven her for her birthday "That looks new"

Paula touched it and smiled "From my son Isn’t it nice?"

"Very This is fun You and Bill should have a wedding"

Paula laughed "I don’t think so We’re going to stop in Vegas and get married there We’ll send back pictures"

The two of the off in February for their two-year trip around A time in both Seattle and Spokane as Bill sold the bar and settled things there, before they put Paula’s house up for sale

For the next teeks, though, they would be taking care of Gabe while Jesse and Matt honeys for you," Paula said "Matt said paperwork before toys, so here you go"

The envelope was slim Jesse frowned "What on earth?"

"I have no idea"

She opened it Nicole and Claire moved close to read over her shoulder

"It looks like a deed," Nicole said "For a house His house"

Jesse blinked That big, massive, multimillion-dollar estate on the lake?

She opened the handwritten note in the envelope "Because I love you"

She felt tears in her eyes and did her best to blink them away "He’s put the house in my name" Because he kne much she wanted a home And so that she would always feel safe