by Barb Han
“Let me take care of you,” Daegen said, his gaze fell lovingly from her eyes to her midsection.
Glancing back at Daniel who had been silent up to now, she noticed a flicker of concern in his eyes. And even though he, like most other orphans, was a master at hiding his true emotions, she knew. Rae took his hand and squeezed to reassure him she’d be okay. “I’m tired. I didn’t eat today. But I’ll be fine.”
His half smile wasn’t convincing.
Rae pushed aside her exhaustion to sit on the plush couch with Daniel before she could even think about attending to any of her needs. “I promise. I feel much better.”
“But, you fainted,” he said.
“Only from lack of sleep. I promise to take better care of myself, but I need something from you.”
His gaze fired off a spark of hope.
“I need you to promise not to worry about me. It’ll only make me worry about you.”
He smiled through a yawn. “A vicious cycle.”
“Right. We don’t want that, do we?” She checked his reaction carefully. Satisfied she’d allied his fears, she tousled his hair. “You should eat too. You must be starved.”
His chest puffed out and his chin jutted. “I’m okay.” He couldn’t suppress another yawn.
Their gazes locked momentarily and they both giggled.
****
Daniel went outside to kick a ball with Kota while Daegen prepared food.
He motioned for her to stay on the couch as he carried a tray to her. The plate held several of her favorite comfort foods. A plump chicken fried steak and eggs with gravy, and home fries.
“When did you learn to cook? And how did you learn to make all this?” Her heart warmed at the thought he remembered.
“Self-reliance is a good thing. Besides, cooking is relaxing. I’d do it more if I had time.”
She took a bite. “Then you should definitely work less. This is amazing.” She held up her fork with a plump piece of chicken fried steak on it. “You’re spoiling me.”
“You have no idea.” Daegen excused himself, called his son to breakfast, and then disappeared down the hall. Rae assumed he’d gone to slip into the shower.
Instead, he returned ten minutes later, took her empty plate, and then led her to the bathroom.
He’d drawn a bath. He helped her undress. Groaned when she stood naked before him. After settling her in the water and wetting her hair, he dabbed shampoo on his palm. In small circular motions, he massaged her scalp.
Rae felt like she should be embarrassed. She was, after all, the only naked one in the room, but she felt a sense of the world being right instead.
And she couldn’t argue with that.
After her bath, Daegen toweled her off, wrapped her in his bathrobe, and then tucked her under the covers.
“I’m not tired. I swear. Besides, Daniel will worry if I stay in bed. I want to be out there with you two.”
Again his jet eyes burrowed deep with their warm intensity, stirring an odd swirling sensation low in her belly.
“I want you to be my wife.”
“You’re only asking me because you think I’m carrying your child. I can’t—”
He wrapped a large tanned hand around hers and with his touch her protest knotted in the base of her throat. A potent ripple of sensation skimmed over her still-flush skin.
Her stomach cramped. Did this mean?
She excused herself and went back into the bathroom.
He waited patiently for her return.
“I’m not...”
“Pregnant?”
“Right,” came out in a sigh. Shock of all shocks, she was disappointed.
Slowly, her gaze rose to meet his and another shock waited, he didn’t look terribly crushed. “This is good news, right?”
He set his cup of coffee down on the side table next to her and edged onto the bed. “Not really. But it will happen. Marry me. Not just so you can be my bride, but to be my partner. For life. Forever. No matter what else happens.”
His strong hands cupped her face, steadying her. Her brain said no but her lips wouldn’t budge.
His lips pressed against hers possessively, claiming her, marking her chin first, then the tip of her nose.
“I need you,” he said, his voice gruff, husky with need.
Rae could tell he meant those words. She gave into the swirl of desire at the feel of Daegen’s lips pressed to her skin.
Showering her with kisses, he dropped to one knee and asked again, plainly this time, “Will you be my wife?”
Pensive, she didn’t speak.
His brow came up. “What is it I’m not saying?”
Her gaze dropped to the covers. She hesitated to speak her thoughts out loud. Until recently marriage hadn’t been on her agenda at all. “I want to marry for love.”
“But I do love you. I may not be one to say it so easily, but you are the only woman I’ve ever loved.”
“But Daniel’s mother—”
“That was different.”
Was it?
“I was a kid. I loved her as much as I could. It wasn’t like this. Then I felt guilt. A misplaced sense of duty.”
How could he move on when he couldn’t save her? Rae was beginning to understand. “Do you regret—”
“Having Daniel? Not at all.”
Understanding rippled through Rae in one large current. Because bringing up their son, taking the best possible care of him was the best way to honor his mother’s memory.
“To keep your son a secret like that. What kind of person could do that?”
“Not one Daniel needs to know.” Daegen’s expression turned serious. “I hate secrets. Secrets destroy people. If we’re going to be married then I don’t want to have any secrets between us.” He paused a beat. “I’m Daniel’s father in every way that matters, except biologically.”
“You mean you never had sex with his mother?” Rae nearly choked on the words.
“I told you before I’m not reckless.”
“If not you, then who?” she asked blankly. “I’m so confused. And poor Daniel.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s better for him that I’m his father,” came out thickly. “His mother was as inexperienced as I.”
Rae thought long and hard about what Daegen was really saying. “She wasn’t reckless either. She would have had to be forced...”
His head lowered.
Rae brought her hand up to his beautiful face to comfort him. “And you blame yourself. You think it was your fault because you’re the reason she was sent away.”
His anguish was palpable. In seeing the pain on Daegen’s face, she made a vow. We will be strong together. She held eye contact with him until she was sure he understood.
Tears mixed tenderly with kisses as he held her.
“I’m glad you told me.” Rae pulled back. “Yes. I will marry you.”
The perfect smile that crossed Daegen’s lips warmed her heart. “I can’t promise you a perfect life. I’m not perfect.”
“Perfect is boring.” She paused a beat. “And I love you for what you did for my father. I felt so alone before. But I don’t when I’m with you.”
Daegen kissed her again. “I will always be right here.” His finger grazed the center of her chest. “And right here.” He lifted his finger to her forehead. “And right here.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “For as long as you want me to be.”
“I hope you’re prepared to back up that promise the rest of your life.”
“I’ll marry you on one condition. You have to agree to my terms.” His coy smile returned. The corners of his lips turned up in a half smile.
Rae couldn’t hold back the giggle tickling the back of her throat. “Your terms? And what is it I can do for you, Mr. Tan?”
“We agree to tell each other everything,” Daegen said seriously. “And in the spirit of full disclosure…
“I loved you before, but I have never been more in love with you than I am
right now.”
Epilogue
Six months later, the wedding was a small affair held in the crystal blue surf on Daegen’s private paradise.
Daniel served as best man. Rae’s father attended as well, even refusing to give her away saying only that the family was growing, no one was going anywhere. He had perked up considerably since his new medical treatment.
Lovingly, Daegen looked to his beautiful bride whose stomach began to slightly show. The secret was theirs to know for now. Soon enough her belly would be impossible to hide.
He imagined the day, in the not too distant future, when he would hold his own baby. He had missed too much of his son’s young life and looked forward to cradling the new addition in his arms.
And if having a son was beyond compare, he couldn’t imagine what it would be like when he held his daughter.
A word about the author...
Barb Han lives in North Texas with her husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle mix, and too many books to count. When she’s not writing, researching, or otherwise getting lost in a story, she volunteers at her children’s school, is in the kitchen “creating” dinner, or can be found on or around a basketball court.
Writing contemporary romance and romantic suspense has been a dream come true for Barb—something she’s wanted to do for as long as she can remember. She left her corporate job, at her husband’s urging, and has been happily playing with imaginary friends ever since.
Learn more about her latest releases at www.barbhan.com and don’t forget to say hi. She loves hearing from readers.
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.