Page 50 of Healing Hope

“I actually had to charter a jet to get here. There were no flights available.”

He stared at her, not sure what to make of the statement. That must have been expensive.

“You told me I would always have a home here, but I want to make a counter-offer. You will always have a home with me wherever I am.”

“Okay,” he said, trying to keep up.

“I love your house and your child, and most especially I love you,” she said, voice breathy. Paul started to move, but she held up a hand. “If I don’t get this out, I never will.”

Her hands twisted in her lap. “Settling down scares me, but if you’re patient with me, I would like to try.”

Paul’s heart swelled in his chest, and he reached for Jess’s twisting hands. “You know I’ll be patient,” he said with a smile.

“And I want you to be open to travel,” she continued.

Paul nodded. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with Hope’s schoolwork, that should be fine. Money and schedule permitting.”

Jess shook her head. “Don’t worry about that stuff. I’ll take care of it.”

Paul laughed. “Did one of your rich boyfriends leave you a stack of cash?”

“Even better,” she winked at him. “He taught me to play the stock market.”

Paul laughed, but Jess didn’t. She was deadly serious. “Well, good then,” he said easily. “We can travel on your dime.”

Jess grinned and nodded.

“I would never try to clip your wings, Jess. I love you.”

“I love you too, Paul. Do you have room in your roost for me?”

He laughed and pulled her into a kiss. “Of course I do. Although we may have to have Mrs. Brown stay in the fort.”

“Hmm, okay…”

* * *

Squealing shattered the predawn morning,and a hard little body landed on her. Jess grabbed at the sheets to keep her breasts covered, and she squinted up at Hope.

“I knew you would be back,” the girl cried. “It was still my birthday week and I made one more wish, and here you are. I’m so glad you came back, Ms. Jess.”

“Me too, baby,” she said as Hope smothered her in a hug.

Sophie barked from the floor, until Paul sat up and lifted her to the mattress one-handed. The little dog wiggled between them, happy to be a part of the pack. Jess sat up as well, propping her back against the headboard. She tucked the sheet under her arms.

Paul had loved her hard last night. Her expensive green dress was in a puddle on the floor right now, and she would have to wear one of his t-shirts until she could find some clothes. She’d carried nothing onto the charter jet other than her phone and small clutch bag.

Hope’s eyes were shining with joy as she looked between the two of them. “So, we’re going to be a family now, right?”

“Yes,” Paul said firmly. “We are. Are we’re going to teach Jess that it’s not so bad to have a home to come home to.”

“And I’m going to teach you guys to love traveling,” Jess countered, laughing. “Because you guys are my home. Not a building. And we can go anywhere.”

“Can we take Sophie,” Hope asked.

“Of course,” Jess said easily.

“Do you think,” Hope started, then stopped, looking unsure.

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