Page 56 of Passion Restored

He bit his lip. “Two.”

She pulled back, her eyes wide. “We are not having twins.”

He shook his head, a laugh bubbling out of him. “I meant I have two lists so far. But I will totally throw them out if you want to work on a list from scratch with me.” He was treading on thin ice right then, but she had been the one to bring up the baby so that had to count for something.

She swallowed hard before squeezing his hand. “I don’t know what the answers are, Owen. I don’t know if I’m ready for this, but…but I’d like to look at those lists of yours.” Tears slid down her cheeks, and he reached over to brush them away. “I hate crying, and it’s all I seem to do with you.”

He shook his head and leaned down to kiss the dampness on her cheeks. “It’s not all you do.” He was doing his best not to throw his fists in the air in triumph at the thought of her wanting to see his lists. This was progress, and it mattered a whole lot more than she thought.

“I guess.”

“What do you need me to do right now, Liz? We have time to worry about everything else around us, but right now, let me know what you need.”

She blinked up at him, the strength he always saw in her a full force in her eyes. “Hold me? I just need you to hold me.”

His heart thudded, and he opened his arms. She crawled into his lap, and he held her close, her body so small compared to his. “Always, Liz. I will always hold you.”

This is the first step, he thought, and damn if it wasn’t a far greater one than he imagined he’d get that night. He’d take this, and when she was ready, they’d take the next step together. Because Owen had to believe in that; had to believe in the next few steps. It was the only way he could manage. The woman in his arms was his future—he just had to make her see that.

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