Page 25 of Curves and Cradles

I also picked up some flowers, a simple bouquet of daisies, because I don’t think Jane is the long-stem roses kind of girl. Earlier, I texted her that I wanted to talk, and she told me she’d let me know when Stella was asleep. So, I made the block one more time, then parked outside her house and waited.

Ten minutes later, I get her text. The black velvet box is tucked into my jeans pocket, and I grab the daisies.

Jane opens the door, and I hold out the daisies. Her mouth gapes. “How did you know daisies were my favorite?”

“Lucky guess.” She takes the flowers. “They’re authentic, not pretentious, and lovely.” Precisely how I see her.

“We should talk,” Jane says.

“Yes.” I follow her into the kitchen, where she pulls a vase out of the cupboard and fills it with water. “Last night was—”

“Amazing,” she says, turning to face me.

“So amazing.” I step over to her, bracketing my arms on either side of her. “We’re good together.”

I take a breath and step away. I can’t remember any of the words I practiced in my truck. “I’ve never had this kind of connection with anyone else, Jane.”

“Me neither,” she says from behind him.

“I don’t know anything about how families are supposed to be, except my fellow SEALs—they’re the only family I’ve ever had.” I turn to face her. “But I know you and Stella are everything I’ve ever wanted. In those moments when I let myself dream, you’re it, Janie.” I pull the black box from my pocket, open it and hold it out to her. “Marry me.”

chapterseventeen

Jane

I shake my head and back away from him. The ring is perfect. Exactly what I would have picked out if I’d gone with him—a vintage setting with a braided band and a pale pink diamond. It’s stunning.

I want to say yes.

I want to tell my heart to screw off and just say yes.

“Kevin, it’s gorgeous.” I shake my head again. “But I can’t.”

“I don’t understand. Last night...”

“Last night was amazing. But it can’t change anything.” I exhale slowly. “And it can’t happen again. Ever.” I motioned for us to sit at the table. He sets the ring box on the top. “This would be different if we didn’t have Stella. We could date and see where this might go. But this”—she motions to the ring—"is nothing more than duty speaking. Admirable duty, and I’m probably an idiot for not jumping on it, but I want more.”

His jaw clenches. “More what?”

“I want love. You and I are good in bed, and we have a daughter, but that’s not how you build a family. You’d likely not even be here had you not found out about Stella.”

“We could fall in love.”

“We could. But I’m selfish enough to know it won’t be enough now. I’ll never know if you would have fallen in love with me for me or if it’s because I’m Stella’s mom.”

“That’s fucked up, Jane.” He forks his fingers through his hair, making the blond locks stand up in various directions.

“I need you to be her dad. But I need you to stop trying to make me a part of this. I know myself, and I’ll eventually wear down. And the sex doesn’t help because damn, I would have said yes to just about anything last night when your mouth was on me.” I stand and pour a glass of water, taking a long, slow sip. “Besides, you’ll be leaving again. Right?”

He doesn’t get a chance to answer because his phone rings. He pulls it from his pocket and frowns. “I’ve got to take this.”

He stands and moves away from the table but doesn’t leave the room. There are lots of “yes, sirs” and “I understand.” Then he hangs up.

“Kevin?” I ask, my heart pounding.

“I’ve been medically cleared.”

I swallow hard against the inexplicable tears that spring to my eyes. He’s leaving. He’s just gotten here, and now he’s leaving.

---