She drew in a breath. “I know he’s too young. I know he has a lifetime of experiences waiting for him and I shouldn’t get in the way of that. God has nothing if not a sense of humor, because I can’t help being in love with him.”

Finn had been with her right up until she said she was in love with his little brother. But before he could speak, Aurelia turned to Stephen.

“Your brother is right. You don’t belong here with me. Go home. Finish your degree. Get a job doing what you love. Live your life.”

She sounded sincere, Finn admitted, if only to himself. Under any other circumstances, he would’ve believed her and been impressed as hell.

Stephen moved toward her. Finn knew what was going to happen. His brother would yell and stomp and pout until he got his way, his actions proving that he wasn’t ready to be in a relationship. But it turned out Finn was wrong.

Stephen cupped Aurelia’s face in his hands. “I know that’s what you believe. I know you think being with me only hurts me. But you’re wrong. You are everything I have ever wanted. I will go to college and finish my degree. I will get a job. But I’m going to do it here. With you. There is nothing you can say to make me go away. I love you.”

Finn could feel the emotion between them. He felt like an outsider caught staring at something intimate.

Stephen turned to him. “I was wrong to run away. Coming here the way I did only reinforced your idea that I wasn’t a man. I was acting like a kid and I deserve to be treated like one. I’m sorry for screwing up. I’m sorry you had to come after me. I know you have a business and responsibilities. But I didn’t think of any of that. I only thought of myself.”

Finn wouldn’t have been more stunned if Aurelia had morphed into a squirrel and started dancing. “It turned out okay,” he said roughly.

“Not yet, but it will.” Stephen faced Aurelia again. “I want to marry you. I know it’s too soon, so I’m not asking. I’m just letting you know where I think this is going. I’m going to finish school and get a job. I’m going to keep on seeing you. A year from today I’m going to ask you to marry me. And on that day, I’ll expect an answer.”

Finn waited for the fury, but there wasn’t any anger. There wasn’t even a mild annoyance. If he had to name the emotion surging through him, it was regret. Not because his brother had grown up, but because he, Finn, didn’t have anything close to what Stephen had with Aurelia. His kid brother had won the prize.

It wasn’t that he wanted to be in love. Not exactly. What he wanted was something different. Still, he couldn’t escape the sense of having missed out on something important.

“I’ll get out of your way,” Finn said.

“You don’t have to go,” Aurelia told him. But she was looking at Stephen as she spoke.

“You two have a lot to talk about.”

He thought his brother might want to make sure things were okay between them, but Stephen was too busy kissing Aurelia. Finn backed out of the room, stepped onto the walkway and closed the door behind him. One brother’s situation solved, another to go.

He walked down the street, wondering what to do about Sasha. How to get him—

He stopped by Morgan’s Books and stared blindly at the display in the window. There was nothing to do about either of his brothers. Dakota had been right all along. His job was done. He’d parented them as best he could, and keeping them safe forever wasn’t an option. He had to trust they were ready to make their own decisions. It was time.

DAKOTA STARED at all the clothes spread across the bed. It was as if a department store had exploded in her mother’s bedroom.

“I didn’t know you owned this many things,” she said, putting Hannah into her playpen. “When was the last time you cleaned out your closet? Are those leg warmers? Mom, the eighties were a long time ago.”

“You’re not funny,” her mother snapped. “If you think this is humorous, you’re wrong. I’m in crisis here. A really, really big crisis. I feel sick to my stomach, my head hurts, I’m retaining enough water to sink a battleship. I’m a woman on the edge. You need to respect that.”

Her mother sank onto the bed where she sat on several outfits, crushing them.

“I’m sorry,” Dakota said, trying to keep the humor out of her voice. “I won’t be funny again.”

“I don’t believe you. But that’s not the point. I can’t do this.” Her mother covered her face with her hands. “What was I thinking? I’m too old to do this. The last time I dated, dinosaurs roamed the earth. We didn’t even have electricity.”

Dakota knelt in front of her and pulled her hands away from her face. “I happen to know nearly all the dinosaurs were extinct and there was electricity. Come on, Mom. You know you want to do this.”

“No, I don’t. It’s not too late to cancel, right? I can cancel. You could call and tell him I have some kind of typhoid fever. Imply that it’s very contagious and I’m going to be shipped off to one of those federal medical facilities in Arizona. I hear the dry air is very good for typhoid fever.”

Just then, Dakota heard voices in the hall. “Are we too late?” Montana called. “I don’t want to miss the fun part.”

Montana and Nevada entered the bedroom. They looked around at the array of clothing and accessories.

“I didn’t hear about a tornado on the news,” Nevada said cheerfully. “Was anyone hurt?”

“I can see I raised you girls with too much freedom and affection,” their mother snapped. “I should have repressed you more. Maybe then you’d treat me with more respect.”

“We love you, Mom,” Nevada said. “And we respect you. I didn’t know you had this many clothes.”

Dakota chuckled. “Don’t go there. She’ll bite your head off.”

Montana lifted Hannah from the playpen and cuddled with her. “Who’s a pretty girl? We’re going to ignore all those sniping grown-ups, aren’t we?”

“I was telling your sister that I can’t do this,” Denise said. “I can’t go on a date. We were discussing telling him I have typhoid fever.”

Nevada rolled her eyes. “Right. Because he’ll never guess you’re lying if you say that. Come on, Mom. It’s one evening. You need to get out there and see if you’re interested in dating. Right now it’s just a theory. If it’s horrible, you never have to go again. Besides, you’re making us all nuts. None of us are dating.” She glanced at Dakota. “Well, Dakota might be. No one can pin her down on her relationship with Finn. For all we know, they’re running off to the Bahamas tomorrow to get married.”

“You’re getting married?” her mother asked.

Dakota sighed. “Don’t pretend to be distracted by something you know isn’t true. Nevada is right. Try the date.” She carefully avoided asking what the worst was that could happen. That question never went well.

“Who’s the guy?” Montana asked, still holding Hannah.

“A friend of Morgan’s,” Denise said.

“We like Morgan,” Nevada said. “That’s a good sign.”

Denise stood and pressed her hands against her stomach. “His friend may be nothing like him. He may be a serial killer. Or a cross-dresser.”

“At least you have enough clothes to support his habit,” Montana offered.

Dakota and Nevada laughed. Their mother glared at them.

“You’re not helping,” Denise informed them. “I’m going to have to ask you three to leave. Hannah can stay. She’s very supportive.” She looked at the little girl. “Never have daughters. Trust me. They only break your heart.”

Nevada walked to the bed and stared at the clothes strewn across it. After a second she reached into the mess and withdrew a white-and-blue floral print wrap dress.

“Wear this,” she said. “It will work nearly anywhere. You look great in it and it’s comfortable. It’s perfect for the season. You have those gorgeous blue shoes. He’ll be wildly impressed.”

Denise stared at the dress, then at the three of them. “Really?”

Dakota nodded. “You know how I hate to admit that Nevada is right, but this time she is. That dress is perfect. You’ll look lovely, and more important, you’ll feel good.” She walked over to her mom and put her arm around her. “I know this is scary, but it’s important. Dad’s been gone for nearly eleven years. It’s okay for you to move on. You deserve to be happy.”

Her mother drew in a shaky breath. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll go on the date and I’ll wear the dress. My makeup is done and this is as good as my hair is going to look. So all I have to do is get dressed.” She glanced at the clock. “Oh, God. I have two hours until he gets here. I think I’m going to be sick.” She waved her hands in front of her face. “Quick. I need a distraction. Somebody say something that will make me forget I even have a date.”

Montana and Nevada looked at each other and shrugged, as if they didn’t have anything to offer. Dakota figured this was as good a time as any to spill her news.

“I’ll give it a try,” she said with a smile. “Mom, I have something to tell you. I’m pregnant.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

DAKOTA’S SISTERS looked at her with identical expressions of surprise. Her mother lunged forward and hugged her close.

“Really?” Denise asked, still holding on. “You’re not just teasing me to get my mind off my date?”

“I wouldn’t do that. I’m pregnant. It’s kind of unexpected, given my medical history. I wasn’t planning on this, but I can’t help but be happy.”

“Finn must have some great swimmers,” Montana said. “It is Finn, right?”

Dakota laughed. “Yes, it’s him. There hasn’t been anyone else. I know there’re complications and I know this isn’t anything he wanted, but I can’t help being happy. I’m going to have a baby and I never thought I could.”

“You’re probably having enough sex to defy the odds,” Nevada told her. “Statistically it was always possible. You just needed the right set of circumstances.”

Dakota stepped back and turned in a circle. “I don’t care whether it was his swimmers or the moon or an alien landing. I’m so excited.” She was having trouble grasping the reality of the situation, but so far there was no downside. Sure, having two kids so close together would be a challenge, but other women got through it and she would, as well.

“When you decided to become a mother, you did it in a big way,” Denise said with a laugh. “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“I am. Hannah is going to love having a baby brother or sister.”

Montana and Nevada exchanged a glance. Dakota knew exactly what they were thinking. She drew in a breath.

“No, I haven’t told him,” she said, answering their unasked question. “I will. I know I have to. And I know he’s not going to take it well. Finn has made it very clear what he wants from life and it isn’t more responsibility. He’s been great with Hannah, but she’s not his. He can walk away at any time. A baby is going to change everything for him.”

There was an emotional storm coming. As much as she wanted to believe he would be happy, she knew better. He might even think she’d tried to trick him. Whatever happened, she would get through it. Even if he walked away, she would be fine. Broken hearts healed. Hers would, too. Because no matter what, she was having a baby.

“He might surprise you,” her mother said. Although her expression was hopeful, her tone was thick with doubt.

“I don’t think so.” Nevada looked uncomfortable but kept on talking. “When it comes to things like this, men tend to tell the truth. If the guy says he’s never been faithful, a woman needs to listen. And if a man says he doesn’t want a family, he’s probably not lying.” She turned to Dakota. “I’m sorry. I really want to be wrong. But I don’t want to see you hurt more.”

“I know.” Dakota understood the risks. She and Finn had started their relationship for a lot of reasons that were about attraction and hot sex. Along the way, she had discovered he was a pretty great guy. She’d felt herself starting to fall for him and figured that was the biggest problem she would face. Being in love with a man who only wanted to leave.

Now she had to explain how her claim of being unable to conceive might not have been completely true. Not a conversation designed to go well.

“Maybe he’ll surprise you,” Montana said. “Maybe he’ll be mad at first, but then he’ll realize this is what he’s wanted all along. Maybe he’s wildly in love with you and doesn’t know how to tell you.”

“If wishes were horses…” Denise said, then sighed. She looked at Dakota. “I’m sorry, honey. Nevada’s right. Men tend to tell the truth, even when they don’t mean to. I don’t think Finn is going to be happy about this.”

“I know.” Dakota smiled. “I’ll be fine, whatever happens. I know I have all of you and the town. I have Hannah. And I’m having a baby. That’s the miracle. Whatever else happens, I have my miracle. Most people don’t get to say that. Most people go their whole lives without experiencing something like this. Having Finn around would have been an amazing bonus, but I’m okay with what I have.”

“You love him,” Nevada murmured. “Did I see this before?”