Page 127 of The Secrets She Keeps

Melissa had just laughed. Said maybe someday.

Gunnar thought that was an insane idea.

Then again…

He had seen the way Mac and Heather had looked at each other. There was fire. If Heather was ever ready, he could see ithappening between those two. Someday. There would probably be explosions involved, though.

Anything withHeatherwould be extreme.

He was just going to keep that thought to himself for now. If nothing else, it would be insane towatch.

Heather would make mincemeat out of Mac Barratt.

“I’m going outside to walk around a bit,” he told Powell. He kissed her temple, not missing the approval in her mother’s brown eyes. “I think I saw Dan out by the swings. I’m going to check that nothing is wrong.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Probably. I’m just going to go check. See if he’s looking for me. It’s getting dark out. It might not have been him at all.” And it wouldn’t hurt to do a quick patrol around her parents’ estate. Five acres plus a park right next door—big enough for someone to be hiding. Watching.

He’d check in with the guards, as well. Just to be on the safe side. He was never risking Powell again.

“Dinner will be ready in about half an hour,” Melissa told him. “If Daniel would like, he can join us.”

He knew what she was saying. They had been very angry with Daniel, but they were wanting to mend that fence. For Mac’s sake. He and Daniel had been close friends for decades.

Mac was beyond just angry, though.

Nothing would ever be the same for any of them, but that didn’t mean it was the end of everything. Gunnar knew better than that. Time was too short for those kinds of regrets. Good friends, family, they were what mattered most.

“I’ll be right back. Don’t start without me.”

Powell watchedhim head out the side door. He was wearing jeans and an FCU T-shirt. It made him look far better than his TSP polos did—which was saying something. He still wore his gun openly, though. She suspected he always would. That Viking barbarian warrior of hers had a protector’s soul. Through and through.

“Well. I see things are going nicely between you and the father of my grandbaby,” her mother said.

“He’s going to move in with me this weekend,” Powell said, wrapping her arms around her mom from behind. “I mentionedrings.Me. I did.”

“That’s perfect. Beautiful.” Her mom’s eyes filled. “He’s a wonderful man, Powell Melissa. And I think he loves you very much.”

“I know. I love him, Mama. More than words can ever say. And I’m tired of being afraid. Relationships scare me. With men. I don’t always know what to do or think or say. Or where I fit. We both know that. Well, even with my friends. But not with him. Not now. I made a promise to myself when I was…running away…that I was going to stop letting stupid fears keep me from trying. Because he means far too much to waste even another minute being afraid.”

“Relationships are always scary. But they are also wonderful too. It hasn’t always been easy between your father and me. I’m not sure it’s ever easy for any couple, sweetheart. There is always something happening in life. Some type of conflict that makes the future uncertain and scary.”

Powell just nodded. Uncertain and scary didn’t really begin to cover it. “What if it doesn’t work? How do you know?”

“Sweetheart, I have a friend from law school who just got divorced last week. His wife of forty years was caught with the pool boy, of all the stereotypical things. They have six kids and eighteen grandchildren, and she relocated to South Padre to run a flower stand. There are never any guarantees. But living without your father—well, I can’t imagine what my life would have been like for all these years if I hadn’t had him. Had all of you. Do you truly love this man?”

“More every day.” And that was the scariest thing of all. She was so afraid she’d fail. That was what it was. Afraid she’d mess everything up and destroy what mattered most.

“Then, imagine what it would be like if youdidn’thave him. What would you want from your life then? Your business accomplishments, all the people you help—would it really beenough?”

Powell just shook her head. “I want him. And I want this baby. And if we’re good at this parenting thing, I want more kids too. And I want them with him.”

“Then, baby girl, get your hiney out there andtellhim. He deserves to know. Each day we live is one more we can’t get back, sweetheart. Make them count. Just make them count. No matter what. You never know when they are going to be taken away.”

“You have always been the smartest woman I have ever known.”

“You’d better believe it. Now, go get your man. And then, when we get a chance, we’ll explore this theory of Heather for your brother. Now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense. And they would make the most beautiful babies together, wouldn’t they? And I’d love for those two beautiful babies of hers to be my granddaughters, someday. The more I think about it, the more I love the idea. But how do we make it happen?”

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