LITMIR.BIZ

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office.

      “But... You are supposed to be on a plane? Or in LA by now. You’re not supposed to be here.”

      “I couldn’t leave,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I couldn’t leave you.”

      The room started to swim and the next thing she knew, she was in Seth’s arms and he was lowering her down into her chair. “Breathe, babe,” he said, kneeling in front of her and holding her hands.

      “You’re not supposed to give up your job with the company for me,” she said, her voice cracking. “I would never ask you to put me before your family.”

      “You’re not asking,” he said, stroking his thumbs over the back of her hands. “Kate, I screwed up. I want to make it right and then, if you still want to be done, I’ll go.”

      He’d come back for her. She didn’t want him to leave again. She wasn’t sure she was strong enough for that.

      “We had an agreement,” she said weakly. “Fun. No strings. You’re not going to stay in Rapid City. That was the deal.”

      “I want to renegotiate the deal. I’m looking for something fun. Some strings attached. Slightly more permanently based in Rapid City. At least until Madeleine is old enough to travel.”

      At that moment, the baby chose to shift, sending flutters all over Kate’s belly. Seth cupped her stomach and leaned down to kiss it through her clothes.

      “You can’t mean this,” she said, giving up the fight against the tears. What was it about this man that always had her at her weakest?

      He looked up at her, so handsome and perfect and here. “I never knew my father. He ran out on my mom before I was even born and I thought... I thought I was restless. That I needed to see the world—and that was because of him. But I don’t think I’m restless. I just think I hadn’t found a reason to stay in one place.”

      “Don’t say that,” she begged. “Don’t break my heart, Seth. I can’t take it.”

      “I couldn’t take it, either—so I won’t.”

      “I won’t let you do this. I will not let you give up the family business for me. I’m not...”

      His gaze sharpened. “You are worth it, Kate. And you know what? I’m a Bolton and if there’s one thing I know about Boltons, it’s that family is everything. Kate, you are my everything. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t fight for you?”

      She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against his cheek. “No one has ever fought for me before,” she wept. “I just don’t want you to regret it.”

      “Have a little faith in me,” he said, his voice shaking. “And have faith in yourself. Do you love me?”

      “Of course I do,” she sobbed. “How could I not?”

      “Then marry me, Kate. And not in some big lavish ceremony with a crazy dress that has petticoats and corsets and ruffles and strings. We can get married at the courthouse, for all I care. It’s not the wedding that counts—it’s you. You’re my everything, Kate, you and Madeleine. Let me be your family. It doesn’t mean I won’t do stupid things like nearly flying halfway across the world when I belong right here. That means I will fight for you, for us. Every day of my life, so help me God.”

      “But your job...”

      He leaned back and gave her a cocky look. “I’m a partner in the firm. It’s not like they can fire me. And besides, it’ll work out. It might be a little messy, but I’ll fight for what I want. I don’t have to prove myself to them. I just have to prove myself to you.” He swallowed. “If you’ll have me?”

      “Yes,” she said, pulling him into a kiss. “God, yes, Seth. I couldn’t even think with you being gone.”

      The baby shifted again, harder this time—demanding attention, no doubt. Kate gasped as Seth rubbed her belly. “I couldn’t miss this. She will always be my daughter, from the very first moment.”

      This was everything she’d ever wanted. She wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot—but Seth understood who she was and loved her anyway. She cupped his cheek with her hand. “Seth?”

      “Yeah?” He turned his head and pressed a kiss against her palm.

      “You were right.”

      His eyes darkened as she ran her hands through his hair. “Oh? About what?”

      “You’re good for me,” she replied, leaning forward to brush her lips against his. “Very, very good for me.”

      He grinned against her mouth. “Babe,” he all but growled, pulling her into his embrace, “I’m just getting started.”

       Epilogue

      “You don’t think she’ll run, do you?”

      Seth shot Bobby a dirty look as the judge cleared his throat. “Shall we begin?”

      Jack Roy began to strum his guitar as Julie walked into the judge’s chambers, strewing rose petals before her. Davey walked next to his cousin, intensely focused on the rings he was carrying. Clara, Eliza and Connie giggled while their mothers shushed them.

      Billy smacked Bobby on the arm and Ben made a noise of warning deep in his throat. Seth ignored them all because just then, Kate walked through the double doors, holding a sleeping Madeleine in her arms instead of a bouquet.

      Seth’s heart clenched at the sight of his family. Not that he hadn’t seen them this morning—he’d gotten up with Madeleine at two so Kate could sleep.

      But his aunt Stella had worked her magic, designing a simple cream wedding gown that clung to Kate’s ample chest and flowed softly away from the waist. Compared to the monstrosity that Kate had almost gotten married in the first time, Seth was thrilled to realize this dress wouldn’t require three lady’s maids to remove.

      Madeleine wore a similar outfit, although her fabric had been dyed with the faintest pink. Seth couldn’t see his daughter’s feet because the dress flowed well past Madeleine’s legs.

      “Beautiful,” Billy whispered, sounding almost wheezy about it.

      “Mine,” Seth replied.

      “I’m proud of you, son,” Billy went on, his voice low enough that no one else could hear him. “I knew you’d do the right thing.”

      The last six months had been a whirlwind of change. Kate had moved into their home and Seth had given her free rein to decorate it as she saw fit. Madeleine had come two weeks early, healthy and beautiful. Seth had been with Kate for the entire twenty-two hours of labor.

      He’d personally hired a man he’d worked with in LA who, it turned out, spoke semi-fluent Mandarin to spearhead the Shanghai showroom.

      And Seth? He’d stayed in Rapid City, overseeing the museum expansion.

      Expanding his family.

      Today, not only would Kate become his wife, but Madeleine would legally be his daughter. He and Kate had debated getting hitched immediately—Seth’s preference—but Kate had decided she wanted to wait until Madeleine could be a part of the ceremony.

      Seth caught the eye of his future in-laws. Kate’s dad was scowling, but he’d put on a boutonniere and he was here, so that was something. Kate’s mom was dabbing at her eyes. Seth hoped that for Kate’s sake, they could have a cordial relationship, if not a close one.

      Then Seth turned his attention back to his bride.

      The judge, it turned out, was an old riding buddy of Billy’s. He’d been happy to combine a wedding and an adoption.

      Kate made her way up to Seth and handed Madeleine off to Jenny.

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