We both knew I planned to spoil her as much as she wanted. I wasn't sure when I'd become such a fucking sap.

She smacked my chest before carefully handing me Gabriella's car seat. "You get to do the honors since my insides might fall out if I stretch too far."

I rolled my eyes. I turned and very slowly slid into the backseat. I put Gabriella's car seat on top of the base. When it clicked, I smiled. She was locked in and ready to go. I just wasn't sure if I was.

I moved her blanket to the side and stared down at my daughter. She was the most beautiful little girl I'd ever seen. Her features mirrored both Amber's and mine-dark hair and green eyes. I couldn't believe just how much hair she had already. It was ridiculous that our newborn had enough so that Amber could put a little bow in her hair.

I leaned down and kissed her tiny cheek before climbing out of the car again. I stood and turned to see Amber watching me with a grin.

"What?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Just . . . you. Dad Adam is a whole new side of you. It's kind of cute how you act around her."

I stepped forward and pulled Amber into my arms. She came willingly. Our lips pressed together in a kiss that spoke volumes. There was so much love in that single kiss that it took my breath away for a moment.

When I pulled away, Amber touched her lips. Her eyes told me that she was feeling the exact same way I was.

I was one lucky bastard.

"Let's get my girls home," I said as I opened her door.

She slid into the passenger seat, and I closed the door. I thanked the nurse before walking around my car and climbing inside. My palms were sweaty as I pulled away from the curb.

It seemed to take forever to reach the interstate. Traffic around the hospital was nearly at a standstill. Finally, we were able to merge.

Amber laughed loudly when she looked at the speedometer. "I don't think I've ever seen you drive this slow."

"I just want to be careful," I grumbled.

She shook her head. "You're fucking adorable. I hope you know that."

"I've been called a lot of things, but adorable isn't one of them. I'll have to add it to my list of many accomplishments."

The rest of the ride home was relatively silent. I didn't even have the radio on. I was afraid that it would rouse Gabby from her slumber while we were in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I wasn't sure my nerves could handle a screaming infant and crazy traffic. They were already shot because of what I had planned for Amber when we made it home.

I let out a sigh of relief once we were inside our gated beach community. I'd paid more than I should have for the house on the beach, but I couldn't control myself once I'd seen it. The house was perfect for me. I'd lived in it for a few years now, but it had never felt like a home until Amber moved in with me eight months earlier.

I used to like coming home just so I could head down to the beach. That had changed the moment my house became hers as well. After that, I would come home and stay inside just to be close to her, even when things had still been unsettled between us.

I pulled into the driveway and shut off the car. I glanced over at Amber when she didn't open her door to get out.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah."

She sniffled, and I realized that she had tears in her eyes.

"It's just that I never thought my life would turn out like this."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"After everything we went through together, I was so sure that you would hate me when you found out I was pregnant. Instead, you took me in and cared for me. I don't know what the hell I did to deserve you, but I'm so thankful."

I reached over and pulled her close. "I'm the one who should be thankful. You put up with all my bullshit for so long. It's a miracle that you didn't just walk away."

"Sometimes, you just can't, no matter how much you want to."

"Ain't that the fucking truth?" I chuckled. "Come on, let's get her into her crib. Then, I have a surprise for you."

She suspiciously looked at me. "What kind of surprise?"

"You'll just have to wait and see," I said as I released her.

After opening my door, I climbed out and opened the back door to get Gabby. I knew Amber would kill me, but in my head, I'd already started calling Gabriella by a nickname.

Amber and I walked side by side to the front door. She unlocked the door and swung it open. I walked in and flipped on the lights. Once she closed the door, I took her hand and led her back to what was now officially Gabby's room.

I flipped on the overhead light and walked over to her crib. I placed her car seat on the changing table and looked over at Amber. "I'll let you put her in. I'm afraid I'll wake her up."

Amber grinned as she walked over to us. I watched as she moved Gabby's blanket. She unbuckled the harness and carefully slid Gabby's arms through the belts. I held my breath as Amber picked her up. I wasn't sure I could wait much longer. If Gabby decided to wake up right now, I would stroke out.

Gabby started fussing, but after Amber shushed her while patting her bottom, she settled back down. I held my breath as Amber lowered her into the crib.

I stepped forward and looked down at her. "She's so little," I whispered.

"Tell my girl parts that," Amber grumbled.

I chuckled. "Let's go to bed," I said as I grabbed her hand and tugged.

"I'm afraid to leave her alone."

"We have the baby monitors on, babe. You can come check on her in a little bit."

She sighed. "I'm never going to sleep again."

"Probably not," I admitted.

I led her from the room and down the hall to our room. It was only two doors away, but I understood why Amber felt antsy. It was like Gabby was miles from us.

When we walked into our room, Amber turned to me. "So, where's this surprise you mentioned?"

I forced myself not to show an ounce of emotion. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

She rolled her eyes. "It's been a long day, Adam. Don't tease me."

I smirked. "I wouldn't do such a thing."

She poked me in the chest. "Spill."

I pulled her over to the bed, and we sat down.

"You know I love you, right?"

She gave me a strange look. "Yes . . ."

"And I'd do anything for you. You're it for me, Amber. You always have been. No matter what happens, I'll always love you."

"What's going on, Adam?" she asked. "You're starting to scare me."

I shook my head. "I don't want to scare you."

She watched as I stood and opened the drawer in my bedside table. I reached in and grabbed a little black box. I'd held on to it for months, trying to find the courage to finally ask Amber the one question I never thought I'd ask.

I slid the drawer shut and turned back around to face her. Her expression turned from confusion to shock as I lowered myself onto one knee.

"Holy shit," she whispered when she saw what I was holding.

I grinned as I opened the box. "I love the fuck out of you, woman. Will you please marry me?"

"I . . . fucking hell. Seriously?" she asked.

"Seriously," I said.

She stared at me for a moment before she burst into tears.

I froze. That was the last reaction I'd expected. She could have just said no instead of crying.

She shook her head and held up her hand. I waited as she tried to compose herself.

"Stupid hormones!" she shouted. That was followed by a string of curses that made me proud. "Yes. Jesus, yes!"

"Yes?" I asked in disbelief. "Then, why are you sobbing?"

"Because I'm happy!" She shoved off the bed and tackled me.

We fell back onto the floor with her on top of me.

"Yes times a million!"

I smiled as my entire body sagged in relief. "You said yes."

"I did." She wiped away new tears before lowering her head and capturing my lips with hers.

I hungrily kissed her, unable to believe that she'd really said yes. Amber was my fiancee.

When we broke the kiss, she slowly sat up. I followed her and grabbed the ring out of the box. I'd gone with something simple, hoping that it would be enough. The band was white gold with three diamonds. The center one was a decent size, and two smaller diamonds surrounded it.

"I hope you like the ring. If you don't, we can go pick another one together."

"Hush, and put it on my finger," she said, grinning from ear to ear.

"I can do that." I grabbed her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger.

"It's beautiful, Adam. Absolutely perfect."

"Just like you," I said.

And I meant it. Amber was everything to me. In my eyes, she was perfect, and she always would be.

Past August I couldn't believe one of us was getting married. I shook my head as our car traveled down Interstate 68 toward Cheat Lake.

Drake.

Married.

Those two words didn't seem to compute properly in my mind.

I was the only one who seemed surprised though.

Drake had sat down with the band and explained that he was secretly plotting with Amber to bring Chloe back to West Virginia so that they could officially tie the knot.

Jade and Eric had both grinned and mumbled something along the lines of, "It's about time."

I should have known it was coming. Drake loved Chloe to the point of obsession, and after watching them together, I knew Chloe felt the same for him.

I was happy for them-really, I was-but for some reason, Drake's wedding gnawed at me.

Actually, I knew the reason. I just couldn't bring myself to say the words out loud. Even thinking them was enough to make me wince.

Drake and I had always been the same. We'd been whores, and we'd both known it. We'd even joked about it with each other. But he'd grown out of our norm, moving on with Chloe into a serious relationship and now marriage.

I had been left behind.

I didn't even care about that, not really. What I did care about, what truly bothered me, was the fact that when I thought about taking the same path as him, one woman would pop into my mind.

Amber.

It'd been over a year since I last laid eyes on her, yet she seemed to consume my thoughts. I'd tried everything to get her out of my head. I'd slept with more women than I cared to remember, far more often than I had before I met her. I'd gotten drunk. I'd smoked. I'd jacked off in the shower, desperately trying not to think of her as I stroked myself. Instead, all I could picture was Amber on her knees in front of me with her full lips wrapped around my cock.

It would make me feel better if it were only about sex when I'd think of her. But no, I'd think of her laugh and the way her eyes would light up when she was excited. I'd think of the way her lips would pucker and lines would form across her forehead when she was angry. I'd think about the way she'd felt in my arms when I did nothing more than hold her.

Amber was slowly driving me toward the brink of insanity.

I was walking on a dangerous line. Most of the time, I would stay on the right side, reminding myself that we'd had a simple understanding. Sex was all we could offer each other. Occasionally, I would stray to the dark side, imagining what it would be like if I finally decided to settle down and claim her as mine.

I couldn't let myself think like that though. Claiming her, loving her, would be a mistake. I'd been burned so badly before. I thought that my scars would be enough to keep me from making a stupid mistake all over again.

Love was reckless. It was stupid. It broke people. There was nothing more terrifying or beautiful than love.