Sweet Fortune

Losing everything for love?”
    A great weight seemed to be lifting from his shoulders. “Is that what I just did?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “You tell me if it was worth it,” he said softly.
    “Yes. Most definitely yes.”
    “Yes,” he repeated. “Most definitely yes.” He took the wineglass from her hand and set it down on the counter next to his own. Then he got to his feet and scooped her off the stool and into his arms.
    “Lord,” she whispered, eyes filling with passion as he carried her toward the bedroom. “I just wish I had a staircase. This would be so much more romantic if you carried me up a staircase, don't you think?”
    “No. At my age a man has to consider his lower back,” Hatch said seriously.
    She punched his shoulder. “That was a joke. Darn it, this time I know that was meant to be funny. Wasn't it?”
    Hatch started to chuckle. The next minute he was laughing out loud, a deep, full-throated roar of a laugh that came from far down in his chest. And as his own triumphant mirth echoed in the white bedroom, he realized he could not remember the last time he had allowed himself to surrender to sheer, unadulterated happiness.

    Hatch woke from a pleasant, dozing sleep and felt the soft warmth of Jessie's body curled into his own. Her sweetly curved derriere was nestled against his thighs, and his hand cupped one rounded breast. A nipple thrust into his palm. Hatch squeezed gently.
    Jessie shifted against him. “You rang?”
    He chuckled and kissed her shoulder. “Just wanted to see if you were still awake.”
    “Ummm. Actually, I've been thinking. I know how much you counted on getting your paws on Benedict Fasteners.”
    “I'd rather have my paws on you.”
    She smiled and turned her head on the pillow to look at him. “That's nice and it certainly represents a drastic reordering of your personal priorities, for which I am extremely grateful. However, I also feel a little guilty about all this.”
    Some of Hatch's good mood started to slip. “Don't say that, Jessie. You've got nothing to feel guilty about. If anyone should be feeling guilty, it's me. In one fell swoop I've just changed your whole life.”
    “You mustn't say that.” She touched his cheek gently. “As far as I'm concerned, that one fell swoop proved for certain that you loved me and I shall treasure the memory forever.”
    “Then what are you thinking about so seriously?”
    “I could try talking to Dad for you,” she said. “See if I can get him to climb down off his high horse. I know neither one of you is the type to back down. You're both so stubborn. But maybe if I sort of mediated things, I could find a compromise for both of you.”
    “Try it and I'll paddle your butt so hard you won't sit down for a week.”
    She blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
    “You heard me. Jessie, this is between your father and me. You are not involved. Got that?”
    “But I am involved.”
    “No. You said yourself, you've already made your decision. You're going to marry me, right?”
    “Yes, of course, but—”
    “Then you've made your choice. Your first loyalty is to me now, not your family.”
    “Yes.”
    “You aren't going to play go-between this time, honey. I won't let you. You're on my side of the fence and you're not going to try to straddle it. I don't need you to rescue me. All I need or want is you. Got that?”
    She smiled mistily, her fingers splayed on his bare chest. “Got it. You know, I think that's about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
    He grinned. “You mean threatening to paddle your backside?”
    She yanked on a handful of chest hair and looked satisfied when he winced. “No, I meant the part about needing and wanting me. Just me. Not me because I can act as an intermediary or because I can get something for you from Dad or because I can smooth things over and hold it all together. But me, just because I'm me.”
    “Remember that, okay?” He slid his hand down over her thigh.
    “Okay.”
    “Jessie?” His fingers were tangled in the nest of hair between her legs now.
    “Uh-huh?”
    “You're sure about wanting to have my baby?”
    “I'm sure. I think you'll make a good father, Hatch.”
    “Thank you for trusting me that much. I know what that decision means to you.” He kissed her throat and pushed his leg between hers. The womanly scent of her body filled his head. He was already hard. “No one has ever trusted me as much as you do. Walking away with me will mean starting