The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

course I care. But only to the extent of what it’s doing to you. I don’t want to see you hurt, Megan.”
    “Then you’d better leave now,” she whispered.
    He heard the crack in her voice and everything in him tightened protectively. He didn’t want to see her hurt, but he was doing a damn fine job of it himself at the moment.
    Sucking in a long, deep gulp of air, he blew it out again in a rush and admitted, “I’m just a little nuts today.”
    “I’m getting that.”
    His lips quirked. “Megan, when you left—”
    “I had to—”
    “—it almost killed me.”
    “Oh, Simon.”
    “I can’t lose you, Megan.” He rubbed the back of his neck viciously. “Won’t lose you.” Then he handed her the newspaper. “Here. Read this.”
    “What’re you…?”
    “Just read it. Then we’ll talk.”
    As her gaze dropped to the front page of the Times, Simon kept his own gaze fixed on her face. He saw every emotion as it flashed across her features. Read wonder and then surprise and then pleasure in her eyes and he hoped it would be enough.
    “I don’t understand,” she whispered, never lifting her gaze to him.
    “Then read it out loud. Maybe it’ll help.”
    She nodded tightly.
“Pearce Speaks Out. Simon Pearce, in an exclusive interview, stated that his wife, Megan Ashton Pearce, is the most important person in the world to him. He assured this reporter that he and his wife will continue to support her family in this difficult time.”
    “Clear enough?” he asked, and this time, his voice was gentle, as if he were trying to coax a wild deer close.
    She took a shuddering breath and looked up at him. Her beautiful green eyes awash with tears, he took hope from the tremulous smile curving her mouth. “Oh Simon, I don’t know what to say.”
    Frustrated and just a little worried, Simon blurted, “Don’t you get it, Megan? I love you. I should have told you before. But I was an idiot. I wanted to make you say it first, so I wouldn’t lose control of the situation.” He laughed sharply, shortly. “That was so stupid, because the minute I said ‘I do’ to you Megan, I lost control. And I don’t even want it anymore. All I want is you.”
    “Simon, I love you, too. But I didn’t want to tell you because we’d agreed to a temporary marriage.”
    “Nothing temporary about us, Megan. Not a damn thing. If I had another hundred years to love you, it still wouldn’t be enough.”
    She lifted one hand to cup his cheek. “I only left because I didn’t want you to be hurt by what was happening with my family.”
    He caught her hand with his, then turned his face and planted a kiss in the center of her palm. “The only way I can be hurt is if you leave me.”
    “Then you’re destined for a lifetime of happiness, Simon,” she said as she stepped into the circle of his arms and held on tight. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”
    His arms wrapped around her like a vise, pressing her close. “Damn right you’re not.”
    She laughed and the music of it filled his soul, and Simon sent a quick, heartfelt thanks to whichever Fate had granted him a second chance. How had he ever lived without her? Still smiling, he lifted hishead and looked down at her. “You know, it’s a good thing you’re coming home with me.”
    “Really?” She tipped her head to one side and teased, “Why’s that?”
    “Because, Mrs. Pearce, have you stopped to think at all that you could be pregnant?”
    Megan’s smile faded, her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. “Oh for heaven’s sake.” She went limp in his grasp. “With everything that’s gone on in the last few weeks, can you believe I never even thought about it?”
    He hadn’t either. Not until the night she’d left him alone in that too-big house with nothing to keep him company but thoughts of what might have been. And in those first lonely hours, he’d been forced to acknowledge that when he’d lost Megan, he’d lost all hope for a future. For a family. With the only woman he’d ever loved.
    Now though, he had her back in his life, in his heart. And he swore silently that he’d never do anything to risk what they’d found together. A swell of love for her rushed through him with the force of a tidal wave that surged to every corner of his soul. Staring down into her summer-green eyes, he felt himself hoping they’d have a house full of children and that each of them would have her eyes.
    “Yeah well,” he said, pausing to drop a