“Just stop for a minute.” He took her hand. “Catch your breath.”

“What?” She swiped a piece of hair out of her face.

They’d followed the path that ran along the river behind her grandfather’s house. With Lance’s place burned to the ground, he was still living with her. She never wanted him to leave.

Lance looked down at her. “I love you.”

She smirked. “I know.”

He rolled his eyes. “You love me back.”

“I do.” More than he’d ever know.

“This might not be the most romantic place in the world, but this is probably the only time we will be alone all day.”

“With three kids underfoot, that doesn’t happen too often.” She laughed.

“I’ve noticed,” he said dryly.

The river flowed next to them. Water tumbled over rocks. The trees around them budded with new foliage. Despite the morning’s crispness, the air smelled of spring.

“And I think this place is very romantic.” She waited for a kiss, but Lance just looked down at her, his face turning contemplative.

“I know we haven’t been together that long, but I’ve known since the beginning that you were it for me. I want you by my side for the rest of my life. I love you and your kids and the rest of your family. I will never try to replace the girls’ father with you or them, but I promise to be the best husband and parent I can.”

Husband? Was he going to propose? Her breath caught in her throat.

His face went serious. “When that prosecutor in New Jersey called, at first, I didn’t want to be the reason you turned him down, but now I don’t care. I love you, and I want to be with you more than I need any stupid gesture of pride.”

“I never thought I’d find love again.” Morgan’s heart fluttered. “Now that I have, with you, I will not give it up. There is no job in the world more important than you. You make me happy. You are a priority in my life, whether or not you want to be. You’ll just have to live with that.”

“I think I can manage.”

She settled her hands on his shoulders. “There are many reasons I didn’t want to interview for that job. But you are one of them. I love you. But I also like being my own boss. When I’m not on a big case, I’m home every night to be with my kids. ADAs work night and day. I’d barely see my girls. I don’t want to leave my grandfather either. He took care of me most of my life. Now he needs me. It’s my turn to look after him. Plus, this is my girls’ home. They’ve already had one big shake-up to their lives. I won’t drag them away from their family without a damned good reason. And I want to be with you too. I like working together.”

“We make a damned good team.”

“We do.” She took his face in her hands. Happy tears dampened her cheeks. “But if you were the only thing keeping me in Scarlet Falls, I still wouldn’t leave. I would not walk away from you. You are enough.” And she couldn’t believe her good fortune in finding him.

“In that case . . .” Lance dropped to one knee and took a small box from his pocket. Inside, a diamond ring nestled on black velvet. “. . . marry me. I want to wake up with you every morning for the rest of my life.”

They’d talked about commitment and the serious nature of their relationship, so his proposal wasn’t a complete surprise. But she hadn’t expected it this morning. Joy bloomed through her. It didn’t matter that her hair was a mess, she wasn’t wearing makeup, and she was all sweaty.

She’d found a good man, one she loved, one who accepted the extra responsibilities of three small children without any hesitation. How did she get so lucky?

“Yes. I will marry you.” She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve a second chance at love, but she wasn’t going to waste any time mulling it over. Life was short and filled with uncertainty. She was going to seize her opportunity and hold on to it with every ounce of strength she possessed.

He slid the ring onto her finger, and she pulled him to his feet. Lance wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her close, and kissed her hard.

She kissed him back. “You’re sure about this, right? My life is crazy.”

“But it’s the good kind of crazy.” He looped an arm around her shoulders, and they turned back. “Not the psychopathic kind. I was also thinking, after my house is rebuilt, that I’ll sell it. We can use the money to renovate the kitchen and maybe add a master suite to the house.”

“Technically, it’s Grandpa’s house, but I think he’ll be all for it. We could use a little more room.”

“With three girls in the house, another bathroom would be useful too. They’re going to be teenagers someday.”

“It’ll happen before we can blink.” Morgan leaned on his shoulder. “But I don’t know if this running thing is really for me. Maybe I should try yoga.”

He laughed. “That sounds like a plan.”

They climbed the deck steps and went into the house. Morgan drew back. Gianna, Grandpa, and all three girls were waiting, their gazes eagerly searching Lance’s. Even Sharp was there, holding a white bakery bag and a bottle of champagne.

They knew?

“Well?” Sharp asked. “Did she say yes?”

“She did.” Lance squeezed her tightly.

“Yay!” Sophie bolted across the room and leaped at Lance.

He released Morgan and caught the little girl in midair.

“You’re going to be our new daddy.” She squealed and wrapped her arms and legs round him.

Mia and Ava hugged his legs, and Lance squatted to scoop them up too.

Gianna was wiping her eyes. “I’ll make breakfast. We’re having mimosas.”

“Make bacon too,” Grandpa said as he opened the bag Sharp had brought. “You brought donuts?”

Sharp grinned. He wasn’t ready for a marathon anytime soon, but he was healing and looking stronger every day. “Sometimes you gotta live a little.”

Morgan helped herself to a donut. “Indeed.”

Lance set the children down. Gianna brought a tray of champagne glasses. She handed the girls three plastic flutes filled with orange juice. She was far too prepared.

“So how long have you all known?” Morgan took a glass from the tray.

Gianna blushed. “Since yesterday.”

“I wanted to ask the girls first.” Lance lifted a glass. “I wanted to make sure they were OK with having me as a stepdad.”

“We are.” Sophie bounced on her toes.

“You were awfully sure of yourself. What if I had said no?” Morgan turned her hand to admire her ring.

Rolling his eyes, Sharp took a glass. “You were never going to say no.”

“You’re right.” Morgan wrapped her arm around Lance’s waist. Two years ago, she’d been devastated. She hadn’t thought happiness would ever be possible for her. But now, anything seemed possible.

Lance tapped his glass against Morgan’s. “To us. To all of us.”

“Yay! We’re gonna be a family.” Sophie rapped her plastic flute too hard against Ava’s. Orange juice splashed to the tile. The dogs rushed in to lick it off the floor. Morgan tripped over Snoozer, and Lance caught her before she hit the floor.

Gianna snatched a dish towel and mopped up the mess.

Pulling Morgan away from the chaos, Lance kissed her.

“You’re sure about this?” She laughed.

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” he said.

Neither had Morgan. “Life around here is a whirlwind.”

He kissed her again. “But it will never be dull.”