“She said you had a severance package for me, but really that wasn’t necessary.”

He shrugged. “You may change your mind when you see it.” He nodded to the paper. “You still have to sign for it.”

“Oh, right.” She opened the envelope. It didn’t contain a check. She held up the piece of paper. “What is this?”

“Read it.”

“Zach…”

“It’s not a check, but it does require a signature,” he said, climbing the next step closer to her, but she fought the urge to touch him.

The paper shook in her fingers. It was the ultimate contract, and its sentiment squeezed at her heart until she thought it would burst. “It’s a marriage license.”

“You’re right.” He tucked his hand in his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet ring box. The ache in her chest moved to her throat and stole her air. “I’ve been carrying this with me since L.A.

He opened the box. An enormous solitaire ring caught the sunlight, and Regan gasped.

“Zach, I don’t understand.” She lifted her gaze from the glimmering ring and looked into his calm green eyes that smiled lovingly back at her.

“What’s not to understand?” He took the ring and slid it onto her finger. “Regan, will you marry me?”

She refrained from jerking her hand back. It didn’t make sense. She was soiled. She was damaged goods. There was nothing for him to still want from her, yet he looked at her with those loving eyes. Her knees went weak. “Why would you want to marry me?”

“Do you want a list?”

“But I wasn’t honest with you. I’ve had a baby with another man.” Cold sweat broke on her brow, and she brushed her hand across her forehead. “I lost you the biggest contract of your career. How could you want to marry me?”

“Because I love you, Regan. Those things are part of you.” He moved his hand to her cheek. “You gave a family a child they couldn’t have. What a wonderful gift. You gambled at love and lost. Everyone does.”

“But Zach…”

“If you want your daughter back, we can contact my lawyer. It’s only been a year. Isn’t there some kind of clause?” She shook her head adamantly. Oh God, what was he offering? Regan looked away from him for a moment and gave into the contemplation. Her daughter. Her little girl. She could hold her, see her, love her as she had since she’d felt her first flutter of life in her belly. Then the reality of it forced its way back into her delusion. Her baby was better off without her. Her daughter had a family, and to strip them of that relationship would be a horrible burden to live with. It would be better to live without love again than to hurt a child.

Zach’s thumb rubbed against her cheek, and she looked back at him. He smiled down at her. “You are very special to me, and I’m not going to let you run away from me.”

He pulled her in a quick move to the end of the step so they were eye to eye. Just as quickly he wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed their bodies together. The speed of his movement made her gasp, but then the warmth of his lips was on hers and no matter how much she wanted to be sensible and break free, she couldn’t. His lips were as intoxicating as his green eyes, his scent, his voice, and his touch. If she’d walked away, she’d regret it forever. It would kill her little by little to say goodbye to him forever.

When Zach pulled away, she opened her eyes and watched him. His lips parted into a grin that sent a river of warmth through her. He brushed her lips with his thumb. “You’re going to marry me and live in this house I bought for you.”

“Excuse me?” A bubble of excitement rose into her chest. She turned her attention back to the house behind her.

“You heard me. You said you wanted Tennessee sprawling land and two rockers on the porch.”

“Zach…” She looked around her through moist eyes. There were two rocking chairs on the porch, which wrapped around the house. The trees that lined the road rustled in the wind. It was just as she’d described to him. This was just what she’d wanted.

“Regan, if you turn me down again, I’ll tie you to the spindle.”

She settled her gaze over him. She did love him. Running away wasn’t going to change that.

“So I’m fired?” She finally smiled.

“As my assistant.” His hand was in her hair, and she moved in even closer to him, wanting to feel him near. “But I need a partner, in life and in business.”

“And you want me to be that partner?” She rested her forehead against his.

“If you’ll accept the position.” He slid his other hand to her waist, and her body relaxed against his as she gave into her need for him.

“I guess we’ll have to go inside for negotiations. I’ll have some executive decisions to make.” She ran her hands up his chest. “So I can walk, or you can carry me inside.”

He laughed and hoisted her to his waist. She wrapped her legs around him and circled her arms around his neck.

“You’ll be signing that contract,” he urged as he carried her past the rockers and through the front door of the house built on sprawling Tennessee land. His arms held her tightly and his hands caressed her back.

She kissed him, and warmth filled every part of her. “We simply can’t do business without the contract. Partner.”