Free Heart Tamer by Sophia Knightly

and extricated herself. She shook her head and swiped at hot tears. “No, Alec, I can’t allow my child to have even one moment of panic that her daddy won’t be there for her, that one day he’ll leave and never come back. I know how awful that feels.”
    “That would never happen,” he said grittily. “It was the last mission I’ll ever be on. I resigned from active service.”
    “You did?” She searched his face, hoping with all her heart he meant it. Her profound, aching resentment began to subside, but she couldn’t have Alec coming into and out of her life like that. “You’re not planning on taking another dangerous assignment?”
    “No.” Alec’s eyes bored into hers with such intensity she blinked. “I was planning to tell you about the last assignment the morning after the wedding,” he said, drawing in a rough breath. “I had bought your favorite scones and was on my way back to the hotel when I got sidetracked.”
    She put her hands on her hips and squinted up at him. “By what? What could have been more important?”
    His eyes were troubled as he looked at her. “An old lady was hit by a drunk on a bike who claimed he didn’t see her until it was too late. The scunner must have been drinking all night. She was in bad shape and I stayed with her until the ambulance arrived. I kept calling the hotel to tell you, but there was no answer in my room or yours.”
    “I wish you had come to the airport.” Her lower lip quivered. “I waited for hours hoping you would.”
    Alec’s eyes clouded with a stricken look. “Believe me I would have, but it was too late by the time I got back.”
    “Did the hotel clerk give you my note?” she asked, reliving how vulnerable she’d felt when she left it. She felt even more vulnerable now.
    “Aye. That’s why I’m here. It was the most beautiful message I’ve ever read. I have loved you forever. Wherever you are, I’ll be there ,” he said repeating what she’d written. He knelt before her and kissed the top of her stomach. “And now we’re having a bairn, I’ll never leave your side, sweetheart.”
    Her mouth went dry. “Promise?”
    “I promise,” he said, rising to his feet. He pulled Kate into his arms and kissed her.
    Her heart expanded in her chest with joy. Kate’s eyes welled up with tears as she rested her head on his chest and nestled in his solid embrace. She was where she belonged, in Alec’s arms and next to his heart. She could hear his heart pounding strongly, reminding her of the new life she carried. Their New Year baby.
    “If it’s a boy, we’ll call him Robbie,” she said, her voice breaking.
    “Thank you,” he whispered hoarsely.
    “And if it’s a girl, we’ll name her Elizabeth after your granny,” she said, happy tears wetting the front of his shirt.
    “That would be great. It means the world to me, Katie,” he said, hugging her tightly.
    “And to me,” she said smiling up at him.
    “There’s just one thing missing, sweetheart. I want to take care of you, to give you and our bairn all my love. Forever.” His glowing leonine eyes held hers captive as he pulled out a little Tiffany box and opened it to reveal a large, square cut diamond surrounded by emeralds. “Will you marry me? Will you be mine, Katie?” 
    She stared at him in wonder. Her heart expanded in her chest with so much happiness it was almost unbearable. Unblinking, Kate met his steady gaze and saw herself in his eyes. Saw how much he loved her. Saw his soul bared in the depths of those beautiful eyes.  
    “I’ve always been yours, Alec. You know that. Of course I’ll marry you!” she said, throwing her arms around him. “By this time next year there will be three of us.”
    “This is just the beginning, sweetheart. We’ll have a houseful of bairns if you want.”
    “Yes, at least two more,” she said, drinking in his exuberant kisses.
    Once she caught her breath from his ardent kisses, her forehead creased. “Alec?”
    “What