he actually surprised her. her arms dropped from over her chest and she gaped at him for a second.

"you're everything," he said. "it scares me to death, but i want it all with you. i want you for life. i want what you want, and i want it right now."

"huh?"

"everything, shelby. i want you to be the lead in my shoes that keeps me on the ground. the mother of my children. my best friend, my wife, my mistress. it's a tall order." he took a breath. "if you won't quit, i won't."

"you're sure about that?" she asked him.

"sure it scares the hell out me you'll change your mind? or sure i want it all? oh, yeah, honey. i'm sure."

"i won't change my mind," she said softly.

"i can't hear you!" he yelled. "i can't hear you because you won't come out of the frickin' rain!"

she ran up the porch steps and into his arms. he lifted her off the floor and went after her mouth hungrily. she cried against his lips. he had a tear or two he ignored, loving her tears of relief.

"am i enough?" she asked.

"way more, you always were," he said. "i want you so bad, i never wanted you to go. i don't know if this is fair to you-"

"here's the deal-i decide what's fair to me, you decide what's fair to you. we stop deciding for each other. the idea is to work together. you're a little controlling...."

"i'm flawed in many ways."

"all i want is that you love me enough to make a life with me. it doesn't have to be tomorrow you make the promise, but you have to give us a chance..."

"it can be tomorrow. it can be tonight. losing you almost killed me."

"oh god," she whimpered. "can you love me forever?"

"probably longer. it's like i don't have a choice. think you can handle that?"

she took a deep breath. "you just try me."