commanded the earth and stars around her.
Except for Wolf, who she had no command over, and the reason she was here.
“Look, Ash, I know why you went away. I know you think you’re the hunted one your grandfather always warned about. But I shot Wolf. So you’re not the hunted one.” It was so important that she understand this, because they needed to put their family together.
He needed this family. He needed her.
Xav pulled her toward him, wrapped her in his arms. She seemed so surprised she didn’t fight him, so he took advantage of her momentary lull in willpower and enjoyed the moment. Memories washed over him. “You still smell like peaches, you’re still soft as rainwater and you still fit right under my heart.”
“I am the hunted one,” Ash said quietly. “You’re trying to protect me.”
“Gage, Shaman, Kendall and Ashlyn,” he said against her hair, drinking in the scent of her and the feel of her in his arms.
“What?”
“Those are the middle names I choose. And you should be impressed with my ability to select names when I didn’t even know I was a father four hours ago. Briar Kendall, Skye Ashlyn, Valor Shaman and Thorn Gage. Phillips. Named after my brothers and sister. Have to have the other side of the family represented.”
She moved out of his arms, and he decided not to try to pull her back. “Callahan, not Phillips.”
He hauled her into his lap as he sat down on the poufy old-fashioned sofa. “Here’s the deal. You marry me and you can pick all the names.”
“No,” Ash said, “I like the names you chose.”
“Great. Now,” he said, taking the diamond-and-sapphire ring from his pocket, “here’s what I was going to give you the last night we were together. Put it on your delicate little finger and tell me when and where we’re going to gather for a wedding.”
She stared at the ring. “Were you really going to give that to me before Wolf ambushed us?”
He nodded. “It was a very disappointing interruption, I’ll admit.” Nine months of an interruption. “I would have proposed at some appropriate point after I shot Wolf, but you disappeared. Which I would appreciate you not doing again.” He looked at his children. “I want to give these children my name as soon as possible.”
She handed him back the ring. “As beautiful as this ring is, I can’t marry you.”
“I can’t make love to you until you do.”
Ash cocked a brow. “Who says I want you to make love to me?”
He kissed her, taking his time, before she finally pushed him gently away. “You want me to make love to you right now, Ashlyn Callahan.”
Ash got out of his lap. “Xav, you don’t understand.”
“I understand that we belong together. That’s all I need to know. The only reason you’re saying no is because you don’t believe that I shot Wolf. Let me tell you how that went down,” Xav said. “I had unloaded your gun.”
“No one gets my gun away from me.” She looked at the babies with a fond smile. “Of course, that was before I became a mother. Now I never carry.”
“I made love to you, and while you dozed, I took the precaution of removing the bullets from your gun.”
“Why?” She shot him a suspicious look.
“Because, my sweet peach, you have your unpredictable moments, and I was about to propose.” He waved the ring box at her. “I figured my chances were fifty-fifty that you might say yes. Or you might decide to tell me to walk the plank.” He grinned, pleased with himself. “I’m a cautious man.”
“You thought I’d shoot you over a marriage proposal?”
“It was just a precaution. I like putting odds in my favor. I’ve learned a lot from the Callahans over the years.”
She sighed. “Xav, I appreciate you trying to lift the burden of guilt from me, but your story makes no sense whatsoever. I’d know if a gun I fired didn’t have a round in it. But you’re a hero for trying to make me think I’m not the hunted one. I know I am.”
She drifted out of the room, his gaze longingly on the petite body he remembered so well. Missed so much. When she was gone, he looked at his four children. “If you four got even a teaspoon of your mother’s obstinate streak, you’ll be able to survive anything the world throws at you.”
Mallory came in, set a tray in front of him. “Green chili? Tea?”
His stomach rumbled a bit since he hadn’t touched the cake she’d brought in before. “Both. Thanks.”
Mallory sat across from him, busied herself with the tray. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope.”
“You definitely live up to Ash’s description.”
“Which was what?”
“Tall, dark, handsome.”
Mallory had a wealth of freckles, sparkling eyes, and dark hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. She radiated good humor. “Thanks for helping out with my crew.”
“Ash also mentioned you weren’t the settling-down type,” Mallory continued.
“I just proposed,” Xav said. “Although the lady hasn’t accepted yet. She’s thinking it over.”
Mallory smiled. “Ash said she chased you for years, but that you weren’t a man who could be caught.”
He wondered why Ash would tell her friend such a story. “My proposal even came with a ring.”
“I believe you,” Mallory said. “I’m just giving you a little tip. I’m off to bake cupcakes before the babies wake up. They don’t sleep long during the day. Or the night. It’s nice to meet you, Xav. Feel free to stay in our home if Ash invites you.”
She left, and Xav considered his options. Of course he was staying here with his children!
Actually, Ash hadn’t invited him. He might not be invited. Even offering an engagement ring, a guy might find himself sleeping in his truck. And what was that business about him not being a man who could be caught?
It was Ash Callahan who’d run like the wind during their entire courtship, if one could call it a courtship.
He didn’t know what he was going to do with that crazy little gal. She had certain ideas about how things had been and how they hadn’t been—and the funny thing was, she was the mother of his children.
He was going to have to figure this out—fast.
He heard a snuffle from one of the bassinets, a small mewl, and he went to check on Skye. “Hey,” he whispered to his daughter, “you want to be picked up?”
The baby let out a tiny noise so he picked her up, nestled her against his chest. And something amazing, something strong, fabulous and true, landed right in his heart, igniting a burning love he’d never experienced before. He held his child, smelled her powdery skin, felt her soft, soft helpless body in his arms, and knew that he’d go to the ends of the earth to be with these children, to protect them, to shelter them, to shield them.
With every last breath in his body.
* * *
ASH STARED AT the big sexy cowboy sprawled out on the delicate curved sofa, sound asleep, his boots carefully hanging off Mallory’s beloved if old-fashioned furniture. He held Skye against his chest, and the two of them slept peacefully, like two parts of the same body.
Tears jumped into Ash’s eyes. Of all the ways she’d imagined Xav interacting with her babies, this wasn’t it—and it was better than she could have ever imagined.