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“What is it?” he said, wiping his hands on a tea towel.

“Can we go out for a walk?” Lucy asked. “Maybe down to the beach?”

“Sure,” Dylan replied. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, but some fresh air would be good.”

Dylan quietly explained to Michael that they’d be back soon and they got bundled up in their coats, hats and scarves and headed out of the front door.

The day’s light was fading, but it was dry and the air was crisp — the best type of winter weather.

They walked in silence. Dylan took her hand to help her down onto the beach. They continued walking hand in hand, neither of them pulling away. Lucy wasn’t even sure exactly what she’d wanted to say, if there even had been anything other than just the insatiable urge to be with him.

“It’s still so strange to me to think that in just a few months, there will be a little person with us when we come for a walk down here,” Dylan said.

“Yeah. You’re going to be a great dad.”

“I hope so,” Dylan replied. “With your help. I mean, I’m still not going to have any idea what I’m doing.”

“Neither am I,” admitted Lucy. “But I’m hoping we can work it out together.”

“I’d like that.”

They stopped and both turned to face one another. Everything, including every single one of the reasons why Lucy had ever thought this wonderful man was wrong for her, seemed to vanish. She’d allowed her past experiences to completely cloud her judgement, not allowing Dylan to show her how kind he was, to show her the real him. It was only when she’d been forced to spend more time with him that she’d come to see him for who he truly was.

And he had proven himself to her. There could be no denying that. Not even she, with all her hang-ups and worries, could claim that he hadn’t shown that he could be trusted completely. He’d gone out of his way to prove that, as soon as he knew her concerns about them being in business together. And if there was anyone she could share her coffee shop with, it was him.

He’d cared for her and their child, and his reaction the day before had finally forced her to open her eyes to the fact that it wasn’t just because of their baby that he wanted to be with her. He had feelings for her, even though she’d often been so awful to him and pushed him away. He wanted to be with her, and she genuinely wanted him — no pregnancy hormones could be this strong!

Their eyes met and Lucy’s heart started pounding as they inched towards each other and she realised what was about to happen.

Their lips met and Lucy’s entire body seemed to give a sigh of relief. This wasn’t their first kiss, but it was the first with such intent. There was no going back after this, it felt. No claiming it was a mistake. No blaming it on anything other than the feelings they had for each other.

Dylan pulled her tighter to him, as if he couldn’t get close enough to her and was desperate to solve this problem. Like he never wanted to let her go.

“Lucy,” he breathed into her hair.

Suddenly, Lucy realised what she needed to do. It was so obvious. How had she not seen it before? She gently broke away from Dylan, and took hold of his hands again.

“Hey, is this OK?” he asked. His pupils were dilated and he looked slightly dazed.

Lucy took a deep breath, trying not to focus on just how important what she was going to say next was going to be.

“Dylan, you’ve asked me to marry you twice before . . .” she began.

“Don’t worry,” he said, quietly. “I’m not able to try for third time lucky, but, Luce, you know, you must know that we’re supposed to be together.”

Lucy nodded. “Yeah, I know,” she whispered. “I finally figured that one out.”

“So maybe some time in the future?”

His mouth fell open as Lucy took his hands in hers and dropped down onto one knee. “That first proposal was a disaster and I’m not sure the second one really counts to be honest, but it seems I was an idiot to turn you down,” she began. “I was scared, and I thought you were something you weren’t. I didn’t want to see what was right in front of me. I was so adamant that I disliked you that it blinded me to you, and what we could have together.”

“I can be infuriating,” Dylan said, sinking down onto his knees.

“Yes, you can,” Lucy agreed with a smile. “But you can also be unbelievably kind and thoughtful, and I know now that you are the one. The one my soul needs. So I’d really like it if you would please at least consider agreeing to marry me. If not now, then, yeah, I’ll accept at some point in the future. But not just because we’re having a baby together, but because I think we love each other.”

“I’m sure I love you,” Dylan said. “No doubt in my mind.”