Bud whirled around to face Matt, and I slipped away from the wall and dialed 911. His eyes were crazy and glazed over as he stared down Matt. “You’re not so tough. You’re all talk. A big, dumb primate. I box.” He held up his fists.

“I bite.” Matt snapped his teeth.

Bud’s fists slipped. “You’re a gold digger.”

Matt sneered, baring his teeth. “Yer as fake as yer bad back.”

Sirens wailed in the distance, and Bud made a run for the door.

Matt grabbed him by the jacket, and Bud turned around then punched Matt in the chest hard. “Self-defense, laddy. Thank ye fer that.” Matt chuckled deeply, his grin coming slow and sweet. “Time to go night-night. Lights out.” With one blow to Bud’s face that didn’t even look that hard, Bud tumbled to the floor in an unconscious heap just as Officer Pickles arrived.

The next hour was spent arresting Bud and his girlfriend, who was dumb enough to have stayed in the getaway car out front. Matt and I both gave our statements, and finally, the police left. My nerves were shot.

Bud has always been a nuisance, but he’d never been dangerous. He had to be addicted to drugs. That explained why he was so desperate for money this time. I was just glad that part of my life was finally over, and I refused to let my past dictate my future.

I would not let Bud win.

“This is not how I had planned on tonight going.” I looked down at my wrinkled outfit and messed-up hairdo. No matter what it took, I was going to salvage this night.

Matt looked at me as if just now recognizing how I was dressed. His gaze ran around the room, pausing on the sparkling grape juice and strawberries. He looked back at me. “Wow, that’s quite a dress fer hanging an angel on a tree.”

“I have plans tonight…after.”

His brow puckered and then narrowed. “I see. With anyone I know?”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of him.” I winked. “He’s a legend.”

His eyes widened. “Tiffany, what is this?”

I started to lower myself to one knee and thought better of it.

Matt grabbed my arm before I could fall.

“Matthew McGinnis, you are the most stubborn man I know.” I still held onto his arms.

He arched a brow. “I believe the proper thing to say is thank ye.”

“Let me finish, Sasquatch.”

He kept his lips zipped, but they tipped up slightly at the corners. My heart fluttered, and I cleared my throat. I needed to get this out. This man, who’d grown to be so important to me in such a small amount of time needed to hear what was in my heart.

“You are also the kindest, most gentle and understanding man I know.”

“I try.” He shrugged, and I swear I saw a wee bit of pink tinting his face.

I distracted the butterflies in my stomach by sliding my hands down his rock-solid arms and weaving my fingers with his. I glanced down at how perfectly they fit together.

We were a perfect fit.

My gaze drifted up until my eyes met his. Swallowing the ball of nerves suddenly lodged in my throat, I said, “I’m sorry for everything I said in the hospital. I didn’t mean it.”

His gaze softened. “I know.”

My eyes sprang wide. “You do?”

He nodded.

“Do you know I love you, too?”

“I have fer a while.” His thumbs stroked the backs of my hands, and his gentle smile warmed every part of me.

I blinked. “Well, this was easier than I thought.” My own smile grew bigger as excitement for our future took hold. “I changed my mind. I want it all.”

“I was counting on that.” His eyes twinkled with mischief and love, and I couldn’t hold myself back any longer.

“Matthew Michael McGinnis, will you marry me?”

“No.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “No?”

“I can’t say yes right⁠—”

And just like that my water broke.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“That’s it, Tiffany, push one more time for me,” Dr. Joy said. “Don’t hold back. Give it all you’ve got.”

As the contraction grew to its peak, I pushed hard and screamed harder. “I hate you, Matthew McGinnis.”

“I know, love, it’s okay.” He held my hand and didn’t let go even when I dug my fingernails into him.

“I see the head. You’re doing great,” Dr. Joy said as the contraction passed. “When the next one comes, I want you to push as hard as you can, okay? I think this one will be the one to push him out.”

“Okay.” I’d been at this for hours.

I’d spent half the night yelling, crying, and screaming at Matt. I hated him. I loved him. I didn’t want to ever see him again. I didn’t want him to ever leave my side. Through it all he kept rubbing my forehead with a cool washcloth and holding my hand and massaging my back and walking me around the room, taking whatever I dished out.

We didn’t speak of him turning down my proposal.

I was in too much pain of another kind.

I stared at the spot and focused on my breathing like I’d been taught with Matt during Lamaze classes. “Oh, God, here comes another one.” I gripped his hand once more and started pushing hard.

“Push from your abdomen, not your face,” Dr. Joy instructed. “You’re going to break blood vessels in your eyes and that won’t help your baby enter this world.”

I concentrated on what she said and ignited my core like I had back in our cheerleading days. I was a strong woman. I could do this. Pushing with all my might, I suddenly felt a whoosh and then no more pain.