Adam chuckled. “So we’re going for three?”
She giggled, reaching for Adam’s hand and holding it tight, while Dare still held her in his arms. “Or more.”
Adam wrapped his arms around the two of them and they sat in the warmth of the embrace for several long moments. Ashley felt so much love around her it made her heart swell.
Finally, Dare drew back, then stood up, breaking the embrace.
“There is another matter we need to discuss. It’s especially important now that we’ve made this momentous decision.”
Ashley and Adam stared at him expectantly.
Dare knelt down on the floor in front of the couch and Ashley’s heart beat faster. He took her hand in his. The feel of his big fingers enveloping hers sent warmth through her. He took Adam’s hand, too.
“You both mean so much to me and I love you with all my heart. I can’t imagine my life without the two of you in it. I may not be able to marry both of you, but I want us to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“Oh, Dare.” Tears sprang from Ashley’s eyes and Adam wrapped his fingers tighter around Dare’s hand.
“I’m hoping you’ll both move in here, or we can buy a new place we all choose. I just want us to be together.”
“What about New York?” Adam asked.
“I’m going to move back here. I’ve always loved Autumn’s Ridge. That’s why I moved here in the first place. I hated having to leave, but it was too hard after the divorce. Now … everyone I care about is here. Even Helen will be moving to town so she can be close to the baby.”
Ashley reached for Adam’s hand, searching his dark brown eyes. His eyes sparkled and he gave her a quick nod.
“Yes, Dare. Oh, yes,” she said as she threw her arms around him. His lips found hers and he kissed her deeply.
When he released her, they both turned to Adam.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Of course the answer is yes.”
Dare laughed, then embraced Adam. Their lips met with passion. Tears of joy trickled from Ashley’s eyes and she swiped them away.
Dare stood up, a broad grin on his face, then he walked through the dining room and into the kitchen. He returned with champagne in a bucket of ice in one arm and three tall stemmed glasses in his hand. The bottle was frosty, so clearly he’d had it on ice before they arrived.
He set the bucket on the coffee table, then popped the cork. The frothy liquid bubbled up and he quickly poured it into the glasses.
Dare lifted his glass. “To a lifetime of happiness with the three of us together.”
They all clinked glasses and Ashley sipped the delightfully bubbly wine.
Dare finished his glass, then topped everyone up.
He walked to the desk in the corner, then returned with a folder in his hand and sat on the chair across from them.
“We may not be able to marry legally, but if you both agree, I’d like to make it official.”
He opened the folder and set a document in front of each of them.
“I want us all to be protected, so I had these drawn up.”
Which probably meant he wanted to protect his wealth from any claim she or Adam might make based on a common-law arrangement. But when she glanced through the agreement, it was quite the opposite. It talked more about the commitment they were making to each other than it did financial considerations.
Adam perused the document, then glanced at Dare. “This says that Ashley and I are entitled to an equal share in your assets.”
“That’s right. The three of us will own everything equally.”
Adam flipped through the papers. “You do realize a prenup is supposed to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection. What I need is both of you in my life. And the money isn’t the important thing in this document. It’s the fact that it states our commitment to love and honor each other for the rest of our lives.”
Adam’s eyebrows arched. “Your lawyer must think you’re crazy.”
Dare chuckled. “True. But who gives a shit about that?”
Adam pulled a pen from his suit jacket and signed the three documents. Dare signed them, too, then handed Ash a pen and the three agreements. She signed them then handed them back to Dare, feeling a little empty.
“Ash, you don’t look happy,” Adam observed. “Is there something wrong?”
“No, not at all.” She smiled. “I’m very happy.”
Dare reached out and took her hand. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“It’s nothing, it’s just … Well, for all intents and purposes, after signing these, the three of us are married now.”
“Isn’t that what you want?” Dare asked.
“Of course, but…” She sighed, worried she’d sound shallow. “I just always dreamed of a wedding, with the long white dress, flowers, music. All of that.” She squeezed Dare’s hand. “But the three of us being together … that’s the important thing.”