Dani's breath caught.

Her heart hiccupped and began to race. The air inside the small house sizzled with Josh's presence.

She swallowed hard, staring at the man she'd dreamed about for the last four years. The man who had a beautiful, sweet girlfriend who treated Dani's son like her own.

"I think that's our cue to leave," Parker said quietly, standing.

"You don't have to go," she protested, finding her voice when all three of them stood.

Caleb's gaze moved from her to Josh and back again. "Yeah, I think we do. No worries we'll come again soon."

"Come again soon?" Tanner echoed. "He sounds like the checkout guy at a hotel. We'll be around." He gave Dani a hug.

Caleb and Parker did the same.

"I appreciate you coming over." It meant more than they realized. Feeling Josh watching her, she fidgeted, nervous for no real reason. "Thank you."

Josh's jaw tightened, but he remained silent while their friends left. The screen door slammed shut, and they stood staring at one another. She waited for him to speak. But he said nothing.

"You're upset they were here?" she blurted once it was clear he wasn't going to say anything.

One dark brow lifted. "That's what you think?" A harsh laugh punctuated the question. "We were all friends, Dani. I'm not the kind of man who'd get mad because they wanted to check on you."

"Josh." His name was a breathless whisper, but seeing the spark in his eyes she forgot what she was going to say.

His gaze flashed with emotion.  "To be fair you don't really know what kind of man I am."

"I do. You're a good dad, honorable, dependable, strong." The words flowed.

He stiffened like she'd shocked him. Suddenly, he pushed away from the wall and stalked towards her stopping a breath away from touching.

She hummed with awareness. He was so close enough that she breathed in his scent. He smelled so good. She saw his chest rise and fall with quick breaths which matched her own.

"I don't know the rules." His voice was deep and his tone harsh. "To whatever game you're playing."

His tortured expression shredded her heart. It was her fault that he didn't trust her. Not his. "It's no game. I promise."

"You're making a lot of promises, Dani. You promised our son you'd show up tomorrow." His dark eyes pinned hers.

"I'll be there," she whispered, her heart racing.

"Will you?"

"Yes."

"What happened to you?" His gaze glittered a warning. "I want the truth."

Dani wondered where to begin the story, but it was difficult to think when he was so close. "Someone broke into my apartment last month. I was in the hospital. That's why I couldn't come to Ty and Annie's wedding."

Josh sucked in a sharp breath. "You were hurt?"

"It wasn't too bad."

"Wait." His brows pulled together and he frowned. "Someone attacked you?"

"I'm fine now." She didn't want to seem like she was trying to make him feel sorry for her. "That's why I didn't make it to the wedding."

His jaw tightened and he stared at her. "You told everyone you had the flu."

"I didn't want to lie, but it was Ty and Annie's big day. I didn't want it to be about me."

"Who did this?" He reached out to touch her face but snatched his hand back, seeming to struggle with what she'd said.

"An obsessed fan."

"Why, Dani? Why didn't you say something?" He gripped the back of his neck like he did when he was upset. "You could have at least told me."

"I wanted to, but Reynolds said it was safer if I didn't. We were afraid of putting you and Jacob in danger."

He raked a hand through his hair, clearly trying to process everything. "Why would we be in danger?"

"The man had been stalking me. That's why I kept my distance. The media didn't know about Jacob, and I couldn't risk anyone finding out. That's why I disappeared."

Their gazes collided and held. All the pain, regret, and heartache burning between them intensified.

"God help me." Josh's plea was so low it was barely audible, but she heard it. He closed his eyes, opened them, and raked a hand in his hair. "How badly were you hurt?"

"I'm ok," she insisted.

"Dani." His arm lifted and his fingers brushed her cheek. She gasped and he quickly dropped his hand. "It's been almost a month and you still have bruises. Tell me."

"I had a concussion, broken ribs. It could have been worse." She watched the tanned muscles in his throat work as he swallowed. "I managed to get outside. My neighbor tackled him, but he got away."

Josh's gaze burned like black flames, and he said something beneath his breath she didn't catch then waited for her to continue.

"Later he was shot after he drew on a police officer." She took a deep breath. "They were sure he was dead, but I was told to lay low, not to contact you, until we knew for sure."

The vein at his temple throbbed. "I've prayed for you. Every single day. So has Jacob." He drew a deep breath. "I'm not sure how, but I knew something was wrong."

"I appreciate your prayers and Jacob's. I prayed for both of you too."

Surprise flickered in his eyes. In the past when he'd shared the gospel with her, she'd been resistant. Oh, how foolish she'd been.

"What's going on, Dani?"

"Before I got out of the apartment, I realized how much I regretted giving up my only child." Her voice quivered. Should she admit the mistakes weighing on her heart? "And you, Josh. I miss you. I should have accepted your proposal. We'd have been a family."

A low sound, almost a growl, tore from his chest. "I wanted that more than anything."

"I know," she whispered sadly.

"This doesn't change the past." His expression was pained. "I don't even know if you'll stick around to keep your promise to see Jacob tomorrow. How I can trust you?"

"I'll be there. I won't let our son down again, ever." Or you, she wanted to say.

He reached for her putting his hands on her shoulders then dropped them suddenly like the touch burned him. "That doesn't change anything," he repeated, like he was trying to convince himself too.

"I know that, Josh. It's not your fault. You don't have to feel guilty."

His gaze pinned hers. "How do I even know this is real?"

She deserved his doubt, accepted it as part of her penance for past sins, but she wasn't going away. Jacob needed her. "I won't ask you to trust me. I'll have to earn that, and I will."

Tilting his head, he studied her, his gaze hooded. "How long will you be staying?"

Dani resisted the urge to squirm beneath his intent regard. "I'm home for good."

He released a low breath. "Dani—"

"I want to be a good mother to Jacob. Please. Give me a chance." Desperation lined the words, and they came out in a rush. "Where is he now?"

"Meredith's watching him."

She nodded, accepting the arrow to her heart. Another woman had replaced her, and Dani only had herself to blame.

Josh threaded his long fingers in his short hair and paced. "Being a parent is forever. You can't change your mind or need a break. Things happen and you deal, but you're always there."

"I've changed. I realize my mistakes—with you and Jacob. And God. I didn't want to die, Josh," she continued, seeing his pain. She felt it like her own. "I prayed to God and he saved me. Maybe this is why. So, I could be part of his life."

"I can't do this with you, Dani." He stepped back. "You didn't want us, and I've moved on."

She glanced away before he could see the sheen of tears in her eyes and nodded like she wasn't falling apart. "I know. Meredith is nice. I like her."

Josh stared at her like he wondered if she'd lost her mind. "Yeah. She is."

"She's a Christian." It wasn't a question. Dani already knew that Josh would never get involved with a non-believer again. Not after the way they'd ended.

"Yes. So is Jacob. He loves Jesus."

"Of course, he does. I wouldn't expect anything less since you raised him. Your faith was always unshakable."

Their eyes locked. "Not always. I'm sure you remember."

The past ignited between them hot and tangible.  He wasn't perfect, but she wasn't going to rehash his mistakes any more than she wanted him to revisit hers. In the end, Josh chose to be a father, to show up for the child who needed him. He'd have been her husband if she'd have let him.

She'd wanted to have an abortion. Just thinking of it now shamed and horrified her. If it hadn't been for Josh— emotion choked her. God had chosen Josh to stop her from making the worst mistake of her life.

"I started questioning everything after you left. Any time I wanted to give up, there was small voice keeping me afloat. It was God." Dani's voice broke.

He appeared startled like that wasn't what he'd expected her to say. As if he had expected her to throw his own sins at him. "God is good."

The pads of her thumbs swiped the tears on her cheeks. "I asked God to forgive me, and now I'm asking you."

"You've accepted Jesus?"

"Yes."

He blinked, tilted his dark head and stared at her a moment like he was trying to decide if she was sincere. "You mean it?"

The hope and vulnerability in his voice tugged at her heart.

"With all my heart." The tears she'd held back blurred her vision and slipped down her cheeks. "Maybe we can start with Jesus. He can help us."

"Dani." Her name was deep with emotion. He reached out but jerked his hand back before he touched her face.

"I know I signed away my rights, but I was a different person then." She spoke quickly knowing she had to convince him. "I just need one more chance."

Josh pressed his fingertips into the corners of his eyes, and she noticed they were damp as well. He nodded slowly, his gaze tangling with hers.

"We'll start with Jesus."