"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"What about your private investigator work?"

"I have quite a bit of money saved. I can keep the agency open and hire investigators and stay at home and raise Zack."

He studied her. "Is that what you really want?"

She seemed to soften. "It's what I always wanted. I almost had it once, and when I lost it- Well, I told myself I wanted a career, something hard-hitting, even dangerous."

"And now?" he asked, afraid he was either dreaming or delirious.

"I want to make a family for Zack," she said confidently.

He raised a brow. "All by yourself?"

"A lot of single women raise children alone nowadays," she said, lifting her chin.

He had to smile. "Yeah, but Zack needs a father. An in-house father. And I need a bride."

"Will-"

He silenced her with a kiss. "I thought I knew exactly what I was looking for in a bride. When I saw you, I knew you were the one. Then I got to know you." He laughed.

"If this is your idea of sweeping me off my feet, it isn't working," she pointed out.

He cupped her face in his hands. "I kept telling myself that I couldn't live with a P.I. for a wife. But I realized something when I was telling my sister about you. You might not be what I planned in a bride, but you are exactly what I want. I'm wildly, pa.s.sionately, crazy in love with you."

"Much better," she said, smiling up into his eyes.

"I love you, Samantha Murphy. I want to marry you and adopt Zack and have a dozen more kids. We can live in b.u.t.te or Billings or wherever you want. I'll build us a house, large enough for your whole family. If you want to be a private eye or a mortician or a jet pilot, I don't care. Whatever you want, Sam, just say you'll be my bride."

She smiled, feeling like Cinderella all over again. With tears in her eyes, she leaned up to kiss her prince. "I love you, too, Will, but are you sure you know what you're getting into?"

"With you I never never know," he said, and laughed as he drew her to him. "But I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's go get Zack and tell him the news! Oh yeah, and we have to pick up a bright-red bicycle on the way." know," he said, and laughed as he drew her to him. "But I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's go get Zack and tell him the news! Oh yeah, and we have to pick up a bright-red bicycle on the way."

Books by B.J. Daniels

HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE.

312-ODD MAN OUT

353-OUTLAWED!

417-HOTSHOT P.I.

446-UNDERCOVER CHRISTMAS

493-A FATHER FOR HER BABY

533-STOLEN MOMENTS

555-LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

566-INTIMATE SECRETS

585-THE AGENT'S SECRET CHILD

604-MYSTERY BRIDE

617-SECRET BODYGUARD

643-A WOMAN WITH A MYSTERY

654-HOWLING IN THE DARKNESS

687-PREMEDITATED MARRIAGE

716-THE MASKED MAN

744-MOUNTAIN SHERIFF*

761-DAY OF RECKONING*

778-WANTED WOMAN*

797-THE COWGIRL IN QUESTION

803-COWBOY ACCOMPLICE