Commitment wasn’t for him, or so he thought until he sat listening to Sadie talk about getting pregnant and having a baby on her own.

He didn’t like it. He didn’t like anything about it. And he would have never called himself old-fashioned or judgmental, but thinking of Sadie trying to raise a child on her own got his back up. He wanted more for her. He wanted more for the baby, too. Life was challenging, and children deserved as much security and stability as possible, which was why having two, loving parents was far more ideal than just one.

“So what is your pregnancy plan?” he asked. “Have you started any medicine? Is it going to be an IVF procedure?”

“The doctor doesn’t think we need to try IVF right off the bat. He has me on Clomid, and I’m tracking my temperature, and I also have an ovulation kit, too. When it’s time, I’ll go in and he’ll transfer the donor sperm and, fingers crossed it’ll work.” She gave him a bright smile. “It might take a couple tries. I’m prepared to give it six months, and if that doesn’t work, then we go to IVF. That’s why I’m trying to save everything I can. Just in case IVF is necessary.”

“What about the men you’re dating? Anyone special?”

“It’s good... but you know, still in the early stages.”

“What’s the problem?” he asked.

“There’s no problem. Paul’s a decent guy. He really is.”

“You don’t sound very excited about him.”

“We’re still getting to know each other.”

“That doesn’t sound encouraging, sweetheart.”

“He’s a solid, stable man. He’s a Marietta city planner. His office is at the courthouse.”

“I don’t care about his resume. I want to know how he makes you feel. Does he light you up? Is it hard to keep your hands off him?”

Her lips compressed primly. “I’m not fifteen, Rory.”

No, she wasn’t fifteen. She was a gorgeous, smart, passionate woman in her thirties and she deserved a man who’d make her feel beautiful and valuable and cherished. “So there are no sparks and no chemistry?”

“There could be. If I give him a chance.”

“Chemistry doesn’t work like that.”

“I’ve heard it can develop over time.”

“How many dates have you had so far?”

“Four.”

He made a low, rough sound. “I don’t get it. You want to park me in the friend zone—and we have chemistry off the charts—while you keep dating him, hoping something will develop? Why?”

“Because he’s here, and you’re not.”

“I’m here now.”

“Yes, but for how long? You avoid Marietta like the plague.”

He ground his teeth together, unable to argue that.

Sadie continued on, expression defiant. “After Mom died, I made a vow that I’d give other men a chance, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Rory refused to even let himself imagine her on a date with Paul, or anyone else. She was his, plain and simple, and while this wasn’t the time to follow that thought all the way through to its conclusion, he knew he’d have to examine it later. But for now, he was fighting for her, and fighting to claim her. “Has family always been important to you, or is this something that’s become more urgent since your mom died?”

“I always planned on getting married and having kids, lots of kids.