"Oh, no, Eva," Beau said immediately. "I'm not telling him about the baby, not by myself." Conall might actually kill him and Beau would be honor bound to allow it. "I'm asking permission to marry you, not that he really needs to give it." Either way she was his and he hers. Nothing, not her father or the damn sky falling would prevent him from doing right by her.

He then began to rub her back. Wanting to spend time alone with her before the insanity began wasn't soft and mushy. (And where his thoughts kept going were certainly not soft, not that Beau had any plans to act on those.) "I'll go now, then." Beau stated confidently while making no move to stand. The conversation that was to come required preparation and a plan. Him showing up unannounced was about the exact opposite.