Amelia looked so damn beautiful, he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Ethan knew that he shouldn't look at her. But in her dress that molded to her figure he couldn't help himself. Too many memories of time with her crept into his head as he pulled the chair out to seat Missy at the table.

Dakota helped Amelia and winked at Ethan as they all sat down to order their meals and to start talking. Missy of course wanted to talk about the town's future. The theaters, music halls and hotels that would start up along with more restaurants.

"I really think with more restaurants….Paradise will really take off."

Amelia disagreed.

"Right now if you put in more, it'll make it harder for this one to stay in business," she said, "I believe in growth but slowly…give time for more people to take an interest in what's new…establish an anchor business for the others to draw on…that's how it's been done in other cities."

Missy sighed.

"I know but Paradise needs to be rescued quickly before it fades altogether."

Ethan and Amelia looked at each other.

"Paradise won't fade completely," Amelia said, "There will always be people here, it's a community above all."

Missy wrinkled her nose.

"It'll be a ghost town if we don't bring in more commerce."

Ethan thought the topic boring so his mind drifted away. Amelia more than held her own with Missy because she knew Paradise better than just about anyone. Even when she hated it…she still looked out for it and the people.

"Amelia…if you only know."

Ethan spoke up then.

"She does Missy…she was handing out money to help tide ranchers over during the difficult times," he said, "They wouldn't have made it if it hadn't been for her."

Missy sniffed at him.

"Well…that's only good for the short term…"

Amelia looked at her.

"I gave them short interest loans," she said, "until their crops were due…"

Dakota chimed in.

"Amelia's one amazing woman," he said, "I didn't know if she'd even go out with me tonight."

Amelia smiled at him.

"I couldn't pass up such a nice invite…from such a handsome man."

Dakota smiled and Ethan looked at him. Missy went back to talking about the different phases of development for the town. He went back to his mind wandering, places where it shouldn't go but he couldn't help himself.

He'd smoothed his hands over the smooth skin underneath her dress, which felt silky soft beneath his fingertips. And she'd used her hands on him, tentatively at first and then her exploration grew more ardent.

"Ethan…do you think the town would appreciate a fountain in the middle of the square…"

He blinked his eyes.

"Square…what square…?"

"It's not built yet. My father just had the plans drafted but a fountain would look nice don't you think?"

He didn't know how to respond to that. But Amelia did, right quick.

"You might be putting the cart before the horse," she said, "You need to do what's integral than what's just aesthetic."

Missy huffed.

"I really don't think that you're the expert on design."

"I didn't say that I was Missy. It's just advice which you can use or discard."

Dakota nodded.

"I'd take that advice to the bank Missy. Amelia's really knowing what she's talking about when it comes to Paradise."

"I'm sure that she thinks she does but…"

Ethan glanced over at Amelia and noticed her looking more distant. He couldn't blame her, the more he looked at her, the more his mind moved to a distant place and a moment out of time. She'd looked so beautiful while he'd caressed her hair off of her face before capturing her lips.

She'd returned his passion in ways that surprised him because he thought he knew her so well…but their time apart had brought urgency into what they shared. The first time would be a reunion, the rest of the night at leisure. He had a lot to make up for in just hours to do it.

"Oh Ethan…I missed you…"

"Missed you more…"

Then the words stopped for a while.

Damn he had to stop thinking about her when he was engaged to someone else. He was set to marry Missy, he should be thinking about her, not Amelia the woman in his past.

He tried to focus on the conversation.

Amelia appreciated that Dakota had asked her out. But she couldn't stop thinking about Ethan. If he only knew her secret, how would he react? Would he be overjoyed, would he be upset? He most certainly would be shocked.

She listened to Missy talk and interjected when she just felt that the woman didn't know what she was talking about when it came to knowing Paradise.

How Ethan could had gotten engaged to this woman? She didn't seem like she cared about anything but the plans she and her father had to build up the town. Amelia had been like that herself at times when she first arrived…and then after Pierce had left. Mostly to fill in the time when she felt so alone without her husband…left to survive and keep the bank afloat.

She'd changed though and it had saved her life.

"Amelia can I get you anything?"

She glanced over at Dakota.

"I'm fine…the meat is just delicious. I didn't eat most of the day."

Missy's eyes popped up.

"Oh why would that be?"

Amelia thought quickly.

"The heat maybe…"

Dakota agreed.

"It's been hot all week," he said, "Nice to see it cool off when the sun sets."

Ethan spoke up.

"You feeling better Amelia?"

"Better?"

"You nearly fainted earlier when I saw you," he said, "You're not sick or anything?"

She shook her head.

"Oh no…I'm perfectly healthy…I feel much better."

He frowned and she wondered if…but no, he couldn't figure anything out by looking at her.

"Dakota, you are going to walk her home aren't you?"

"Of course…I'm a gentleman after all…"

Ethan didn't look like he quite bought that but didn't say anything. Missy just kept talking and his mind kept wandering. Amelia could tell by looking at him.

She knew she had to tell him the truth but not tonight. It had to be when the two of them were alone. She both anticipated it and feared the moment when he'd find out he was going to be a father.

Not knowing how he'd react, that was the hardest part.