"Where are we going tonight?" Cate asked.

"It's a surprise." Baze grinned.

Cate frowned. "How am I supposed to know what to wear if you won't tell me where we're going?"

"Wear whatever you want," Baze said. He didn't plan on her keeping it on for long anyway.

Cate rolled her eyes. "I actually need to know where we're going. Is it casual? Fancy?"

Baze laughed. "Wear whatever you want," he said again.

That was easy for him to say, Cate thought with a tinge of annoyance. Guys could get away with wearing pretty much anything. Cate didn't know if she should be wearing a skirt and cute top or a formal dress. This was ridiculous.

"Tell me," Cate demanded.

"Then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore," Baze said, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously.

"I don't like surprises," Cate said.

"Surely not all surprises?" Baze asked.

"Yes, all surprises!" Cate said.

Baze grinned boyishly. "Christmas must be horrible for you," he teased.

Cate glared at him. Suddenly an idea occurred to her. "I need to know the phone number so I can give it to Abby."

"I already talked to Abby," Baze said mysteriously.

Cate smiled. Abby would tell her where he was taking her.

Cate waited anxiously by Abby's locker.

"Hey." Abby grinned as she turned the lock.

"Did Baze tell you where we're going tonight?" Cate blurted out.

Abby smirked. "Yeah," she replied as she pulled a textbook out of her locker.

"Well, where are we going?" Cate demanded.

"I'm sworn to secrecy," Abby said.

"When has that ever stopped you?" Cate muttered. She instantly thought of Abby telling the whole school that she'd been pregnant. Even though she wanted to be close to her sister again, she still couldn't forgive Abby for betraying her.

Abby swallowed. She knew exactly what Cate was talking about. She'd been hoping Cate had finally forgiven her. "My lips are sealed."

"Please?" Cate begged. "This is ridiculous. What am I supposed to wear? I need to know where we're going!"

Abby rolled her eyes. "You are such a control freak. I'm not ruining Baze's surprise."

"I hate surprises," Cate muttered under her breath, glaring at Abby's retreating back.

Cate stared at her closet. This was impossible. She simply couldn't choose an outfit when she had no idea where she was going.

Cate had narrowed it down to a red silk dress or a black and pink skirt with a black top. The dress was nice. Too nice if Baze ended up taking her somewhere casual. The skirt and top were cute, but Cate didn't know if they'd be appropriate if Baze took her somewhere really nice.

"What do you think, Lux?" Cate asked to the baby in her arms.

Lux felt the red dress with her little hands, rubbing the silk. Cate smiled. "That's what I think, too. Better to be overdressed than underdressed."

Abby leaned against the doorframe and smirked. "Did you really just let a baby choose your outfit?"

Cate glared at Abby. "It's not like you were any help."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Just because I won't tell you where he's taking you, doesn't mean I don't want to help you."

"OK. Is it casual or fancy?" Cate asked.

Abby chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. "I think you should go with the red dress." Abby crossed the room and rummaged through Cate's drawers. She pulled out a pair of boxer shorts and a tank top that Cate slept in. "You might want to take these, too."

Cate stared at Abby in surprise. "We can't spend the night somewhere. What about Lux?"

"I've got Lux covered," Abby replied.

Cate looked doubtful.

Lux began fussing and Abby took her from Cate's arms.

"Hi Baby," Abby cooed. Lux quieted down. "I've got her. Get ready for your date!" She told Cate.

Cate nodded and began doing her make-up. She found a red lipstick she rarely wore buried in her make-up bag and applied it. She put a little more eye make-up on than usual. Finally she slipped the red dress over her head.

"Doesn't Mommy look pretty, Lux?" Abby said, smiling down at her niece.

Cate smiled slightly as she watched Abby with Lux. She hadn't seen this sweet side of Abby in a long time.

"Thanks, Abby," Cate said softly.

Abby met Cate's gaze and nodded.

"Wow." All three girls looked up when they heard Baze's voice. He stared at Cate. "You look really…" He trailed off, unable to come up with a word that accurately described how amazing Cate looked.

Cate smiled. "I can see why you have a C in English," she said lightly.

Baze blushed slightly. He took Lux from Abby. "How's my girl?" He grinned at the smiling baby and held her up, kissing her head.

Baze gave Lux back to Abby and pulled a jewelry box from his pocket.

Cate eyed the jewelry box with interest. She hadn't known what to get Baze. She hoped he hadn't spent too much on her.

"I got Lux something for Valentine's," Baze said.

Cate felt a mixture of disappointment that the gift wasn't for her and contentment that her daughter had such a good, loving dad. She smiled at Baze. Her smile said more than a thousand words.

Baze grinned. He opened the velvet box revealing a silver charm bracelet with one charm, a teddy bear.

"I thought we could, you know, add a charm every year or something," Baze mumbled.

Cate's smile widened. Baze was so cute with Lux. He was like an entirely different person. "I think she'll love it."

Baze grinned. He pulled another jewelry box from his pocket. "Happy Valentine's," he said softly as he handed this box to Cate.

Cate opened the velvet box and gasped when she saw a beautiful gold necklace with three stones. "Thank you."

"It's your birthstone, my birthstone and Lux's birthstone," Baze explained. He helped Cate put the necklace on. As he leaned down, concentrating on the clasp, Cate's scent drifted up. He had a hard time concentrating. Being this close to Cate was driving him crazy. He finally managed to secure the necklace, his fingers brushing against the sensitive skin on the back of Cate's neck.

Cate retrieved Baze's gift from underneath her bed. She'd had a really hard time finding a gift for him. She'd been afraid he would spend a lot on her. She didn't want her gift for him to pale in comparison. She knew Baze's parents gave him everything he wanted.

Cate had agonized over what to get him. The only two things she could think of that he loved were Lux and football. She'd ended up tracking down an autographed football jersey from Baze's favorite football player, John Elway, and having it framed. She'd spent more than she should have on it, but she'd really wanted to get Baze something he'd love.

Baze grinned when he saw the framed jersey, his blue eyes shining with excitement. "This is awesome. Thanks!" Baze picked the jersey up. "You ready?"

Cate turned to Abby. "You have the number of wherever it is we're going?"

"Yeah," Abby replied.

Cate nodded. "I already gave Lux a bath and fed her. Diapers are over there." Cate pointed. She bit her lip. She hadn't left Lux with anyone except Baze's mom. What if something went wrong? "If you need anything, just call."

Abby rolled her eyes. "I got it," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Cate hesitated just outside her door. "Even if you don't need anything, call and check in."

Abby and Baze exchanged a glance.

Baze ushered Cate out the door with Cate calling out reminders to Abby over her shoulder.

Abby breathed a sigh of relief when the door shut behind Cate and Baze. She looked down at Lux. "I thought they'd never leave. Your mom is crazy. Yes, she is."

Lux giggled.

"Are we lost?" Cate asked when they'd been driving for over half an hour.

Baze shook his head.

Cate narrowed her eyes. "If we were, would you admit it? Or are you one of those guys who won't stop and ask for directions?"

"We're not lost," Baze said.

Cate frowned. "It's just, we're not even in Portland anymore."

"We're not going somewhere in Portland," Baze replied.

Cate couldn't tell whether he was annoyed or amused by her concern. She kept her mouth shut for the next half hour. "OK," she finally said. "Are you gonna feed me? 'Cause if we're going across the country, I'm gonna need something to eat. And, FYI, I'm way overdressed for a road trip."

"We're almost there," Baze said. True to his word, he pulled off the highway a few exits later. Cate read the roadside sign.

Astoria

This Exit

Baze stopped outside an old building. Cate started to unbuckle her seatbelt, but Baze stopped her. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

Cate narrowed her eyes suspiciously but obliged him.

Baze disappeared and reappeared seven minutes later with a bag of takeout food, which he set in the back.

Baze drove through the little town and parked outside a cute little house on the water. "My parents have a cabin here," he explained. "We come here in the summer."

Baze unlocked the front door and held it open for Cate. The furniture was comfortable and the décor was perfect for a house on the beach. Baze led the way to the kitchen and began unpacking their dinner. He'd called to order ahead from a great little Italian restaurant he'd been going to since he was little.

"This is the best Italian food I've ever had," Cate said as she polished off the eggplant parmesan that Baze had ordered for her.

Baze nodded in agreement. "It's my favorite Italian restaurant." He refilled Cate's wine glass with a bottle he'd "borrowed" from his parent's liquor cabinet.

"How often do you come here?" Cate asked curiously.

"A few times a year. My mom loves being by the water," Baze said. He paused in thought. "Lux will love it in a few years."

"Yeah, she will." Cate smiled. She reached for Baze's hand.

"Do you want to see the deck?" Baze asked, grinning.

"Yeah," Cate replied.

He led her back to the deck. Cate instantly noticed the hot tub. Baze saw her gaze and grinned. He'd been hoping they would use the hot tub that night.

Baze put his arm around Cate and led her to the edge of the deck so she could see the view. It was beautiful. They could see the turquoise waves crashing down against the shore.

Cate leaned in to Baze, enjoying his warmth and the comfort of being in his arms. She felt so comfortable here with him. She could definitely imagine bringing Lux there as a family.

It felt as though time was standing still as they cuddled, looking at the water. Baze wrapped his arms around Cate when she started shivering. It was only February and the night air was still cool.

"Do you wanna get in the hot tub?" Baze asked hopefully.

"I didn't bring a swimsuit," Cate said.

Baze grinned boyishly. "Neither did I."

Baze stripped and climbed into the hot tub, waiting for Cate to do the same.

Cate hesitated for a moment before joining him. She stepped down into the water and scooted next to Baze. The hot water felt so good.

Baze pulled Cate to him, kissing her. She looked so beautiful with her golden skin glittering the water. He teased her playfully until neither of them could take it anymore. When he finally entered her, it was just as amazing as the last time.

Cate leaned back against the hot tub, breathing heavily. She felt Baze's hand rubbing her back gently. She felt like she could stay there forever.

The jets automatically turned off after half an hour. Baze got out first. He grabbed two towels from a bin beside the hot tub. He wrapped one around himself before helping Cate dry off.

Cate shivered, the cool air shocking her body after the 102 degree water.

"You're freezing. Go inside," Baze said.

"What are you doing?" Cate asked.

"I need to put chemicals in the hot tub," Baze replied. "Go inside."

Cate waited for Baze by the fireplace in the little living room. Baze brought their clothes in. He smiled when he saw Cate huddled by the fire with only a towel over her. The firelight illuminated her skin, making her look especially beautiful.

"Come here," Baze said softly.

Cate smiled slightly and went to him.

"Have I shown you the bedroom yet?" Baze asked, taking Cate's hand in his.

"I don't believe so," Cate said.

Baze led her to a comfortable-looking bedroom. They sank down onto the old quilt covering the antique bed, making love for the second time that night. Cate fell asleep in Baze's arms, never having felt more content in her life.

Baze watched the sleeping beauty in his arms. Cate was naked except for the necklace he'd given her. At that moment, she felt like his. He knew he wanted her to be his always.