Lucas had shifted the focus of the conversation back to naming the baby and Brooke was ready to get it settled. "You know what? Let's move past the A names. I'm not feeling the A thing."

"Because nothing can top Abibi."Lucas crouched next to the camp stove and stirred the eggs.

She appreciated having a man cook for her, especially one who looked so great doing it. "So true. I'm not feeling the B names, either, Maybe C."

"Chloe?"

She shook her head. "Moving on." She didn't come up with another possibility until she was going through H. "What about Henley?"

"Not bad."

She laid her phone in her lap. "Yes, but do you like it?"

"You know, I do." He paused, as if rolling it around in his mind. "I like it a lot."

A shiver of excitement zipped up her spine. That was usually an indication that she'd struck pay dirt, no matter what the brainstorming was about. "I mean, it works, doesn't it? It's unique, strong, beautiful and a little homage to Haley."

"You should see your face."

"What do you mean?"
"It's so full of happiness that I swear it's giving off light." He smiled. "And now you're blushing, so the light's sort of pinkish."

She was a little embarrassed, but pleased by his description. "I'm very happy talking about her and I haven't been able to until now because I felt you should be the first to hear the news."

"And now I understand the sacrifice you made to keep the secret. Thank you, Brooke. That's a gift, knowing I was the first person to find out."

"Well, you are except for the doctor."

He waved a hand. "Doesn't count. I'm sure you had friends in New York you wanted to tell, but you didn't. I can see why you're putting off saying anything to your parents, but when you got to Tree Hill you could have told Haley. It's kind of amazing that you didn't. Haley has this way of knowing everything."

"I didn't come right out and say it, but I'm sure it was written all over my face, like now. She knew."

"Probably, but the point is, you didn't blurt it out. You waited until I showed up. Was that really only last night?"

"Lucas, something is burning."

"Damn!" he pulled both skillets off the stove. "I forgot what I was doing."

"But we named the baby."

"We sure did, and it's a great name. She'll need a middle name, too, but let's wait on that, let the first name settle in."

"I'm fine with that. The first name's the most important, anyway."

"And there's no nasty nickname for Henley. It is what it is. I like that." He dished the unburned eggs and potatoes onto one plate and scrapped the charred part onto another.

"Me, too." She could guess which plate was his. "Listen, just do half and half. Give me some of the burned stuff."

"No way." He handed her the plate she'd expected, picked up the other one and his beer and joined her on the steps. "We had to skip the mac and cheese and I just remembered that I didn't make the salad, either. The least I can do is give you the unburned part of what's left of our dinner. Now dig in. I know you're hungry."

"Thank you. I am." She started eating. "Tastes great, but I wouldn't have minded eating some of the burned food. It wouldn't be the first time I've done it. I burn stuff, too."

"I would have minded. It's not just you I'm feeding."

"For what it's worth, we feel very well taken care of."

"I hope so. Haley would have my ass if I don't treat you right."

As Brooke continued to eat, she thought about Haley's excitement over the baby. "Do you think she'll like the name Henley?"

"Are you kidding? We could name her anything, including Abibi, and Haley wouldn't care. As long as she gets to be Aunt Haley."

She smiled.

"Do you think your parents will like the name?"

"I wouldn't be surprised, but her names Henley and that's final. Before I leave, we can pick a middle name, too. I hadn't thought about naming her before I told them, but if it's a done deal, so much the better. Victoria isn't getting a say about this."

He finished the last of his food and put his plate beside him on the steps. "I should grab my phone and let Haley and Nathan know what's keeping us so long."

She sighed.

He laughed. "You don't sound eager to get going."

She shrugged. "I'm not."

"'I'll take that as a sign that I've been a decent host."

"Better yet, an indecent one."

He turned to her, a gleam in his blue eyes. "Oh." Holding her gaze, he took her empty plate and set it aside. Then he slipped his hand inside the folds of the blanket. "If that wasn't an invitation, you better say so, because that's what I heard."

"You heard right." She quivered as he cradled her breast and rubbed his thumb over her tight nipple. "But you have a phone call to make."

"I'll make it. But when I'm finished, where should I look for you? Back in the bedroom?"

"Not necessarily." Her breathing quickened as her imagination took over. "Don't you think it's kind of nice out here?"

He groaned softly. "Yes. And soon it'll be a whole lot nicer." Leaning forward, he gave her an open-mouthed kiss as he continued to stroke her breast under the blanket.

Tunnelling her fingers through his thick hair, she held onto him and gave as good as she got. But when his exploring hand moved between her thighs, she scooted away. Gasping, she managed one terse word. "Phone."

"Yeah." He put some distance between them and took a shaky breath. "You make me crazy, Brooke."

"So I see."

He gazed at her and sucked in another lungful of air. "It's been that way since the moment I saw you naked in the back seat of my car. I wanted to throw you over my shoulder and carry you off to my lair." He reached out and stroked her cheek. "See you in a minute." He got to his feet.

"Want to take the lantern?"

"I can manage without it. I know where I left my phone. Be right back."

She watched him stride across the porch, so eager to get the chore finished so he could return to her. They still craved each other as much as they had in high school, maybe more.

Imagining what was about to happen, she slipped out of his boots. She didn't want to accidently kick him in the throes of passion. Then she peeled of the socks, too, because making love while wearing socks was plain tacky.

Lucas made her feel sexy and desirable, something no other man had accomplished. But lust was like a rich chocolate cake – tempting and delicious in small doses, cloying if that's all you had to eat.

And speaking of dessert, the creak if a door announced that her after-dinner treat had just stepped out onto the porch. She switched off the lantern. Making love outside in the dark seemed more exciting.

"Hey, why'd you douse the light? It's pitch-black out here."

"I'm right where you left me." she allowed the blanket to slide off her shoulders and leaned back.

His breath caught.

"I thought you couldn't see very well."

"I was teasing you." Crossing the porch, he came down the steps and stood at the bottom, looking at her.

His voice roughened. "I can see perfectly."

"Then let me tease you." She pushed the blanket to her waist.

"Ah, Brooke." He dropped to his knees on the step below her. "I think you like the great outdoors, after all."

Being here with him aroused her more than she'd realized it would. She revelled in the silky darkness and the cool breeze that tickled her hot skin.

His body vibrated with tension.

When she flattened her palms against his chest, she felt his heart racing. She tipped her head back and his mouth slid from her lips to her throat. "You don't have to go slow."

"I think I do." He placed light kisses along her collarbone and nuzzled the hollow of her throat.

"Why?"

He cupped her breasts in his big hands and leaned his forehead against hers. His fingers flexed, massaging slowly. "I thought the second time…wouldn't be so intense. That I could take it slower, let you see I'm not some out-of-control maniac." He lifted his head and sighed. "But, God help me, I want you even more."

"I've never thought you were some out-of-control maniac." She pushed the rest of the blanket away.

"Don't torture yourself." She gulped as sensation shot from her sensitive breasts to her core. "Or me." Raising up on his knees, he released her breasts and cradled the back of her head, tilting it forward so he could nibble on her mouth. "I would never want to torture you. I only want to make you happy."

She reached for his belt buckle. "There's a sure-fire way to accomplish that. " She had his belt partly undone when he took over.

After that, he didn't waste any time. Freeing himself from the confines of his jeans and briefs, he used one arm to support her hips and the other to cushion her back. His instructions were delivered in a voice with a tight strain. "Grab my shoulders and wrap your legs around me."

She wasn't about to argue. She held on tight, cradled in his strong arms. Then he was there, his solid length filling her.

Leaning forward, he feathered a kiss over her mouth. "Wish I could see your eyes better. I love how they look when I'm deep inside you."

"Wish I could see yours."

"Next time." He said it with such confidence, as if he had no doubt there would be a next time.

And how could she deny him? As he began to thrust, he gave her exquisite pleasure with each bold stroke.

Making love in the dark could have seemed anonymous, but not with Lucas. She knew the feel of him, the scent of him, the sound of his breathing and the sexy words he took delight in using as he coaxed her to surrender. No one inspired reckless abandon like this man.

"That's it," he murmured. "You're close. Let go, I've got you."

With a jubilant cry, she dived headfirst into a whirlpool of sensual delight. He followed a moment after, holding her close as his big body shuddered against hers. Eyes closed, she enjoyed the security of being wrapped in his arms.

He cared for her and wanted her to be happy. She didn't question that in the least. And in this special moment after they'd shared a wonderful experience, she felt something that hadn't been all that common in her life. She felt cherished. For now, that was enough.