Under The Influence Of Love

As Troy walks to the car, He started counting the days since he met her and realized that she has been with him for about four weeks. She has not had her menstrual cycle in that time, and they haven't used protection at all. This could mean one of three things:

1. She had her cycle in captivity; that thought makes him sick. She was treated like an animal, and he couldn't imagine that they would've had any compassion for her in that situation. 2. She has irregular cycles. His mom was that way; she said it was a miracle that she even got pregnant with him. 3. She's pregnant. That is a conversation they will need to have. Troy had never even asked her how she felt about kids or even if she was ready. For him, he wasn't going to have any, so having that discussion has never even occurred to him; until now.

The woman at the rental agency was a sweet older woman. She has been working with Amber's family for over ten years and loves Amber and Tori.

"Oh, it's just too bad that you are married! Amber is such a beautiful girl."

He laughed to himself that this sweet woman is trying to set him up with his fiancé.

"I have been trying to set her up with my nephews for ages, but she always turns me down saying she's too busy to date right now. She comes here all the time, more than the other two. Ever since Caroline died, Nicholas has a hard time coming to the cottage where they spent so much family time."

"She continues talking about the owner and his family and what wonderful people they are when she catches him looking at his watch.

"I'm sorry. I'm carrying on, and you probably want to get back to your wife. Well, you two have a wonderful time, Mr. Dewright."

She hands him back his John Dewright I.D., and he chuckles out loud thinking of Amber's reaction to his alias. He picked that name because he's a P.I. and always try to do the right thing, not Amber's version of Debbie Does Dallas

"Do Right." Man, I'm going to get a kick out of spending the rest of my life with this woman." He thought to himself.

At the store, he grabs food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for several days. He made his way to the beauty section to replenish their supply of shampoo and conditioner. When he passed by the feminine products, he grabbed those, too. Thinking of the other possibilities, he grabbed a pregnancy test, one that has two tests just to be sure.

Troy returns an hour later with his arms full. He made several trips out to the car to bring in more supplies, asking if she could help put stuff away. He heads to the bathroom with other sacks telling her they are bathroom supplies.

They cooked dinner together and eat on the back porch overlooking the ocean. Even though you can't see it in the dark, the waves relaxes her into a dream-like state. Troy carries her to bed, and for the first time in a long time, she sleeps without nightmares.

For five days they relaxed and play in the ocean. They have fallen into a comfortable routine, and she felt as though she had known him her entire life. Either that or her subconscious knows him as her soul mate; it just feels right. How else could she be madly in love with this man in such a short time period?

They were sitting on the beach watching the sunset with his arms wrapped around her as he spoons her from behind. "I love you," she whispers. In that instant, he stops stroking her arms and breathes a sigh on the back of her neck. Oh, Shit! Have she misheard him or misread his actions over the last few weeks? Embarrassment burns her face, and she try to squirm away, but he wraps his arms tighter so she couldn't move.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

Tears pools up and spills over. "I'm sorry Troy, I didn't mean to say that. I know you probably don't want some clingy, damaged female professing her love to you. You have been so kind to help me and nurse me back to health. Maybe I misread your signals; I have never been in love before so I don't know the social protocol. I promise I will keep my thoughts and feelings to myself until this is over.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Troy grabbed her by the waist and spin her around, pulling her close until her legs wrap around his waist. She was crying, and now he felt like shit for not returning the sentiment right away. How could she not believe that he loves her? He asked her to marry him for God's sakes. He had told her on many occasions that she is his and he's never letting her go. This was the first time she has said I love you out loud and conscious; he was stunned silent and just wanted to soak it in for a minute.

"What is going on in that head of yours? Look at me, Amber." Placing his fingers under her chin, he raised her eyes to his.

"What is this nonsense that you didn't mean to say I love you? Baby, do you not love me?" With her silence, he continues.

"If that's the case, why would you say yes to marrying me?"

"I... I... have never been in love before, and I know it's too soon, but I feel in my heart that you are it for me; that I will never love another as I do you. I did mean to say it, but when you stopped moving and blew a frustrated breath on my neck... it felt as though you didn't want to hear it. I'm sorry, Troy, this is my first relationship, and I'm new to this..."

She motions her hand back and forth between them, making him smile. Mainly because he is her first for everything, and he will make sure he's damn last, too.

Not knowing what is appropriate and acceptable is hard for him