It was only a year ago that Andie MacDowell seemed resigned to her life as a single mother, which typically found her standing on the sidelines solo as she cheered on her three children at basketball, equestrian and dance competitions. “It's work to have a relationship,” she told INSTYLE. “And right now I just want to focus on my kids.” Still, when a friend introduced her to Kevin Geagan, a businessman who lives in MacDowell's Asheville, N.C., community, the actress agreed—and within months was sending a decidedly different message. “She called me around Christmas,” says MacDowell's father, Marion, “and said, ‘Dad, I'm in love.’”

Soon after that declaration, MacDowell, 47, and Geagan, 40, were celebrating their engagement. “They're fabulous together,” says MacDowell's older sister Julia. “They are both very family-oriented. They both like the outdoors, and they're both into community work.” Another thing they have in common: parenthood. Geagan has three daughters, while MacDowell is mom to Justin, 19, Rainey, 16, and Sarah Margaret, 11, by her first husband, model-turned-contractor Paul Qualley, to whom she was married for 13 years before their 1999 split.

In October 2004 MacDowell's second marriage, to former high school classmate Rhett Hartzog, also ended. But for MacDowell, who has been filming a new movie, Funny Farm, in London, there's at least one compelling sign that this marriage (no wedding date has been set) might be one for the ages. “All the kids get along really great,” says Julia. “They're all very happy together.”

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Who's Her New Guy?
• KEVIN GEAGAN majored in civil engineering at Duke University.

• His business holdings include the Auto Advantage used car company, as well as a golf course.

• Geagan is active in community service work and coaches youth basketball.