Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
The phrase rings in my mind.
“Like some people clearly do,” she goes on. “I was never sure if I believed in it. But I saw it. You had a crush, and it became real…and now look at the two of you.
“Lucy, I was thinking the other day, if I came here for the first time, not knowing either of you, and you told me you’d been married for ten years…. Hey, Luce?”
Tears have filled my eyes, the happiness flowing out of me.
Jane comes and sits on the edge of my recliner, touching my shoulder and smiling. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“They’re not sad tears.” I laugh through a sob. “Thank you for saying all that.”
“I mean it.”
“Love, though,” I murmur. “I don’t know….”
She frowns. “If you love him?”
“No,” I say quickly. “Not that. I’m sure about that. If he….”
“He does. I can see he does.”
“Then why hasn’t he said it yet?”
She looks at me with a challenge, the same way she would in high school if I was chickening out of something I had to do. The same way I’d look at her if I needed to.
“Why haven’t you said it?” she counters back.
“Because I’m not insane. What if I say it and he doesn’t say it back?”
“But he will. I’ve seen you two together.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to go too fast.”
I stop myself, hearing what I’m saying.
Jane nods along.
“Exactly. How could he not want to go fast when you talk about starting a family all the time?”
“Yeah.” I let out a breath. “I know. You’re probably right. I just freaking wish he’d say it.”
She bites down. “Okay. You trust me, don’t you?”
“Yes. Always.”
“Then just take my word for it that everything’s going to be okay.”
“But how can you say that?”
“Lucy,” she says, giving me a look.
All the years come into focus, and I can read her expression, and suddenly I know. I guess.
And I hope I’m right.
“Okay,” I say, sitting back. “Thank you. I’ll…yeah, I think I get it.”
The words love bounce around my mind, somehow twinkling, like a ring, like a freaking engagement ring.
My belly shivers, and I know I’m pregnant too.
How soon before I can check?
I do some math with my period, and the test range…eight days for the one I bought.
It’s obviously too soon.
I warn myself not to get my hopes up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Logan
“I’m sorry for interrupting your lunch,” I say, focusing on the road as we drive through the city.
My woman’s wearing one of those summer dresses again, the fabric settling against her perfect body.
I’m stirring, a howling voice telling me to go to the nearest hotel with a presidential suite, take her up there and bend my sexy….
I stare hard at the road, taking a breath. The pressure against my chest – the item in the pocket of my suit jacket – isn’t helping things.
Everything hinges on it.
“Jane was very understanding,” Lucy says, with a note of something in her voice.
Yes, she was. Because I asked her the same way I would’ve asked Lucy’s father if he was still alive.
And I had to warn her about the trip, so she and Lucy didn’t make plans.
I glance over at my woman as we come to a red light.
She’s got her legs crossed, her hands worrying in her lap.
She meets my eye as I reach over, take her hand, and give her a squeeze of support. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she whispers, that breathy voice that drives me nuts. “I’m excited. Are you sure you won’t tell me where we’re going?”
“Not yet.” I smile. “We’re almost there.”
The lights change, and we drive on.
I pull up at the side of the road. We’re on the outskirts of the city at a quiet intersection.
I walk around the car and quickly open Lucy’s door.
She smiles as she climbs out. “Aren’t you the gentleman?”
“Always am.”
I smile shakily, and my woman steps forward, placing her hand on my chest. She slips beneath my suit jacket, so I can feel her warm bare skin against mine through my shirt.
“Your heart is beating like crazy.”
I reach up, pressing against the back of her hand, sharing more of her warmth.
“I wanted to tell you here, Lucy. I love you.”
There’s no delay. She smiles, the most beautiful wide smile as the beginnings of tears glisten in her eyes.
“I love you too,” she says. “Thank you.”
I laugh and lean forward, kissing her. “Thank you?”
“I don’t know,” she laughs adorably. “I just mean…I’m so freaking happy you feel the same.”
“Of course I do.” I hold her. “It’s just taken a while to get the permission from the city.”
“The permission for what?”
Dammit. I’m slipping up.
I lean back, smirking. She reaches up and touches my face.
“You’re losing that devilish smile. Now you look happy.”
“Don’t worry. I can still be a devil when I need to be.”
She laughs softly. “I know you can.”