Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 93961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
I nodded. “I was born ready, brother.”
He knocked just as another roll of thunder rumbled in the clouds overhead.
When Honey opened the door, a fierce need to take her in my arms and mash my lips to hers overwhelmed me because it was the first time I’d seen her in days, and my longing for her had me all tied up in knots. Seeing her was a relief. A total fucking relief. I wanted to kiss her more than anything in the entire fucking world.
“Caleb!” She breathed my name as if she was absolutely fucking relieved to see me, too. “You’re here.”
“Can we come in?” I asked, swallowing back the agony in my ankle.
She opened the door wider and I hobbled in, followed by Cade.
“They released you from the hospital?” she asked, closing the door behind her.
“No, I released myself.”
“Are you insane? That’s crazy—”
“Listen,” I took a step toward her. “I think I’ve only got a couple of minutes left in me before I pass out, because sweet baby Jesus, I’m in the seventh realm of hell with this ankle. But I couldn’t wait another moment, Honey. I had to see you. I had to tell you.” I huffed out a breath. “I’m in love with you. Do you understand me? I’m so crazy in love with you that being with you is all that matters to me. I know you think I can’t love this baby, but I can. And I will. It doesn’t matter that she isn’t mine. I’ve been here from the start. I’ve loved her from the moment I knew she existed. Me. Not him. That’s got to count for something.”
“Caleb—”
“I’ll be the best damn father to her, baby. I promise. And if you’ll have me, I’ll be the best damn husband to you. Just give me a chance.”
“Caleb—” She went to protest, but the look of shock registered on her face instead. “Wait, you’re asking me to marry you?”
“Baby, I’d marry you today if I didn’t think I was going to pass out from this fucking pain.” I moved closer to her, and leaning all my weight onto one of the crutches, awkwardly took one of her hands in mine. “Let me be the man you deserve. You and Bump.”
Tears sprung to her eyes. “You really want to marry me?”
I nodded. “More than anything.”
She started to cry so I wiped them away with the pad of my thumb. “Please don’t cry, Angel.”
“I love you,” she cried, overwhelmed with the emotion. “I love you so much.”
She pressed her lips to mine and emotion spiraled through me.
This woman.
She was everything.
She pulled away and looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with tears. “I’ve been trying to call you.”
“My phone is dead.”
“I lied to you,” she said, her face crumpled. “When I said I had the paternity results back. I lied because I didn’t want Brandi to hurt you. I didn’t have them back then, but I have them now.”
I followed her gaze to the open letter on the dining table. Cade moved across the room and picked it up, bringing it over to me. I could barely swallow over the lump in my throat as I read it.
The words danced before my eyes.
And I huffed out a deep, relieved breath.
“I’m the father?” I raised my eyes and looked at her in wonder. “Bump is my baby?”
She started to cry as she nodded. “Yes. She is.”
I re-read the words on the letter, confirming my paternity of the pregnancy, and a love as fierce as a wild fire burned through me. I wrapped my free arm around Honey and pulled her to my chest where my heart beat wildly.
My baby.
She was my baby.
Not Charlie’s.
“I love you so much,” I breathed into her hair, happiness and relief momentarily easing the torment in my ankle and every other cell in my body.
“I love you, too. I’m so sorry. I made so many foolish decisions.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just say you’ll marry me.”
I felt her nod against me. “Yes, I will marry you.”
I pulled away, but my smile suddenly faded because I really was about to pass out. “Whoa.”
“Are you okay?” Honey looked alarmed.
“I think I need to sit down.”
I felt clammy and sick.
“That’s it, Romeo, I’m taking you back to the hospital,” Cade said.
“I just need to sit down.”
Cade put my arm around his shoulders and guided me over to the dining table, easing me down onto a chair.
“Should I call an ambulance?” Honey asked.
“I’m sure they’ll come out here real quick when they find out he checked himself out of the hospital less than an hour ago.”
“I just need a minute and I’ll be fine,” I insisted.
“You’re going back. You need bed rest and drugs.” Cade was adamant and I was starting to feel like he might be right. Being in this much pain was exhausting. His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his cut. “It’s Indy. She’s probably found out about you. Hope you’re ready for an ass kicking.”