Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I nod. “I admit I’ve been curious about that.”
Her gaze wanders to the vase she placed the bouquet in. “I haven’t.”
Disappointed, I keep that to myself. It’s obvious something is causing her immeasurable pain, so although I know Declan wants the Llura deal wrapped up as soon as possible, Kalina isn’t in that mind space right now.
“I won’t be,” she adds. “I won’t be hiring a new lawyer to represent me.”
Confused, I consider what I want to say next, but she beats me to it.
“The deal is off.”
“Why?” I ask without thinking. “Why are you calling the deal off, Kalina?”
Her hands drop to her stomach, and with a trembling voice, she whispers two words I never expected to hear, “I’m pregnant.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Declan
“She’s pregnant?” I laugh. “Am I supposed to be surprised by that?”
My brother shoots me a look along with a raised middle finger. “Why are you such a jerk?”
“A jerk?” I shake my head. “I’m your older, very supportive brother. You’re the one who walked into my office and announced that Callie is pregnant. News flash, Saint. She’s about to have that baby any day.”
Exasperated, he lets out an exaggerated sigh. “I was reminding you that she’s pregnant because I can’t get on a plane and head to Boston tomorrow to check in on the progress of the location there.”
Stumped by what he just said, I shrug my shoulders. “When did you plan this trip to Boston?”
“I didn’t,” he stresses both words. “I saw it in my calendar this morning, so I assume you planned it for me. You still think you’re the boss of me.”
“Spoken like a five-year-old,” I tease. “I wouldn’t put you on a plane to anywhere right now, or ever without discussing it with you. We have a team in Boston to handle the project. Someone got some wires crossed, Saint. Don’t sweat it.”
His fingers skim over the screen of his phone. “It’s likely one of your buddies from inventory control. They must be messing with me. I gave all of them flashcards with simple addition on them.”
“You’re clearly the jerk.” I point a finger at him. “Why the fuck would you do that?”
Smiling, he shakes his head. “Because they can’t count?”
“Did you call them into your office to give them those bullshit cards?”
“Yeah,” he admits. “Come to think of it, my calendar was open on my laptop that day and I was running late. They were in my office before I was.”
I motion to the phone in his hand. “That’s synced with your phone, so do yourself a favor and see where else they’re sending you to.”
His gaze drops before he lets out a hearty laugh. “Apparently, I’m going to the Bermuda Triangle on the twenty-seventh, and I have a meeting next week with the one and only Easter Bunny.”
Chuckling, I nod. “You have to give them credit for their creativity.”
“True,” he agrees. “But not for their ability to count, because they can’t, Decky.”
“Declan,” I correct him. “Stop calling me…”
The ringing of his phone interrupts me.
His gaze drops again. “It’s the love of my life, so put a cork in it, Decky.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Hey,” he says before his entire face morphs into panic. “Now! Your water broke? Holy fuck!”
I push back from my desk and stand. “Let’s go.”
Sean nods as he reassures Callie, “I’m on my way, Calliope. This is it. It’s time to meet our beautiful little Hailey.”
Two hours later, I glance around the waiting room at the hospital, and it’s the same crew that was in Saint’s apartment the night of the commitment ceremony.
Word spread like wildfire after I called Ava to tell her that today was the day. She pulled her fiancé out of a meeting. He called Graham and Kavan, and our parents received a text from Ava referring to them as Grandma and Grandpa.
I’m not sure how Mrs. Sweeney, Sean and Callie’s neighbor, got wind of the impending arrival, but she’s here with a basket of blueberry muffins in her lap and a smile on her face.
She’s declared herself Hailey’s great-grandmother, and I highly doubt that anyone would argue that point with her.
“I can’t wait until we have our baby,” Juliet Bane whisper shouts to her husband.
Kavan places his index finger against her lips. “Not today, Juliet. Today is for Sean and Callie and their baby.”
“Today is for all of us,” Graham says. “You’re having a kid, Bane? You’re going to be a dad?”
Kavan nods. “I sure as hell am. Six months from now.”
“That’s fucking fantastic.” Harrison jumps to his feet from the chair he’s sitting on. “Ava and I are trying every chance we get.”
That lures a muted “That’s my boy” from my dad and a tear from my mom.
They both turn to me with expectant looks on their faces.
I laugh that off with a shake of my head. “No fucking way. No baby for me yet.”