Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Nick cleared his throat. “Hey. Where did you disappear to?” He rested his chin on her shoulder.
“Sorry. I was lost in thought. I’m fine.” She turned to him and smiled. God, he was sexy. He hadn’t shaved because she loved his scruff—on his face…and between her thighs. She squirmed at the memory of last night. Actually, it was every night, after Leah went to sleep.
“Before everyone gets here, would you take a walk with me?” he asked.
Taking his hand, she let him lead. He took her around the gated pool, past the playhouse he’d had transferred here from their old house, beyond the swing set, and walked into the gazebo they’d put up for shade and relaxation.
He gestured for her to sit and she lowered herself onto the rectangular seat and looked up at him. “Why are we out here?” she asked. And why wasn’t he sitting beside her?
He dropped to one knee and she gasped, realizing he was holding a suede ring box in his hand. “Aurora, I fell in love with you one special night, and in the years after that, I think I was subconsciously waiting for our second chance. I never imagined it would come with a five-year-old sassy girl.” He grinned, and she wanted to dive into his arms but she let him continue.
“I think we’ve had enough time together as a family for you to be sure. So…” He opened the box revealing an excessively large diamond ring. “Aurora Kingston, will you marry me?”
She blinked back tears, managing to nod. “Yes! Yes.”
He grinned and slid the ring onto her finger. “Thank God. Because this entire day has been planned around you saying yes. From Jade watching our little cockblocker, to all of our families coming soon…”
She glanced at the twinkling diamond, afraid to ask how many carats it was. Definitely three or four. The man didn’t know the meaning of the word small.
“Nick,” she said, sniffing. “You’re too good to me. But there’s one more thing you ought to know.”
He rose and sat beside her, pulling her into his arms. “Hurry up so I can kiss you senseless.”
She met his gaze. “I’m pregnant.”
His eyes opened wide and he pressed a hand to her belly. “Jesus. How far along?”
“Not very. We haven’t exactly been careful,” she reminded him.
His grin grew larger. “I haven’t exactly minded. Have you been to a doctor?”
She shook her head. “I wanted you to be able to experience every single moment this time.”
He pressed their lips together, gradually deepening the kiss until they were practically joined and remained that way, devouring each other for a good long while.
When he finally broke the kiss, he grasped her hands and looked into her eyes. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. You and our family.”
She blinked back tears. “You’re everything I was too afraid to dream about.”
He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Want to go tell Leah she’s going to be a big sister?” he asked, obviously excited.
“You do know she’ll tell everyone who walks in the door before we can, right?”
He nodded and winked. “That’s the point.”
Laughing they walked back to the house they called home. It was something Aurora thought she’d never have—a home, a family, and a fiancé she couldn’t live without.
Melly was right. Facing her fears had been difficult, but it had allowed for good things to come. And when things got rough? They’d weather that too. Together.