Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
“How about falling down the steps?”
“Either I was pushed or tripped.”
“What about the toaster?”
“Payback for me burning Lana’s hair.”
“And I thought boys were the troublemakers.”
“Nope. We’re lucky we’re having a boy. Girls are sneakier.”
Larissa felt Moon’s surprised glance at her.
“I would have thought you’d prefer having a girl.”
“I just want a healthy baby, I’m more shocked than anything else. There haven’t been many boys in our family. We haven’t had one born in two generations.”
“That long?”
“Yes. My mom isn’t going to be thrilled. She was so sure I was going to have a girl that she’s been buying everything pink.”
“Your sisters have, too,” he told her.
Larissa turned to look at him. “How do you know?”
“That’s how I found out you’re pregnant. I was helping emptying the office above yours when I came out of the elevator and saw them holding a sleeper. It was pink.”
“Really?”
“Yes, that’s how I figured out you were pregnant.”
Larissa started laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
She had to wipe her tears away from her eyes. “You don’t get it?” she asked, gurgling on her laughter.
“No … Should I …? Damn.”
She could tell by the tone in his voice that he must have figured out Priss’ deception.
“Your sister texted me the wrong gender.”
“I think so.”
“We’re having a girl?”
“Surprise!”
“That’s not cool.”
“Well, to be fair, you telling me in the first place wasn’t fair.”
“No, it wasn’t,” he admitted. “It also means I’ve done it twice.”
“Don’t worry about it. With my family’s track record, it was a foregone conclusion I was going to have a girl. Are you disappointed about not having a boy?”
“Not really. I’m like you—the most important part is I want them healthy. Though, I will be on the outlook for any sneaky behavior her aunts might teach her.”
The rest of the way back to Jamestown, they talked about the movie they had seen.
When they arrived back at where she was staying, Larissa was sorry to see the evening end. He had been considerate and attentive the whole evening. Having a man like Moon wanting to spend time with her was as heady as wine.
“Thank you for bringing me back.”
“No problem. The least I could do for letting me tag along. When do you want to go shopping?”
“Does Saturday work for you?”
“Yes, it does. I’ll know by then if my offer was accepted.”
“Are you going to miss living in the clubhouse?”
“No, not all the brothers live in the club.”
“Will you still be going back and forth between Treepoint and Ohio?”
“No. I only seesawed between the two because I didn’t have anything holding me in place.”
“Now you do?”
“Of course. I don’t plan on being an absent father.”
Larissa let out a small gasp.
“What’s wrong?”
His concerned voice brought an inexplicable reassuring warmth to the dubious part of her mind, which was still doubting the change in his behavior.
“The baby kicked. I guess she liked your answer.”
“May I?” Moon extended his hand toward her abdomen. Taking him by the wrist, she placed it over where the baby had kicked.
The silence stretched out as they waited for the baby to kick again. A streetlight in front of the car exposed Moon’s face. When the baby kicked, his tough features broke into a tender expression that most men wouldn’t feel comfortable revealing.
“Are you sure Priss was trying to pull one over me? He kicks like a boy.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and find out.”
Her heart did the double-tap thump in her chest when Moon leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
“Thanks for letting me feel him kick.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ve been worried I’d miss out on some of the small stuff.” He straightened back in his seat.
“The baby is yours, too. I might not be the mother you envisioned having your child, but I don’t want to steal the joy of becoming a father, too.”
“Jet told you what I said?”
“About me not being the garden you wanted? Yes.”
“Asshole.”
“Why? You said it.”
“Not within your hearing.”
“At the time you said it, would it have mattered if I had?”
“No, it probably wouldn’t have,” he confessed.
“I can handle what you say about me, even if it is behind my back. I’d rather you talk honestly than be deceptive about your feelings.”
“I get that,” he agreed.
“I suppose you do.” Unconsciously, she gave a heartfelt sigh of regret.
Moon had straightened in his seat, but his palm still rested on her abdomen as they talked. She could feel his thumb gently stroking back and forth through the material of her dress.
“I should have said something the moment you spoke to me that night. I—”
“Let’s not discuss that night,” he cut her off. “How about we pretend I saw you downstairs and persuaded you to come upstairs to my room?”
Larissa shook her head. “I’m not good at pretending at something I would never do.”
“You don’t think I would have been able to convince you into having sex with me?”