Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
He chuckles before standing up and pulling me close.
“Good, I’m glad, but why are you still crying, baby?” he gently asks. “What’s wrong? Why all the tears? I want you to be happy.”
I sniffle again.
“It isn’t that. Brent, I’ve fallen in love with you too, and I tried to deny it. I wouldn’t let myself even feel it, but it’s real. It’s really there, and I love you so much.” He smiles again and caresses the back of my hand with his thumb.
“I know, sweetheart. We’re lucky to have found each other, even if our initial interaction was a little unconventional. But it doesn’t matter. You’re my wife in every way that matters now, and I want everything with you,” he vows. “Children. A family. A long and happy life together.”
But that makes my chin tilt up, eyes going wide. Again, Brent senses something shifting and grips my chin with gentle fingers. “What is it, baby girl? You know you can tell me anything.”
I stammer, unsure of how to begin.
“Um, well I have news,” I say. One black eyebrow quirks up at me.
“And?” my husband asks.
I smile again, this time with a film of tears in my eyes.
“Well, I think I’m pregnant,” comes my voice, so quiet that Brent has to lean forward to hear. “I think I’m expecting your child.”
The handsome man jerks back for a moment, his expression startled. But then with a loud shout of laughter, he picks me up and twirls me around.
“Are you serious? Is it true?” he exclaims. I can’t help but giggle at his joyous reaction, my heart bursting with love. Today is turning out far better than I ever imagined.
“I’m not entirely sure yet,” I admit, “but I think so. I’m late with my period, I’ve had insanely strange food cravings, and this morning I had some really bad morning sickness. Not only that, but you know we didn’t use protection all the time, Brent. You came in me hard and bare a few times, and we both know what can happen. I’m young and fertile, and you’re a virile man. It was only a matter of when.”
“I suppose,” he growls while resting his forehead against mine. “You’re right. All the signs are there, but I’m not surprised you’re pregnant,” Brent admits with an impish grin.
I jerk back, my eyes wide.
“You’re not surprised?” I repeat. He shakes his head, signaling a confident no.
“Don’t hate me honey, but to tell you the truth, I’ve been hoping that you’d get pregnant,” he admits. “What better way than to keep you with me forever?”
I stare at him.
“You’ve been purposefully trying to get me pregnant?” is my shocked gasp, eyes wide. He shakes his head.
“No, of course not. But there were a few times when we didn’t use protection, and yes, I was hoping that nature would take its course. After all, you’re a curvy, fertile woman, and I’d love for nothing more than to see you become curvier still with my baby in your belly. What can I say?” he asks. “I didn’t want to let you go and now, I’m keeping you with me always. You and the baby both.”
I gape a bit, my heart beating so hard I’m afraid it might pound right out of my chest. Brent senses how overwhelmed I am, and bends to whisper into my ear, his breath warm.
“Don’t hate me, sweetheart, but I want you, and everything about you. A baby is the logical next step.”
That makes me laugh then, my eyes dancing with mirth.
“I think there are few people less logical in this world than a baby,” is my giggle. “But I get your point.”
He merely pulls me close, pressing a passionate kiss to my lips.
“You’re right, but this is going to be our child, and with you as the mommy, I can’t think of a life more perfect,” he vows. “You, me, and our son or daughter forever.”
With that, happiness courses through my veins as I surrender to this gorgeous man and everything he represents. After all, the CEO hired me to be his fake fiancée, but everything went haywire. Not only did I get pregnant, but we fell in love along the way, and now I’m going to be Brent Carson’s wife for real.
Epilogue
Sansa
The candy store is booming today, and I feel very happy and fortunate. After all, A Mouthful of Sweets has become wildly successful over the last two years. Neighborhood families love to come in and let their kids shop for assorted licorice, chocolates, and other sweets, even if the kids get hyper from doing so. Not only that, but business is so good that we do a lot of wholesale, and I’ve even partnered with a marketing company which helped me develop ‘behind the scenes’ tours and candy-making workshops. Of course, licorice is our bestseller, but there’s also an avid following for the peanut-butter and chocolate eggs that my husband adores.