Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
I smoothed my hand over her back. “Take all the time you need, baby.” I wasn’t ready to let her go either.
I played with her hair, noting that it was black. I didn’t comment on it—not yet. I would let her take what comfort she wanted from me before I broke the silence.
But I had to admit that I loved the black hair. Don’t get me wrong—she looked fine as fuck with red hair, but the black hair suited her better. It made her green eyes pop.
After a few minutes, she leaned back and ran her eyes over my face. “You changed your hair color,” I finally commented.
She shook her head. “This is my natural hair color,” she told me. “Meghan helped me get rid of the red.” She shrugged. “I’m trying to embrace the parts of myself that I used to hate—parts of me that I felt made me like my mom.”
I grinned at her. “Fuck, I’m so proud of you,” I told her. She beamed at me. “I always knew you could be so much greater, West. You just had to give yourself a chance.”
She smiled at me, her eyes welling with tears. “Thank you for always believing in me,” she whispered.
I leaned forward and lightly brushed my lips over hers. “Always, baby.”
She was silent for a moment, looking like she was contemplating something in her head. Finally, she drew in a deep breath and grabbed my hand, placing it on her belly. “Jessie and I had a DNA test done,” she quietly told me. “Th—th—” She drew in a deep breath. I patiently waited. Jessie had warned me that if she got overwhelmed, she stuttered. “The b-b-baby is y-y-y-yours.”
I reached up and brushed my hand over her cheek, so proud of her for trying, though she already knew Jessie had broken the news to me. She’d asked him to. “I will cherish this baby and love it just as much as I do you,” I promised her. Her chin wobbled. “It never mattered to me whether this baby was mine or Jessie’s.” She drew in a shuddered breath, her eyes locked on mine, drinking in every word I was saying to her. “We have both agreed that no matter what, this little one has two dads, West.”
She sobbed and buried her face in the crook of my neck, her arms tightening around me again. “You t-two are so good to m-me,” she stuttered.
“We love you, West,” I told her as I pressed my lips to the side of her head. “We will always do everything we can to be the best for you.”
“When we first met, you got on my nerves.” I laughed. “You were so calm and collected. I fucking hated that because I wanted to be that, and I didn’t know how.”
She brought her face back up and looked at me. I grinned at her. “Well, turns out, when it comes to you, I’m not so calm and collected after all,” I told her.
She scowled at me. “You’re stupid for hitting Officer Lucky like that,” she scolded.
I nuzzled her neck, and she giggled. “Sorry, baby,” I grumbled. Fuck, she was adorable. I couldn’t get enough of her.
She sighed before she grabbed my face so I was forced to look at her again. “Just better be glad I love you.”
I smiled at her. “I’m always happy that you love me, baby.”
She blushed. Fuck, she was so goddamn stunning letting herself go like this with me. Jessie was right. The woman she was growing into was someone completely different, but the change was fucking amazing.
“God, you’re so beautiful,” I whispered reverently.
Her blush darkened. Someone knocked on the door, and Dr. Gresham popped his head in. He smiled at us. “It’s time for lunch,” he announced.
West groaned. “What are we having?” she asked as she slid her hands over my shoulders.
“Mrs. Evelyn brought you some soup from home since your stomach has been a bit upset the past couple of days,” Dr. Gresham informed her. I frowned, not liking the idea of her not feeling good. “So, come on. Lincoln can eat with you,” he assured her when she looked down at me, her eyes conflicted.
I stood up and gently set her on her feet. “Lead the way, baby.”
She grabbed my hand in hers, linking our fingers together instantly. “Has your morning sickness been bothering you?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “Just the past couple of days. They linked it to my prenatal vitamins. They’re suddenly not agreeing with me, so Dr. Gresham spoke to my OB and had her change my prescription. My stomach is beginning to settle, but she suggested I take it easy on heavy meals for a couple more days just to be on the safe side.” She pouted. “Which means no blueberry muffins for a couple more days.”