Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
I search his eyes again as I think it over. How could I ever say no to him? He’s the father of my children and the love of my life. It would be criminal not to try. “You really were a fool,” I tell him. “I’ll give you a chance to earn my trust, but if you fuck up, I’m done. There’s no going back for us after that.”
“I won’t fuck it up,” he promises as his eyes light with pure elation. “I know what it’s like to live without you, and I won’t do that again, especially when my kids are involved.”
A soft smile creeps across my face as my heart starts to beat right out of my chest, a little piece of me coming back to life. There might still be a chance for my happy ending. “You earn my trust back first, then maybe I’ll give us a shot,” I tell him, only giving an inch.
Carter leans into me, pressing a kiss to my cheek, and it’s all I can do not to pull him into me and have my way with him right here in the open doorway. “Thank you,” he murmurs before stepping back and looking like a whole new man. He offers me his hand, and I graciously accept it. “Can I take you to dinner now?”
A wide smile settles across my lips, and with that, Carter helps me out of the truck before leading me inside. He wraps his arm around my waist, and I melt into his side, just like it was always meant to be.
Chapter 25
CARTER
Making my way around the store, I stare at the shelves, never having felt so overwhelmed and out of my depth in my life. I mean, fuck. There are rows upon rows of baby shit. Bassinets, bottles, breast pumps, bedding, and strollers. I was supposed to be heading out to the Wilder mansion to check off a few of the most recent changes, but when I drove past this store, I found myself parking my truck and heading in.
Brianna is close to seven months pregnant now, and so far, it’s been going well. She’s slotted straight back into my life minus anything intimate. It’s driving me crazy, but that’s the deal I made. She needs to trust me, but not knowing how long that’s going to take is honestly sending me up the fucking wall. But this is too important, and I get that she needs to take her time. I’m not about to fuck this up by rushing into it or pushing her too fast.
Seeing her every day, having her come over to my place, cooking in my kitchen, spending time with my family, and smiling that beautiful smile. Fuck. I’d do just about anything to be able to touch her and let her know just how much I love her, but I respect that she needs her space, and if that’s what she needs to help us move on, then that’s what I’m going to do.
And I have to admit, I’ve been using this time to trust her again too. The road goes both ways. After knowing she was pregnant with my children for three months and not telling me, it left a scar. I know she was scared, and I hadn’t left her with many options, but I can’t help but feel that betrayal right down to the core. The more time we’re spending together, the quicker that scar has begun to heal.
Watching her stomach swell with our growing babies isn’t something I ever thought I’d enjoy, but seeing her like this? Nothing has ever made me feel so good. I’ve become a different man—fiercely protective of her and our children, and I want this more than I could have ever known.
Brianna is nothing short of stunning. Every time she feels those little babies move inside her, her whole face lights up like Christmas morning, and it’s honestly the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. Though truth be told, I kind of find it creepy. I don’t know how I’d feel if there were little alien-looking things inside my guts, swimming around, kicking me in the ribs, and growing. I mean . . . Do they shit in there? How does it even work?
Over the past four months, I’ve realized the extent of just how badly I fucked up. Don’t get me wrong, the second I learned she was pregnant, I knew I’d made the greatest mistake of my life. However, these past few months have taught me exactly what I was throwing away.
There’s no doubt about it—Brianna Lucas is my life. She’s my world, and I’d do anything to prove to her that I’m in it for the long haul. Just the thought of us growing old together and raising our babies is enough to get me off. My heart aches for her every time I see her, and as she sets her gaze on mine, those green eyes filled with hesitation, it tears me up inside. When she walks past, I have to resist reaching out to her. When she laughs, I have to force myself not to stare. When she sings to our children . . . fuck, I can’t help but fall in love with her more.