Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
I wake up to Lennox sitting on the side of the bed, pushing my messy hair out of my face.
“What’s wrong?” His voice is laced with worry, a sharp contrast to the usual, playful teasing I'm accustomed to.
That’s when it hits me. I don’t have time to sit up, or even to think. The words tumble out in a rush, a jumbled confession I didn’t plan, or anticipate.
“I think… I think I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, my voice barely a whisper. This isn't how I wanted to tell him.
Lennox freezes. His eyes widen, his expression shifting from worry to pure, unadulterated joy. I gaze up at him with a huge smile of my own.
"Hell fucking yes.” He moves Chewy out of the way and leans over to kiss me. “I knew my swimmers would get the job done.”
Before I can process anything else, he turns, his movements suddenly filled with a new intensity. He walks across the room, his movements brisk and purposeful. My eyes follow him. I can't believe what's happening.
He stops in front of a beautiful landscape painting hanging on the wall. With a swift, practiced move, he pulls up the picture frame, revealing a hidden safe tucked behind it. My jaw drops. I had no idea it did that.
He opens the safe, his movements precise and efficient. He pulls out a navy-blue velvet ring box and comes back to the bed, his hand trembling a tiny bit as he opens it. Inside, resting on a bed of silk, is a stunning ring. An engagement ring.
My heart hammers against my ribs, a frantic drum solo that completely silences my brain. My mind is utterly speechless. The sheer unexpectedness of it all is overwhelming.
He kneels at the edge of my bed, his eyes burning into mine. He holds the ring box out toward me, his expression soft and hopeful.
"Willow," he says, his voice thick with emotion, "I love you so goddamn much. Will you marry me?"
The words hang in the air, simple yet profound, completely unexpected, and utterly perfect. Tears well up in my eyes, my heart swelling with an overwhelming rush of love, happiness, and a profound sense of overwhelming astonishment.
"I love you, too," I whisper, my voice choked with emotion. "Yes, I’ll marry you. A thousand times, yes."
He smiles a satisfied smile that melts away any lingering doubts or fears. When he slips the stunning ring onto my finger, it fits perfectly.
A thought suddenly occurs to me. “What if I’m not pregnant?” I mean, I’m sick, tired, and my boobs hurt, but I haven’t done a test yet.
He shrugs. “Then we’ll celebrate our engagement by getting your little ass knocked up.”
I love the way he thinks. And I love him more than I ever thought possible.
When Chewy realizes he’s missing out, he climbs over the covers and wiggles his little rear end between us. “I hope you know you’re getting a spoiled rotten little stinker along with me.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Lennox rolls his eyes and lifts Chewy against his chest.
Me neither. Life is freaking perfect.
Chapter 13
Lennox
A few months later, the entire Cavani case ends abruptly when Oscar Cavani has a heart attack the night before the trial for one of the cartel lieutenants starts. I can’t believe the fucker managed to pull one over on the feds while at the same time denying the cartel the justice they deserve. It’s probably the luckiest thing to ever happen to the fucker.
We’re going to use the information we got from Cavani to start building another case against the cartel, but this one won’t fly with our star witness six feet underground.
Truthfully, I’m not upset over how the case ended. I’d rather know there’s no longer a threat to my girl than have a successful prosecution of the cartel assholes.
Epilogue
LENNOX-THREE YEARS LATER
"Mommy, Daddy, I up!"
That tiny, sweet voice blasts from the baby monitor, shattering the relative peace of my Saturday morning. Our two-year-old whirlwind of destruction is up and ready for the day.
I slip out of bed, careful not to wake Willow. She's still asleep, sleeping like the dead. Early pregnancy exhausts her. Morning sickness is a bitch. Hopefully, this little one goes a little easier on her.
Chewy doesn’t have any such problems. He’s sleeping on his fancy bed, snoring like a tiny, grizzly bear. The ungrateful little shit can sleep through anything.
Jordan’s room is perfectly straight right now. Give him two hours and there will be toys, books, and unidentified objects strewn across the floor like a toddler-sized landmine field. He's sitting up in bed, all sunshine and mischief. He’s got the same sassy glint in his blue eyes that Willow has.
“Morning, little man,” I grunt, scooping him up. He smells faintly of baby powder and something uniquely Jordan.
“Daddy!” he squeals as his tiny arms wrap around my neck.