Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“Romantic?” Charles supplies with a hesitant smile.

“Not the first thought in my mind, Mr. Hawthorne.” I cross my arms over my chest. “You could have at least told me.”

“I tried. Not once, but many times. And later, I started to worry that you might not see it the way I did.”

My brain wants to be upset with him, at least for a short while, for keeping me in the dark and for making me constantly worry about that word—contract—but my heart is too busy interpreting what this really freaking means.

“So what was your plan? Keep this from me forever?”

“Not forever.” Charles places his hands in his pockets, and that act pushes his broad chest forward. Before I can get distracted by that, his slow smile captures my attention. “I was thinking I’d give the contract papers to you on our fiftieth anniversary and we could make paper lanterns with our kids and grandkids.”

Kids? Grandkids?

Am I in a weird, crazy dream?

“Fifty years! You would wait fifty years?”

“I’d take secrets to my deathbed if it means keeping you in my life, Daisy.”

Charles’ lips hover over mine, as if silently asking if we’re good, not just for now, but really, for forever.

“Are you sure? Because my dream is a big, happy family, Charles.” My voice shakes, but his lips curl into a heart-stopping smile

“I can’t wait to give Blip a brother or a sister in a few years.”

“You’re killing me, Hawthorne.” I rise on my toes, pressing my lips to his. I clutch the front of his T-shirt, only to drop it the next second as I take a step back.

“Holy crap! Blip kicked! Blip freaking kicked for the first time, Charles!”

And then, it happens again.

I bring Charles’ hand under mine, flattening it against my stomach, and a second later I feel a tremor pass through him.

“That’s…a solid kick.” He’s in awe.

“Talk about picking favorites, Blip. You don’t let me eat until your daddy is doing the cooking, and now this.” My gaze swings to Charles. “I’ve been asking Blip every day to give me a reaction, but no, nada. You were worried you might not love your kid, but I don’t think our blip will stop until she has all your love, Charles.”

“She?” He still hasn’t come out of the shock.

“Chloe can be very convincing.” I bite my lip as Charles shakes his head.

“I would love my bratty sister to be right once again.”

EPILOGUE

CHARLES

The inn is decorated in nontraditional Christmas décor, with pink streamers and balloons. There’s a huge Douglas fir that’s almost hidden in silver tinsel and white and pink bulb ornaments, with pink bows in every visible corner.

For someone who fell in love with the color pink two months ago, exactly when our daughter made an early arrival into this world, even I think it’s a tad too much. But this party is run by Chloe and Daisy’s friends, who have made it a personal mission to ensure my daughter’s first Christmas is nothing short of the biggest event this town has seen.

And I’m fucking grateful for this life, these people who make every day feel like it’s a celebration, and most of all, for this woman under my arms, holding my baby.

Yes, my sister once again got what she wanted, and I am the happiest man on the face of the earth.

Our blip now has a beautiful name, exactly like her.

Penny Georgina Hawthorne, named after two amazing women who have played a big role in my and Daisy’s life—Daisy’s mom and my great-gram.