Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

“It’s okay if you can’t say it back yet. I just needed you to know.”

“I love you too,” she burst out, talking fast. “Sugar cookies, it’s so crazy, but I do. I love you so much I’m afraid I’m going to explode.”

I slid my hands around her and hauled her against me. Our mouths met in a kiss, slow and deep.

“So we’re doing this?” I asked when I pulled back. “We’re having a baby?”

She nodded. “We’re having a baby.”

This time I didn’t react in shock or, like an idiot, let her walk away. I let her words sink in. Really heard them.

And I smiled.

She giggled, a few tears breaking free from the corners of her eyes. I leaned down and kissed her again. I loved her. I really did. I loved her so fucking much, I would have died for her.

And she was having my baby.

Nothing was going according to plan. But for once in my life, I didn’t want the plan.

I just wanted her.

CHAPTER 27

Harper

It felt good to be off my feet, even just for the short drive home. After another long day at the bakery, and my body busy diverting energy to growing the tiny one, I was wiped.

However, I did feel better than I had in a while. At least I was no longer freaking out. It wasn’t that I was completely chill about being pregnant—that was going to take a while to sink in—but it no longer felt like an emergency.

Garrett loved me. That was all I needed.

I’d slept at his place the previous night, which had been wonderful. The only downside was having to peel myself out of bed at three in the morning so I could get to the bakery. That was considerably harder when I had a warm Garrett next to me.

Small price to pay for the best sleep of my life.

I pulled up to my house, making a mental note that I had a package at the front door, and parked in my garage. When I got out of my car, I cast a quick glance at the box still sitting on top of the murder bear. I probably needed to just throw it away. Obviously it was a harmless stuffed animal—no sign that it was coming to life at night—but it creeped me out every time I saw it.

The door to the garage led into the kitchen, and I flicked on the lights when I went in. I didn’t want to forget the package outside, so I made sure to grab it. It didn’t seem like porch pirates were a huge problem in Tilikum, but why take the chance? I wasn’t even sure what the package was. I didn’t remember ordering anything recently, but you never knew what late night shopping I might have done and promptly forgotten about. Especially recently.

I brought the package into the kitchen and left it there. I wanted to get out of my clothes. Garrett and I didn’t have plans, which meant I was probably sleeping at my own house. That was mildly disappointing. I had a feeling we were heading toward a more permanent—and shared—living arrangement, but I didn’t want to just move myself in. And now that I knew he was in love with me and I was in love with him, I wasn’t worried about all that. We’d figure it out.

After changing into a set of silky pajamas—so comfortable—I debated whether hunger or fatigue was going to win. Flopping on the couch for a while sounded nice, but I was discovering that if I went too long without eating, I got a bit nauseated. I headed for the kitchen to throw together a small dinner.

I thought about Garrett and Owen while I browned some ground beef and added a jar of sauce, imagining what it would be like to be making dinner for the three of us—eventually four. It gave me a little burst of happiness, a bounce in my step despite my tired feet. Maybe Garrett would be prepping steaks while Owen chopped vegetables and laid them out on a pan. I’d be putting the finishing touches on dessert—that was my specialty, after all—and we’d wind up eating it first, just for fun.

Tears stung my eyes, but not tears of sadness, stress, or confusion. They were tears of possibility. Of the joy of a new season of life that I’d never even thought to wish for. Who would have guessed I’d fall for a man with a teenage son? That I’d wind up pregnant with his baby and be dancing around my kitchen, daydreaming about making us into a family.

I did a twirl and managed to stub my toe on the bottom of the refrigerator door.

“Ouch!”

My toe throbbed as I limped over to a stool and sat. How had I managed to kick the refrigerator door? Who did that?

Dang bad luck curse.

My hand strayed to my still-flat belly. Despite the copious amount of pregnancy tests I’d taken—and confirmation by my new doctor that all was well—it was hard to believe there really was a baby in there. Other than being tired, and the need-to-eat-or-get-nauseated-thing, I didn’t feel much of anything. I’d read that was normal, but I was starting to look forward to the growing belly, the flutters and kicks, all the things that would make this baby’s presence known.

Garrett’s parents.