“When I met Lucy, she hated me on sight, but somehow, I managed to win her over and I thank my lucky stars every day for that she came to her senses. Lucy, this is for you.”
There was some more laughter that faded away as Ryan began to sing the worst rendition of “You and Me” by Lifehouse that she and likely anyone else had ever heard, but in one way, it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever heard. When he finished, she had expected him to come off the stage, but instead he waved her up with him while everyone clapped and motioned for her to go up.
“Lucy, come up here and let me show you off to all these people who said I couldn’t get a date to this Valentine’s party,” he joked.
“Go on up,” Tate told her.
Reluctantly, Lucy went up to the stage and climbed the steps to stand beside him. Everyone applauded again and she waved to them, not sure what it was she was supposed to be doing.
“Isn’t she stunning?” Ryan said.
A bright light landed on her and she was suddenly unable to see much of anything. When it dimmed a moment later, she turned to see that Ryan was down on one knee, holding up a diamond ring. Her eyes widened as she realized what he had brought her here for.
“Lucy Jameson, I know I’m the last guy you ever thought you’d marry, but I hope that you’ve reconsidered by now and will not embarrass me in front of the entire police force. Will you marry me?”
Lucy was smiling from ear to ear, tears rolling down her face before she could even get the words out.
“Yes!” she said, sending up a whole room full of cheers.
Ryan slipped the ring on her finger and stood up awkwardly. Someone yelled, “Well, kiss her you dumbass!” and Ryan took them up on it, kissing her and then helping her down off the stage.
They spent the rest of the dance being congratulated and dancing to all the slow songs, plus a few of the fast ones then went home and made love so slowly she thought she might cry again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ryan
The weeks passed quickly as Lucy’s belly grew larger. Before they knew it, the day had come and she was in labor. Ryan wasn’t sure which of them was more nervous. The doctor said they were expecting four babies based on the ultrasound, but as was the case with a lot of shifter pups, it was hard to tell from the multiple heartbeats and determining sex was next to impossible with arms and feet blocking the view.
When the labor pains started, Lucy seemed unnaturally calm and collected, as opposed to him, who kept pacing and asking how far apart they were. She indulged him, even though he was bound to be just as annoying as he thought he was.
“Ryan, we’re going to be fine. The mid-wife is already on the way and the nursery is all set up for them.”
Ryan looked around at the half decorated house. It had taken them a little longer to find what they wanted and they’d barely managed to get both of their places moved in here before her due date arrived. She’s still not gone into labor for two more days, but today she was definitely on her way to delivering their new family. At least he had managed to get the nursery put together, along with their bedroom, at least the furniture.
Still, he was as nervous as a cat. Today he was going to be a father, several times over. What were they going to do with so many children? It all seemed so overwhelming. He almost jumped out of his skin when the doorbell rang.
Lucy laughed.
“Is the big bad Alpha scared?”
“Petrified,” he replied.
“Me too,” she told him, but she didn’t seem like it.
He went to answer the door, finding the mid-wife and her assistants there. He breathed a sigh of relief. Somewhere in the back of his mind had been a fear that they were going to not make it and he was going to be stuck delivering the babies himself. He already felt traumatized just thinking about it.
“I am so glad to see you,” he gasped. “Please come in.”
“Most new fathers are happy when we arrive before the babies,” she replied.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Point my crew to the kitchen and show me the birthing room.”
“The kitchen is over there, but it’s not even all the way unpacked yet.”
“That’s fine. We brought our own equipment. We just need to sterilize some things.”
The assistants headed toward the kitchen while he showed her to the nursery, where they had set up a birthing bed per her previous instructions. It made it handy to put the babies in bassinets and tend to them while more were born.