The halo-ringed oval diamond on the glitz-crusted white-gold band is huge and dazzling. And I couldn’t be more thrilled. He lays a kiss on my lips that’s somehow the perfect mixture of passion and hope. We melt together for long, blissful moments.
As usual, I feel slightly dizzy when I ease back. “There’s just one problem, Chad. You can’t upgrade me in the future to mother of your children.”
“Why not? I know we’ll have to plan because your new job will be a lot of responsibility, but I’m almost forty and—”
“I’m already mothering Hades.”
“That beast doesn’t count.”
“He does.”
Chad scoffs. “He’s a feline puffball.”
“He’s a fur baby with feelings.”
“Given those kneading his claws into my skin? He doesn’t feel anything but bloodlust.”
“He does. You’re just mad because he seems to like me more than you.”
“No, that’s expected. You bribe him with treats.”
“But I also give him the heartworm medicine he doesn’t like.”
Chad shrugs. “You pet him.”
“You do, too, when you think I’m not looking.”
“Facts not in evidence.”
I raise a brow at my fiancé. “I took video last night of you two reading annual reports on the sun deck. He was on your lap, and you were indisputably petting him.”
His lips wobble into a smile. “The little bastard wouldn’t leave me alone.”
“And you loved every minute of it. Just like I think you’ll love every minute of being a daddy to this one.” I take his hand in mine and put it over my still-flat belly.
His smile turns into an open-mouthed gape. “You’re…”
“Pregnant. So even if you don’t count Hades, you’ll have that daddy upgrade come March.”
Chad pulls me into his embrace and plasters my body to his. “Oh, my… I couldn’t be more thrilled. I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, too. Now we just have to figure out when to get married and when to tell everyone we’re a couple.”
“The sooner the better, but let’s worry about that later.” With a heavy-lidded gaze that says he wants me naked and under him, he lowers his head for a kiss.
I meet him halfway, our lips colliding, knowing this man will make me so blissfully happy—and keep me on my toes—for the rest of my life.