“And I regret leaving,” I admit. “I’m sorry for the things I said.”
“I’m sorry, too. I kept things from you when I shouldn’t have.”
“And so did I.”
“I guess that makes us even then, huh?”
A soft, easy giggle bubbles past my lips. “Yeah, maybe.”
“I want you to move into my place with me,” he says. There isn’t any room in his tone to protest, not that I want to. “From here on out, I’m keeping you and our little one safe.”
“So you’re not freaked out that you’re going to be a father?”
He shakes his head. “I was at first. How could I not be? But now…” He stares up at the monitor and smiles. “We did that.”
I reflect his smile. “Yeah, we did.”
Chapter 43
Tip #43: What my sweetheart wants, my sweetheart gets.
HUNTER
Ican finally breathe again. Having Eden in my home feels… good.
“We need to devise a game plan,” I tell her as we walk up the stairs together. “I’ve tinted the windows so nobody can see in. I’ve got a brand-new alarm system set up, along with a closed security camera loop. I can hire you a personal bodyguard for when you want to go out and—”
“A personal bodyguard? Isn’t that a bit overboard?”
I pause on the step just behind her. “I’m not taking any chances, Eden. You and the baby are my number one priority.”
“What about your career?” she asks, half-teasing.
I grasp her hands. “You don’t understand, sweetheart. Knowing what I do now, I’d give up everything for you and our child in a heartbeat.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.” I give her fingers a squeeze. “Do you know what I thought when Charlie called me? When he told me you were pregnant and in pain and that they had to rush you to the hospital, do you know what I thought?”
“What?” she whispers softly.
I take another step up so we’re at the top together, peering down into her pretty mismatched eyes. My poor girl has seen so much in such a short amount of time. She’s had to deal with her name and face being dragged through the mud in front of the people’s court. She’s had to endure harassment after harassment because ofmyfailings.
Yet she is still the brightest star to ever grace me with her presence.
“I thought my world had ended, Eden,” I tell her, completely serious. “I thought… If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.” I circle my arms around her waist and pull her flush to my body. “Promise me something.”
“What?”
“I know you’re used to shouldering everything by yourself, but you don’t have to anymore. I’ll take care of you, Eden. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you and the baby lead a happy, normal life.”
Eden reaches up and cups my face in her hands. “Can I kiss you now? I’ve been waiting to kiss you for the last two hours.”
I chuckle. “Anything for you, sweetheart.”
Our lips come together tenderly at first, slotting into place with ease. I relish the softness of her lips, the way she melts into my touch. Everything about her is familiar and wonderful and brings with it an endless promise of better things.
I pick her up bridal-style and carry her the rest of the way to my room.