I squeeze her hands. “She lied about my infertility.”
Her nose scrunches up in confusion. It’s adorable and I can’t stop myself from leaning forward to kiss the tip.
“But how? Didn’t you talk to the doctor yourself?”
“You have to understand. When you play professional football, you’re on the road for weeks at a time. You rely on your spouse to handle all the home stuff while you’re gone. When Sandra said the doctor told her I’m sterile, I didn’t question it.”
“Okay. I can see how that could happen. I guess. But why?”
“She doesn’t want children. Instead of talking to me about it, she made the decision for me.”
“Sounds familiar,” she quips.
“Smart ass. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have made the decision about whether we could be together without talking to you.”
“Your apology is accepted. I will, however, be billing you for the hours of research I did on male infertility and adoption.”
“I’ll pay you in red velvet pancakes.”
“Not in sexual favors? I’m disappointed.”
“The sexual favors are free,” I tell her.
Her cheeks darken until they’re a dusty pink. “What now?”
“Now we finish what we started a few minutes ago when you were grinding against me.”
She rolls her eyes. “No. I mean yes. We will be doing more of the sexy times. A lot more, I hope.” She waggles her eyebrows before becoming serious. “But I mean us. What happens with us? Are we a couple now?”
I could kick myself for how uncertain she sounds. I’m such an asshole.
“If you can forgive me for pushing you away for the past year.”
She taps her chin as she studies me. “I’m not sure. I may need lots and lots of orgasms before I can decide.”
“Oh, you’ll be getting lots and lots of orgasms, don’t you worry. But not until you forgive me. I don’t want to have this hanging over our heads for the rest of our lives.”
“The rest of our lives?”
I shrug. “Or until you get tired of my ugly mug.”
“Ugly mug? You know you’re the most handsome guy in Winter Falls.”
“Just Winter Falls?” I tease.
“Whatever.” She takes a deep breath before letting it out. “Yes, I forgive you. But if you ever think to make big decisions about us without my input again, I won’t forgive you as easily.”
Shit. She’s going to be pissed about the surprise I’m preparing for her. Hopefully, her excitement will outweigh her anger. I shelve my concerns. The surprise isn’t ready yet anyway.
“And you won’t bring up what an idiot I was every time we argue,” I push.
She tsks. “Rowan, Rowan, Rowan. How little you know about women. Naturally, I’m going to bring up how much of an idiot you are whenever we argue. It’s my prerogative as a woman. Plus, I’m certain you’ll do other idiotic things and I’ll need to remind you of your past idiocy on a regular basis.”
“I can live with those terms.”
“Well, what are you waiting for? Ravish me, Jeeves!”
I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder before rushing to the bedroom to do exactly that. She giggles and the sound warms my heart.