“You?” He smiles, massaging my arms and rubbing the cream in. His chest is defined and wide, and I run a finger up the flat display of muscle.
“Hands to yourself.” He tells me off, his lips widening when I chew my lip playfully. He moves his hands to my stomach, adding more cream. The cold liquid hits my waist, and I gasp in shock. “Cold?”
“Yes.” I laugh, trying to look, but he is already smearing it in. It’s thick and covers me like a second skin. “That will never soak in!” I’m laughing. My head tipped back as his fingers begin scrawling over my stomach.
“It’s not supposed to,” he replies softly. His finger shakes as he grips my hip—something about his tone is off. I frown, and he is watching me with wide and focused eyes.
“Oh my god!” Amberley gushes. I snap around, but she is looking at us, her hands grasped to her mouth. I spin to Cain and follow his eye-line to look down at my stomach.
The wordsMarry me?are etched into the cream, my bronzed skin rich against the white liquid. I gawp, my eyes fill, and then he is reaching below the towel and pulling out a ring box, popping the lid back and branding an emerald cut ring to me. I can’t move, but somehow my hand reaches to touch my stomach. It feels like he is asking us both, unknowingly speaking to the little secret growing inside of me. “I loved you before I loved myself, Lauren.Youloved me before I loved myself. I don’t want another day where you’re not my wife. I would marry you this afternoon if you’d allow it.” Cain’s voice breaks, and he clears it before reaching for my shaking hand, the ring poised.
“Be my wife?” he asks, waiting for my answer.
I nod, at first, too overcome with emotion.
“Words, Lauren.” Cain swallows emotionally.
“Yes.” I choke, tears slipping free. The cold band slides into place, heavy and smooth. “Yes!” I jump up and kiss him through my tears. “Yes.” I nod against his grinning mouth.
Liquid rains down over us, and Perry stands to the side, spraying champagne.
“Finally, I thought you’d chickened out!” He chortles, shaking the bottle as bubbles spurt from the end. Cain cups my face and kisses me deeply. Amberley is crying and gushing behind me as Perry swings an arm around Kat’s neck, tugging her to his side as they congratulate us.
“At least Lindel Farm can get some use.” He pokes gently, and my mouth drops open. I swat his arm, and his cheeky laugh accompanies my own.
“I have bookings!” Pouting, I dip out of the way of his kiss, but he flattens me to the sand, kissing me roughly.
“One,” he accuses jokingly. “Beryl and Albert don’t count.”
“They’re the cutest couple.”
“I beg to differ. I know a cuter pair.” Cain pecks my mouth and shifts to rest on his knees.
I wriggle to balance on my arms, tilting my head to shade from the sun. “Anyway, how does it feel?” I whisper, blinking champagne from my lashes, my cheeks aching from smiling so widely.
“How does what feel?” He pouts, running a thumb along my lips.
I hold my hand up, giving it a little wiggle. “You told me to ask you again when I had a ring on this finger, and my stomach was swollen, so how does it feel?”
I’m smiling for a different reason now, and Cain’s eyes pop wide, then drop to my stomach. He flattens a palm to my cream-covered skin.
“You’re sure?”
Nodding, I confirm. “Yes, ten weeks.” I wrap my arms around his neck. “I wanted to tell you so badly, but I wasn’t sure until we arrived. I had an inkling.”
“I feel like I’ve won the life lottery,” he murmurs throatily.
“You're pregnant!” Matteo gasps, surprised, and I nod. “Congratulations.” He rips the champagne free from Perry, shaking it to cover us as more whoops of joy fill the air.
“I love you.” My voice catches, and Cain topples us back.
“I love you both, pretty girl. I love you both.”