He grips my forearms that are against his chest and rests his forehead on mine. “That’s just it. You’re pregnant, and I thought we agreed you would be on desk duty until after baby Tate was born.”
I pull back. “First of all, I’m only a few months along. Secondly, baby Tate... as in Tate Junior? I thought you made fun of Josh for calling his son a junior.”
He smiles sheepishly. “I did. But that’s what guys do, we bust each other’s balls. Of course, if we have a boy, we’re going to call him Tate Junior. TJ for short.”
I nod. “If we have a boy...”
“Yes... I know you keep saying it could be a girl, and I’m fine with that.”
And honestly, I know he would be. The man lets nothing faze him. He’s taken all this in stride. He’s as laid back as they come. It’s like all he cares about is keeping me happy.
“What if I told you I went to the doctor this morning...”
“What’s wrong?” he asks. Lifting me up in his arms, he carries me back to the office. We have a full day today, plenty of work, but he always puts my needs first. He sits down in his office chair and holds me. I still can’t come in this office without thinking about the first time he took me. I think he’s the same way, because this is where we end up most days.
I settle into his lap and slide my hand in the front of his shirt, stroking the soft hair on his chest. “Nothing’s wrong. I wanted to surprise you... don’t be mad.”
He grits his teeth. “I’m not mad... but tell me what’s going on.”
I take a deep breath. “We’re having a boy.” I reach into the desk behind me and pull out the picture they took. I hold it between us, and there’s no hiding the little appendage that makes his dad’s chest bow out a little.
“A boy?”
“Yep, looks like you’re getting exactly what you want.”
He takes this picture and looks at me. “I got exactly what I wanted when you said you’d be my wife. Everything else is a bonus, baby.”
I run my hands up and down his chest. I regret not taking him to the appointment this morning. I wanted to surprise him, to give him something, and in turn, I got the shock of my life.
“Well, you’re right... I’m not going to be getting under any more cars. Even if you bring in a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra...”
He rolls his eyes. “I don’t believe that for a minute.”
I slap him on the chest. “I’m not lying, Tate. I promise, no more.” I’ve tried to figure the best way to tell him, and I can’t hold back anymore. “There’s more.”
“I knew you were hiding something. What is it?”
I reach behind me in the other drawer and pull out another picture. I hold it between us, and at first glance I’m sure that Tate thinks it’s just another picture of TJ. “Wait,” he says, bringing it closer.
“That’s your daughter,” I tell him huskily.
He’s been dead set on wanting a boy, and I’ve sort of worried about telling him that not only is he having twins, but a girl too.
“Twins? We’re having twins?”
I nod as he pulls me in, squeezing me against his hard chest. “Fuck, Lake, you make all my dreams come true. I don’t deserve you, but fuck I love you more than any man ever could.”
I pull back and look into the soft sheen in his eyes. He’s not an emotional man, but today I hit him hard. “You don’t get it. You are the one that made all my dreams come true, Tate. Every one of them. I love our life.”
He sniffs and presses his lips to mine. “Me too, baby. Me too.”
* * *