“I did, didn’t I?”
“Yep. I gotta keep you a secret or firms are going to try to steal you away. Marist has been getting head-hunted for years. Beck’s always on edge she’s going to leave.” I help her up the stairs and hold the door to the building open for her.
“Maybe he should get his head out of his ass and let her know how much he loves her.”
“I think he’s doing that right now.” I punch in the code to override the security. The door pops open and we go through. The antique chandelier that Pepper found at the flea market brightens up the lobby and serves as a perfect accessory to the paneled walnut walls. The interior says stately old school but everything about this place is modern, from the high efficiency appliances to the double-paned windows. Energy costs won’t be very high, and the residents won’t be calling the management company with complaints about noise. “What do you want to check out first? Units 3, 4, and 7 aren’t rented out yet.”
“Mine.”
At the end of the lobby, a new resident comes around the corner. We both frown at him. Pepper steps up. “Hi, um, I’m Pepper.” She holds out her hand. The man smiles because who wouldn’t smile if Pepper was standing in front of them looking like a delectable cupcake? But she’s my dessert and I’m not having anyone touch her—not even her hand—so I slide in front of Pepper.
“And I’m Abel.”
The man looks at my hand and then over my shoulder at Pepper. “Eyes on me, dude.”
“I’m Peter and I live in Apartment 9.”
Pepper pushes me to the side. “Apartment 9? That’s my apartment.”
“Really? It’s quite lovely and there’s room for another per—“
I have my fist up before I know it. Pepper grabs my arm. “Stop, Abel!” she cries.
“Dude. I didn’t know she was your girl.” Apartment 9 raises both hands in surrender. “Sorry. I’ll just be on my way.”
The man steps nimbly by and skates out the front door. Pepper releases me with a sigh.
“Were you really going to punch him? You’re so easygoing and then sometimes you go off the deep end.” She shakes her head.
“I wonder what the common theme is here.” I frown at her. “You’re pregnant now. You can’t be touching other men.”
“You mean men I don’t know.”
“I mean any men.”
She rolls her eyes. “Come on. I want to go see my apartment.”
I pull her back. “Pepper…there is no your apartment. The only non-leased units are upstairs.”
“What do you mean?”
I kiss her shoulder. “I mean, babe, that your home is with me. I guess if you want to be in town, we can have a place here, but I like being out in the country.”
Pepper twists in my grip so she can face me. Her pretty mouth is frowning. “How long ago did you rent the apartment?”
“I don’t know. A couple of months.”
“So before you knew I was pregnant?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Her lower lip starts to quiver.
“Oh no, babe. What’s wrong?”
“So you’ve wanted me to live with you all along?”
“Of course!” I thumb away a tear that’s about to drop. “Don’t cry. The country sucks. We are moving to town. Let me call Beck and find out the best location for us to build.” I reach into my pocket and fumble with my phone.
Pepper laughs. “No. That’s not it. I thought you didn’t want me. I mean, I knew you wanted to sleep with me, but I thought that’s all it was.”
“All it was?” I blink at her in complete shock. “Pepper, if I could lock you up and throw away the key, I would. Fuck, I nearly killed that guy for even speaking to you. I love you, babe. Don’t you know that?” I cup her face and press a kiss against her lips. “I’m glad you’re pregnant because now you can’t leave me.”
“You can’t leave me either,” she whispers.
“Those are the second best words to come out of your mouth.”
“What are the first best ones?”
I kiss her again. “You haven’t said them yet.”
“You haven’t either,” she teases.
“Babe, I love you.” She’s laughing as I sweep her up into my arms and carry her out of the apartment. It’s the prettiest sound on this earth.
Epilogue
Pepper
Months later
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more beautiful bride.” I meet Marist’s eyes in the mirror.
“Liar. I was at your wedding.” My smile grows bigger thinking about that day. We got married in our backyard. We both wanted something low key. I love that our home is going to hold so many special moments like that one. I can see our kids getting married out there too.
“This wedding has been years in the freaking making.” I shake my head. Thank goodness Beck finally pulled his head out of his ass and went for it. Once he did, there was no holding back. He bulldozed his way right into Marist’s life. He had a ring on her finger and a baby in her belly at rocket speed. I was happy that I didn’t have to be pregnant alone.