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I shoved at his chest, laughing, and his face broke into a smile. After a few playful swats, he caught my hand, pulled it back to his face, and kissed the delicate skin of my wrist.
“I meant it. Thank you, Whitney, for not only your forgiveness, but for everything you’ve done for me.”
My heart beat double time as he pressed another kiss right where he left off. Then another. Just as I curled my fingers up against his jaw, wondering what it would take him to really kiss me again, he pulled away a little.
“You’ve got two more days of bed rest,” he said. “You’re allowed to come down for dinner, but that’s it.”
“And then?”
“And then what?”
Anxiety swirled in my belly as I sat up. “Are you sending me home? After the bedrest?”
In a breath, I was on my back again, my head bouncing against the pillow. “Are you kidding me?” Emerson’s jaw was clenched as he loomed over me once more. “Because I haven’t been clear, let me get this out. Whitney Bryant, I want you here. I want you by my side every day, every moment you can stand to have me. I don’t want you to ever go back to your duplex. I want you in my home, in my bed, my baby growing in your belly.”
I gulped, and I knew he could hear it.
“Do you understand?”
I made my lips form the words, no matter how conflicted. “I wasn’t sure if this was just for the baby. Which would be fine—”
He cut me off with a dark chuckle. “I would still take care of my baby and the woman carrying them. But what I feel for you, it goes so far beyond.” His eyes tore down my body, as if he could see beneath the covers what I might look like.
“Did you think I could let you go? After you’ve shown me your gorgeous heart and that fucking perfect smile? After you carried my baby for me?”
Emerson shook his head. “No, no, no. You are mine, Whitney.”
“You’re so sure.”
“Of course I’m sure. I’ve been waiting twenty years for you to show up. I’m not letting you go now.”
Something deep in my belly twinged. Fear. Life here with Emerson, that was not something to be taken lightly. And if I messed it up? I swallowed hard again. I wasn’t sure I’d ever recover. Ever.
“Emerson, this is still very new.”
“I know. And I’m a patient man. But just know that I’m here for you.” His lips pursed as he pulled back again. “And if you aren’t interested in me, then I will make sure you are comfortable and cared for until the baby comes.”
My hand fluttered down to press against the bump. Gratitude, even more than yesterday, flittered over me. This man, he was a good man. A good man who had done a dumb thing. I could understand that. But he was offering me options. He was letting me decide what the next step for me would be.
“Thank you,” I said softly, and immediately his hand joined mine, pressing over the baby. “Thank you so much.”
***
Chapter Nine
Whitney
Just as we had when he was my acting bodyguard, Emerson and I fell into a habit easily. He worked during the day. Sometimes in his office, sometimes with Tim driving him into downtown for various meetings and activities. And while I wanted to pretend that I didn’t mind, I did. David Gates had turned out to be a lovely companion. I even goaded him into playing video games with me one day. But it wasn’t the same.
I missed all the time with just Emerson.
And a few days later, still riding the high from the perfect follow-up appointment with Dr. Charter, I finally was done with it all.
“David, you have to go.”
“Not going to happen.”
“I’m home, in Emerson’s kitchen, cooking dinner. Nothing is going to happen.”
