Page 36 of His to Keep

“What is this?”

She smiled at me, all soft beauty and wise eyes. “I wanted to surprise you.” She held up a hand. “And before you say anything, this is the one and only time there will ever be candles in this child’s room.”

I raised my brows.

“Anyway,” she pressed on, her voice thick. “Emerson, you have given me everything. Your security. A chance at my new life. And the unending care that you’ve lavished on me.”

Something thick was in my throat.

“And you did it all without forcing me to decide. You just kept wanting me, loving me, even if you never said the words. Now it’s my turn.”

Whitney stepped towards me, going slowly down to one knee in front of me, her hands reaching for me. “Emerson Brooks, I am so in love with you that I can’t even imagine not planning my life with you.”

A noise bubbled up in my chest. I think it was supposed to be her name, but I could barely recognize it, I was so focused on her.

“I moved all my stuff here. I hung pictures. I bought a planner, one of those eighteen-month ones. I thought we could talk about visiting my family, or even doing a family trip in the spring when the baby is bigger. And I know it’s not nearly as romantic as a ring or something, but I want you to help me fill it up, to know that I’m planning on being here for all of it. As long as you’ll have me.”

I had never loved anyone as much as I loved this woman. And she was here on her knee, asking if I wanted her?

My knees slammed into the floor, and I yanked her forward, our bodies colliding in a soft whoosh of fabric.

“I love you, Whitney. I’ve loved you for months. But I didn’t want to force you into anything.”

And then I was kissing her, frantic, her soft lips just as desperate on mine. Need and possession warred in my body as I enjoyed holding my woman in my arms.

“I know,” she whispered, “and I loved you all the more for it.”

We fell the rest of the way to the carpet together, her perfectly rounded belly under my palms as I pressed my lips against her hair. “You know this is only the beginning, right?”

“I’m counting on it.”

***

Whitney

This baby was being evicted today.

I didn’t care whether or not the doctors agreed or not, I was not going to be pregnant for another day. Let alone another week.

“Your eviction is being served, little love,” I hummed to myself, making sure to not bump into anything as I moved around our bedroom. There was a bassinet on my side now, waiting for its tiny new occupant to show up.

Just like we all had.

“How’s the pep talk going?” Emerson said, walking into the room and straight over to me.

I groaned, my head falling back. “We’re going to a doctor’s appointment, not to walk a runway. Do you have to look so perfect? Especially while I look like this?” I gestured down at myself.

“You look absolutely gorgeous.” Emerson didn’t stop until he was directly in front of me. “And don’t worry about the pep talk. You know that doctors are ready to induce today.”

“Thank God,” I said, grinning up at him.

“Do you have whatever you need?” He knew my bags had been packed for weeks, hoping that I might have a baby in my arms long before now. But apparently not.

“I do.” I pick up the duffel that was at my feet. I could barely see the silly thing.

Emerson’s serious chocolate eyes were on warm on my skin as he cupped my jaw in his hands. “Good. Then there’s just one more thing we need, then.”

I swiveled, looking around. I had no idea what he was looking for. “What do you mean?” I turned back, and the duffel, which had been hanging loosely from my fingers, slipped to the ground.

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