Page 134 of Defensive Desire

"Oh?" He turns in my embrace, eyebrows raised.

"The Seattle location is confirmed. We sign papers next week."

"Seattle, huh?" His face breaks into a grin that could mean many things given what that city nearly did to this… to us. "That's amazing, Em. Number seven?"

"Yep. But that's not all."

I take his hand, guiding it to rest on my stomach, watching as understanding dawns in those ocean-blue eyes. I let a small smile creep onto my face, waiting… just waiting for the moment it clicks into place.

"Emma..." his voice cracks as he shifts closer on his seat, eyes growing wide. "Are you sure?"

I nod, tears springing to my eyes. "Twelve weeks. I wanted to be certain before I told you."

His arms wrap around me, lifting me clear off the ground in a gentle bear hug. When he sets me down, his eyes are suspiciously bright.

"A baby," he whispers, like he's testing how the word feels. "We're having a baby?"

"We're having a baby," I confirm, laughing through my tears.

"OH MY GOD! What about names?" he asks, voice rising with excitement.

"I was thinking maybe something Finnish," I suggest. "To honor your mom."

He presses a kiss to my temple. "I like that."

As dusk settles over Iron Ridge, I look at the town spread out below us. The twinkling lights, the arena dome in the distance, the corner where Chapter & Grind first began.

Once, I was just a girl with coffee stains on her apron and dreams too big for everyone but me.

Now I'm a woman with an empire, a husband who chose me over everything, and a future growing inside me.

Grandpa Walt was right all along. The best dreams aren't the ones you chase alone.

They're the ones you build together.