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Kara pulled back, but only far enough to look into his eyes. “I’m not sad, Simon. I’m emotional.”
“I’d rather see you be happy emotional than sad emotional,” he grumbled, kissing the tip of her nose gently.
Cupping his cheek softly in her hand, she answered, “You’re an incredible man, Simon Hudson. Always so worried about my happiness, my safety, so willing to sacrifice for me. I love you so much it scares me sometimes.”
Simon caught her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm gently. “I never sacrifice anything for you. I love you. And feel free to love me as much as you want to. You won’t hear me complaining.” Simon couldn’t hide his grin, knowing he would never get tired of hearing how much she loved him, even if she told him a hundred times a day.
Kara smiled softly. “I spent money today. Your money. Um…I mean our money. And I’ve decided that I need a car. Or maybe an SUV. Something…uh…with more space. And I want a long honeymoon. Can we use the jet?”
“Absolutely. Any place you want to go.”Thank God.Simon’s grin broadened as he asked her playfully, “Was it painful?”
Kara didn’t even need to ask what he meant. Simon understood her. “Horribly. I started out on the clearance racks, but I couldn’t find anything I wanted there so I had to move to the regular - priced stuff.”
“Ouch.” God, he loved this woman. “And how did that go?”
“Okay. My hand only shook a tiny bit as I ran my debit card,” she admitted with chagrin. “I even went to get a manicure and pedicure. I’ve never done that before. It felt…weird…but I wanted to try it.”
Simon laughed as he hugged Kara closer, reminded of just how few luxuries this woman had ever had in her life, how few things she had done that many women did on a regular basis and took for granted. “What did you buy?”
“A few things. And um…a new wardrobe. Bigger clothes.” Her voice was hushed, nervous.
“Are you planning on gaining weight?” Not that he cared. She could wear whatever size she wanted, put more meat on her bones. Her curves would be lusher, softer.
“For a while. Oh…hell! I might as well just say it.” She pulled back and put a hand on each side of his head, Kara’s pensive eyes meeting his still-teasing look. “I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a baby. That’s the reason I’m so emotional. I feel like my hormones are taking over my brain.”
Simon’s jaw dropped and his face took on an astonished expression as he looked at Kara, his mouth moving, but no sound escaping.Pregnant? She was going to have his baby?
Emotions rolled through him, one after the other.
Fear.
Happiness.
Anxiety.
And a healthy dose of fierce possessiveness.
“How? Why?” Stupid questions, but they popped out of his mouth anyway, his brain still trying to catch up with his emotions.
Kara burst into tears, large drops rolling down her cheeks as her face contorted with remorse. “I’m sorry. It probably happened when I was sick. I didn’t get enough of the pill in my system because I was vomiting. I should have been more careful. I know you don’t want to be a father right now. But I already love our baby so much.”
Our baby. Our. Baby.His heart slamming against his chest, he pulled her completely against him, rocking her gently. “Shhhh…it will be okay. I…I…oh holy shit. I’m going to be a father.” Intense joy spiraled through him, making his heart swell until he swore it was going to explode.
“I’m sorry,” she wailed against his shoulder.
“Please don’t be sorry, sweetheart. It isn’t your fault. Are you ready to be a mother?” He tripped over the last word, still incredulous that Kara was carrying their child; a baby conceived with so much love that he was ready to burst with pride.
“Yes. I want it so desperately. But I know you don’t. You’ve never wanted to talk about it before except to say you wanted to wait.” She sniffed and snuggled against him.
“It isn’t that I don’t want our child. I just can’t fucking stand the thought of you being in that much pain, that something might happen to you. It’s dangerous. Women can die in childbirth.” Hell, he couldn’t stand the thought of Kara being in pain for any reason. He hadn’t realized that he had actually cut her off, unable to cope with the thought of her going through what she would have to suffer to bear his child. He shuddered, still fucking hating those thoughts.
His emotions warred inside his body. He wanted Kara to have his child with a longing so painful that it nearly knocked him on his ass. However, the thought of anything happening to her was making him demented, maniacal. Simon wanted to wrap her in his protection, never let her out of his sight for a moment. Maybe he wouldn’t. Not for a very long time.
“It’s not dangerous, Simon. Women do it every day. Most women say the pain is soon forgotten once they have their child in their arms.” Her voice was breathless, hopeful. “You don’t mind?”
“I mind, but not in the way that you’re concerned about.” It bothered him because he couldn’t stop thinking about Kara hurting. And he was going to triple her damn security, whether she liked it or not. His woman was pregnant, which made her even more vulnerable. “I want a girl.” A beautiful, sweet replica of her mother. “We need to move. Buy a place outside of downtown where she can have a yard. Maybe a dog. Oh hell, whatever makes her happy. And we need to be in a good area with good schools. She’ll be beautiful just like you, so no dating until she’s at least thirty.” He scowled as he thought about some bastard laying a hand on his daughter.
His heart lifted as Kara laughed, pulling back to smile at him. “I want a boy. A sweet little boy like his daddy.”