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They walked the street to the studio, unable to stop touching and kissing along the way. She loved the warmth and security of holding Duncan’s hand, knowing they were together now. She gripped his arm with her other hand to bring herself closer and glanced up at him. The adoration she saw there made her heart flutter.
When they reached the studio, the sign in the window read “Open,” which meant Shannon was back from her lunch.
Duncan stopped before the door and tapped his bottom lip with his index finger.
“What is this? Passage to get inside my own building?” Jamie asked.
“Absolutely.”
She happily obliged, leaning in to kiss him.
Shannon stared at them dumbfounded when they entered hand in hand. “What is happening right now? Are you two …?”
“Getting married?” Duncan shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, we are.”
“What? You’re engaged?” Shannon jumped up from her chair and raced across the room, throwing her arms around both of them. She abruptly pulled back, looking at her brother with one eyebrow raised. “Is this for real? Because you’ve been throwing a lot of marriage proposals around lately.”
“Very funny.” He gave her a friendly smack on the arm and looked at Jamie. “This is the only one that matters.”
Shannon clasped her fingers. “I’m so happy I kicked your butt this morning.”
“What’s this?” Jamie asked.
“She may have given me a little nudge to come here and get my girl.”
Jamie smiled at him—the man she loved, the father of her child, her future husband.
“I was actually sitting here at my desk praying for this very thing to happen,” Shannon said.
Duncan smirked. “No, you weren’t.”
“I absolutely was. And that is the fastest any of my prayers have ever been answered.”
They all laughed, and the two of them shared their story with Shannon.
“You got her the bassinet? That’s so sweet, Duncan.”
He grinned. “It was pretty sweet, wasn’t it?”
Jamie slid her arms around his waist and snuggled into his side. “The sweetest.”
He kissed the top of her head.
“I don’t know if I can work today,” Jamie said. “I’m too distracted.”
“I’m glad you said that because we have some people to tell before the news starts spreading.” Duncan eyed his sister.
Shannon gaped at him. “You think I’m not capable of keeping a secret? I’ll have you know that I am the best secret-keeper on the planet. Have I told you if you’re having a boy or a girl yet? No, I have not. And I promise I won’t tell anyone. Well, except Micah. But I will let you tell the family.”
“We would appreciate that,” he replied.
Jamie finished a few last-minute tasks and gathered her things, while Duncan went to get his car and pick up the bassinet. When he returned, she joined him at his car and leaned back against the passenger door, blocking him from opening it for her.
“Thank you for the bassinet. It’s beautiful.” Jamie hoped her smile showed him how much she loved this gift. “I wonder if I’m the first woman to get a bassinet in place of an engagement ring.”
Duncan groaned as he tilted his head back. “I’m sorry I don’t have a ring yet. I didn’t exactly plan to propose.”
“I was teasing, Duncan.”