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“I don’t want to assume anything either,” I say. “You told me flat out that you don’t want a relationship or children because you?—”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You did.”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t say shit. I just agreed with you.”

“You told me you didn’t have a heart to give me.”

“Because I didn’t think I did.” He reaches for my fingers, lacing his through them. “But I was wrong.”

His touch is a balm to my heart. I blink back tears but can’t keep up with the onslaught. I just dropped this bomb onto his world, and he’s being so gentle, so kind. So … Gannon .

“This is a lot to process,” he says.

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing to me. We created this together, and we’ll deal with it together. You didn’t do this on your own, and you have nothing to be sorry for.”

My lips quiver as a wave of warmth swamps me.

“I’m not going to tell you what to do with your body,” he says, stroking my palm. “But I will tell you that whatever you decide to do, I’m here. Preferably right here , with you on my lap if you’ll cooperate, because I think my protective instincts just increased by about a million percent.”

I laugh through my tears and settle against him with my head beneath his chin. His arms wrap around me as if he’s keeping me safe from the world.

“Guess my grilled cheese isn’t what made you sick,” he says, teasing me. “That’s a relief.”

I smile. “I’m glad you find this funny.”

“Oh, there’s nothing funny about it. But it’s not the end of the world.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “As a matter of fact, it might be the start of a whole new one.”

I sag against him. “Aren’t you worried, even a little, that this will go wrong? When Tatum said she was pregnant, you did the right thing, and it burned you in the end.”

“Do you plan on burning me?”

“I have a shovel for those people.”

“Then I have nothing to worry about.” He sighs, pulling me even closer. “Tell me what you said about Tatum a moment ago. Repeat that for me. When she said she was pregnant, what did I do?”

“You did the right thing.”

He brushes my hair off my face so he can see me. “I did the right thing. That’s correct. I married her and built a house for her because it was the right thing to do. But I’ll marry you today and build you a house on the moon tomorrow if that’s what you want because I love you, Carys Johnson.”

I gasp, my eyes widening. I pull away to face him, needing to watch him say those words.

“I love the hell out of you, dammit,” he says, grinning at me.

My hand goes to my mouth, pressing against it to hold back a sob.

“I love you, and you’re having my baby.”

I fall into his arms again and hold him tight. “I love you right back.”

And I’m having your baby. Our baby.

Oh my God, we’re having a baby.

The sound of those words passing my lips is wild, and it makes me laugh. But there’s no fear, no second thoughts. Because I do love him. I love him with all my heart.

“You’ll need some time to figure out what you want to do,” he says. “But I want to help you with whatever you need.”

“A doctor, I guess, because I should get checked out while it’s still early, right?”

He takes a breath and holds it as if willing me to continue that thought.

“I want to keep the baby,” I whisper.

He falls backward, pulling me with him. His chest bounces as he laughs happily.

“I also have to fill out that life insurance thing,” I say. “Just in case I die. That way, my baby won’t be poor.”

He snorts, turning his head to look at me.

“What?” I ask.

“You do realize that money isn’t a problem, right?”

My face falls. I hadn’t thought about that, actually. Holy shit .

“You’re having a realization right about now, aren’t you?” he asks.

“I … yup. I can’t process that today.”

He chuckles. “Don’t think about that. Money is boring. Let’s think about … we’re having a baby .”

“We’re having a baby.” I sigh, chuckling in disbelief. “That sounds … weird.”

“It sounds amazing. But it would sound even better if I could say that my wife was having our baby.”

I still, unblinking.

“Let’s pull a total merger and get married.”

“I think you’re in shock …”

He rolls over onto his side and props his head up with his palm. “I almost told you that I loved you in your shower. I’ve been thinking about it but didn’t want to scare you, and I’ve been praying about telling you and knowing when the time is right.”

“Really?”

“This is the first time in my life when it all makes sense,” he says. “The past, the present, the future. It just all makes so much sense.”

I snuggle against him, closing my eyes and letting the tension evaporate from my body. “You’re right.”

“About what?”

“Everything. My whole life makes sense now. It was all to prepare me to be Mrs. Gannon Brewer.”

“ Oh, thank fuck .” He blows out a breath and hauls me on top of him. “You were killing me.”

“Oh, like you thought there was a chance I’d say no.”

He blinks. “Carys, I can never predict what you’ll do.”

“That’s funny.”

“Why?”

I reach between us and palm his cock. “Because you can always predict when I’m about to come.”

He slides his hands under my shirt, massaging my breasts. “I predict you’re going to come within the hour. Multiple times, in fact.”

“I like the sound of that.”

He flips me onto my back and kisses me. And while there’s a lot to think about and a lot of decisions to be made, I welcome the distraction. Because with Gannon on my side, I know I’m in good hands.

Literally and figuratively.

Apparently, forever.