Page 23 of Laced With Secrets

“That’s…” His voice cracked. “That’s our baby?”

“That’s our baby,” I confirmed. “Dr. Westfield said everything looks perfect. Strong heartbeat, right where they should be developmentally.”

“Strong heartbeat,” he repeated, his thumb tracing over the image gently. “Jesus, Leo. We made this. Together.”

The wonder in his voice made tears prick at my eyes again.

He stared at the photo for another long moment, then carefully set it aside and pulled me into his arms, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe. His face pressed into my neck, and I felt the dampness of tears against my skin.

“Thank you,” he whispered roughly. “Thank you for this. For giving me something I didn’t even know I wanted until right now.”

We stayed like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other. Then Dominic shifted, laying me back gently against the pillows.

“Stay here,” he commanded softly. “Let me finish rebuilding our nest properly.”

I watched as he moved around the guest room, gathering blankets and pillows with careful attention.

“We’ll take another bath, this time together.” He tossed pillows on the bed, arranging them neatly in a semicircle. “Then, I’ll rebuild it again with everything freshly laundered.”

He worked methodically, creating layers of softness with some of his clothes mixed in so his scent would surround me. When he was satisfied, he crawled back in and arranged me in the center, his body curved protectively around mine.

“Better?” he asked.

“Perfect,” I breathed.

His hand found my stomach again, splaying his fingers over it. “When this is all over—the investigation, the danger, all of it—we’re going to do this right. All the things you deserve.”

“We have time,” I said, covering his hand with mine.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “His lips curved against my temple. “But I’m going to marry you.”

“Dominic—”

“Not asking right now,” he interrupted gently. “Just telling you what’s going to happen. So you can start getting used to the idea.”

Despite everything, I found myself smiling. “Bossy alpha.”

“Your bossy alpha,” he corrected, his arm tightening possessively around me.

A languid heaviness settled into my limbs as my eyelids drifted shut of their own accord.

I wanted to let myself believe in that future.

CHAPTER SIX

“That’s crooked,” I said, stepping back to study the evergreen garland Dominic had just draped across the top of my main display window.

Dominic turned from where he stood on the step stool, one eyebrow raised. “It’s exactly level. I used the measuring tape.”

“The garland is level,” I agreed, moving closer. “But the pine boughs are distributed unevenly. There’s too much weight on the left side.”

He climbed down and stood beside me, studying his work with exaggerated seriousness. “I see. So you’re saying my garland hanging technique needs refinement?”

“I’m saying…” I reached up to adjust one of the pine sprigs, redistributing it toward the right, “that there’s an aesthetic to holiday decorating that goes beyond just making sure things are straight.”

“Mmhmm.” His tone was far too amused.

I shot him a look. “What?”