Page 146 of Merry Fake Bride

I never want to let him go, but there’s still a chance I’ll lose him.

Kairo appears a few minutes later, still in his boxers and wearing a black T-shirt.

He limps heavily on his bandaged thigh, and I leap up immediately when he tries to sit next to me on the floor by the tree.

“If you get down, you’re not getting back up!” I gasp, trying to stop him.

“Devon, I want to sit under the tree and wrap presents with my wife,” he says. “Let me.”

I can’t argue with that so I focus on helping him down slowly until we’re both seated on the thick rug with the multi-colored lights from the tree painting patterns across our skin.

“No pants?” I raise one brow and Kairo laughs.

“I was too impatient.” He keeps his injured leg straight and carefully massages above the bandage. Just a flesh wound that hit a vital vein.

Something so small and yet I nearly lost him because of Axel.

My eyes drift to his other thigh where the old scars from his father cluster across his skin.

It makes me take his hand, and he looks at me with worried eyes.

“Devon, what’s wrong? You look sad.”

“I’m not sad,” I assure him softly. “I’m… this past week has been so insane. The crash, the fight. Martin getting shot. Your getting shot.” I shake my head. “I was so scared I was going to lose you.”

“You won’t lose me,” he assures me, clasping my hand between both of his. “I’m fine. Look at me. I’m fine. Martin is fine, he’srecovering. Axel has been sent back to Colorado to face trial for what he did to his ex, what he did to you,andthe attempted murder of us and Martin. He’ll never see the light of day ever again. You’re safe. We both are.”

“I know, but…” My stomach twists, and Kairo weaves his fingers between mine.

“But?”

Sucking in a deep breath, I pick up the small present and offer it to him. “Open this.”

“It’s not Christmas.” He chuckles. “Aren’t we supposed to be wrapping presents today?”

“Technically, yes, but this is important,” I say softly. “Please.”

Kairo takes the present and releases my hand.

When he frowns, that adorable curl appears between his brows and my heart skips a beat.

He’ll open that and then I’ll find out whether I’m spending Christmas alone or not.

It’s one thing to survive what we have, but this is different.

This is life-changing.

Kairo carefully peels the tape away from the shiny blue paper, as if he wants to treasure the wrapping as much as the gift.

It unfurls in his hand and a very small yellow piece of cloth falls out.

Kairo picks it up, confusion flitting across his face as he holds up a baby romper.

“Devon?” He tears his gaze away from it to lock eyes with me.

My heart pounds. “I’m pregnant.”

The word tastes weird on my tongue, like saying it out loud is some terrible thing.