Page 152 of Merry Fake Bride

“I’d like that,” Kairo replies, his voice tight. “Thank you.”

Tilly starts to fuss so after kissing Kairo’s cheek, I retreat back to the bedroom and soothe her down into her bassinet.

She whines at being set down but she falls fast asleep within a few rocks and I turn back to the dresser.

Underneath the letter sits the pregnancy test I took this morning.

I know the signs.

Kairo and I can’t keep our hands off one another, and I’m not mad about it either.

Bringing a sibling into the world for Tilly will give her a love neither Kairo nor I experienced.

Picking up the test, I hide it in my palm and head back out to the party.

The music’s turned down and Clarice is talking to my mom while everyone else drapes around the couches, processing the amazing meal we had.

Kairo stands near the kitchen counter with his back to me.

“Kairo?” My heart skips a beat as I approach, chewing nervously on my lower lip.

It’s one thing to raise a baby, but doing that while also being pregnant will make us face a whole host of new challenges.

Maybe it’s a bad idea.

But I’m not keeping it a secret this time.

“I have a present for you.” I hold out the positive test as Kairo turns to face me, but before I can speak, a glint in his own hands catches my attention.

Resting in his palm is a sparkling engagement ring with several sparkling gemstones set within a white-gold band.

My mouth drops open.

“What’s that?” We speak in unison and draw the attention of everyone around us.

Kairo’s eyes are fixed on the test while I stare at the ring, struggling to find the words to explain myself and ask what the ring is for.

Luckily, Kairo sorts out his thoughts first.

“You’re pregnant?” he asks softly, his voice filled with awe.

I nod silently. “You have a ring?”

Kairo sinks down to his knees and gazes up at me with love flooding his eyes.

“Marry me,” he says warmly. “I love you, Devon. We’ve survived the… the fall of my company, your ex, bullets, pregnancy, weeks-long court cases. I love you. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you, and this past year has shown me that I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I never doubted that. We lied to the world and told them we were engaged and then we wed through a contract. With your marriage to that dick annulled, ours is now legal, but I want to marry you properly. A real wedding with input and family so I can show you off and we can create real memories together. Marry me. Be with me.”

“Are you sure?” I gasp, struggling to keep up with everything he’s saying.

Ever since I signed that contract, I accepted what we were and it felt right.

I never felt like I missed out on anything, but now that it’s presented to me, it’s absolutely what I want.

“I’m pregnant.” I show him the test again, as if he hadn’t noticed it before.

“I know.” His smile stretches from ear to ear. “We’re going to have another baby and I want to marry you.”

“You’re not mad?”