Page 33 of Nine Months to Love

“I can’t believe it... That’s our baby...” The anger has drained out of her completely. She looks relaxed now, happy, younger somehow. “It didn’t feel real until just now.”

“The morning sickness didn’t make it real?”

She turns to me. “Are you done being an ass?”

“I could promise you that. But then you’d be bored.”

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the ghost of a smile. “The doctor didn’t need to know about our sex life.”

“He’s a doctor. He knows how babies are made.”

“I know how babies are made, too.” She turns back to the screen, transfixed. “Doesn’t mean I’m not totally floored right now.”

“That’s because this is your baby. Our baby.”

She flinches, then sighs. “I didn’t know I wanted this. Until right this second.”

“You never thought about kids?”

Her gaze goes distant, unfocused. She doesn’t seem to notice my hand on her arm, my thumb tracing circles on her skin. “I did, sometimes. But not seriously. I always thought it would happen in the future, after I’d set up my practice and everything was established... settled. After I was happy.”

“You’re not happy now?”

Her eyebrows pinch together. “I don’t know. Between all the kidnapping attempts, it’s hard to figure out.”

“Just to be clear, mine was a rescue mission. I was your knight in a shining SUV, in case you missed it.”

“I was distracted by all the family drama.”

“We all have baggage.”

“Sure.” Her nose wrinkles, and even that is cute somehow. “But usually it’s not so extreme. I was neglected as a child, I’m a disappointment to my parents, I had a weird uncle—that’s normal baggage. Yours isLaw and Order: SVUlevel. Multiple seasons.”

“Didn’t realize we were competing.”

Her face shows the tiniest smile before she locks it down. “I want this baby to inherit more than just tragedy, Stefan.”

“Why do you think I picked you?”

Her lips pucker, half-smile, half-scowl. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe you looked at me and thought,That’s exactly the sucker I need.”

“Did I say that?”

“Something similar.”

“Christ, I sound like an asshole.”

“If the shoe fits.” But there’s less venom in it now.

I drag my fingers down her arm, feeling the softness of her skin. Goosebumps break out across her skin immediately and the fine hairs stand up wherever I touch. That’s a good sign. So is the way her pupils dilate, black swallowing up that pretty hazel.

“You want to know the real reason I decided I wanted you in this baby’s life?” I don’t wait for her to ask. “It’s because I knew you’d make a good mother. And I knew this baby would need one.”

“How could you possibly know I’d make a good mother?” Olivia shakes her head. “I don’t even know that.”

“Then maybe you are a sucker.” I move closer. Her eyes lock on mine. Her lips are inches away, still pink from where she bit them. “Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. You’re perfect.”

Her lips part—an invitation if I’ve ever seen one.