Page 148 of Not In The Contract

Well, not somehow.

“So the bakery is good to go after six tonight, and I’ll do the wet run when I finish up at the office,” Alex called from the kitchen.

My stomach rumbled at the lip-smacking aroma of bacon wafting through the place.

I appeased myself with another sip of orange juice and yelled back, “Aye, aye, Captain.”

It was all Alex. She’d worked her magic and had our calendars working seamlessly together, apart.

She finally emerged from the kitchen, completing the delectable spread before me. Crispy bacon, golden brown toast, scrambled eggs, and a colorful seasonal fruit salad. Her knack for turning the simplest meals into a feast never failed to amaze me.

“So, how’s the counseling course going?” Alex asked as she filled her plate.

Her question caught me with a piece of toast dangling from my mouth while I loaded up my own plate. I mumbled through the soggy bread and she snorted with laughter.

“Sounds… delightful,” she teased.

I sniggered, freeing up my hands so I could tear the toast from my mouth. Then, chewing what was left behind, I replied, “Shadowing a leading child psychologist makes all the difference. It’s been eye-opening, and I’m learning so much.”

Alex’s smile was encouraging. “I’m so happy it worked out. Sounds like you’re well on your way to taking off those training wheels.”

I nodded, my heart warmed by her support. “I hope so. There’s something incredibly rewarding about helping children navigate through challenges and find their strengths. I mean, you know…”

She reached across the table, her fingers brushing against mine. “You’re going to be amazing at it, Devon. Just like you are at everything you set your mind to. Although…”

“Although, what?” my brows furrowed lightly.

Alex sighed, taking back her hand so she could pour herself a cup of steaming coffee. “It’s nothing. I guess I’m a little jealous that your shadowing is focused on someone else now.”

I couldn’t hold back the laugh that bubbled out of me. “You have me in your bed every night, sharing your home. And your heart… I’d say you have the better deal, Miss Bell.”

“Well, when you put it that way…” She winked at me.

It sent a rush of warmth barreling through me and I felt grateful for her unwavering presence. So much so, I finally got the nerve to voice the thought that had been niggling at me for months.

“When the time comes,” I started carefully, watching Alex heap a generous amount of butter onto a slice of toast, “I think I’d like to adopt a child. Someday. Not right now, obviously. But when it’s the right time.”

I pursed my lips tightly, with no other way to stop the sudden ramble my brain hooked onto. My heart thudded dangerously in my chest as I tried to read Alex’s expression. Her hand was suspended in midair, the tip of the knife just about kissing the toast on her plate. Her gaze was locked on mine, unreadable.

“Alex? Did you hear what I-?”

“I heard…” She gently placed the knife on the side of her plate.

I tensed up, wishing I could take it back. It wasn’t the time. I’d said too much.

“I’ve actually had that same thought.” A slow smile crept onto her face and my heart skipped a beat.

“You have?” The relief in my voice rang crystal clear, and Alex laughed.

“I started the process a few years before I met you,” she said then, her eyes glistening with the hint of tears. “It was always going to be adoption for me. For obvious reasons.”

Tears of joy prickled my eyes, my heart swelling with love for the woman sitting across from me. “I’m so happy we’re on the same page about this.”

“If I’m honest, I had a sneaking suspicion that we would be.” She smiled warmly.

My appetite was suddenly gone as I considered the reality of our discussion. “So… we’re starting a family?” My cheeks hurt from the width of my smile.

Alex laughed again, nodding emphatically. “And I think we can make the announcement at the party tonight. With everyone here.”