Page 118 of Ridin' True

I heard his soft chuckle as he murmured, “Okay.”

After I took a deep breath and blew it out, I pushed open the door a little and stuck the pregnancy test through the narrow gap. When he took it, I pulled my lower lip between my teeth and waited.

It took a couple seconds before he drawled, “Darlin’?”

“Yeah?” I replied, suddenly wishing I could see his face.

“I’m openin’ this door.”

Fighting against my own desires, I was quick to ask, “What if it’s bad luck?”

“You in your dress?”

“No.”

“Then I’m openin’ this fuckin’ door so I can kiss those lips right fuckin’ now.”

This time, I didn’t try to stop him.

I was grinning when he swung open the door.

And the look on his face?

It was everything.

The next thing I knew, I was in his arms, his lips sealed with mine, my feet no longer touching the ground. I clung to his shoulders, giggling into his mouth until he elicited a moan with the sweep of his tongue. He kissed me wet and deep, pulling away from me abruptly as he sought my eyes with his.

“Wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you, gorgeous. Made you mine, and I didn’t think it could get much better. I was wrong. Let’s make you a Barker, darlin’.”

I sucked in a quiet breath as my insides resisted gravity, my happiness completely off the charts. He still did that to me, and I knew he always would.

“I can’t wait to marry you,” I whispered, touching my forehead to his.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa—what’s going on here?”

I glanced over my shoulder, and Jed turned us a little just as Alejandro and Axel rounded the corner, headed our way with a couple sacks of greasy food in their hands. Suddenly, a hamburger sounded like a really great idea.

“Hey, what’s in the bag?” I asked.

Alejo raised his eyebrows at me. “What’s in the bag? You’re not supposed to be here. It’s like a thing, right? The bride and groom aren’t supposed to see each other before the wedding.”

I smiled at Jed, not at all worried about bad luck.

“Come on. Break it up,” insisted my twin.

“Yeah, dad, don’t make me pull rank on you.”

Jed grinned, and I was floating again as I laughed.

My groom had made Axel his best man—a title he took very seriously, which I loved. This was why, when Jed returned me to my feet at his son’s insistence, I didn’t mind.

“You never said what was in the bag,” I commented.

“Burgers and fries. All this waitin’ was making us hungry.”

“Got an extra for the bride?” I asked, holding open my hand.

“If I give you one, will you scram?”

“Mmhmm,” I hummed with a nod.

He gave me one, and I thanked him with a kiss on the cheek.

Axel got a kiss, too, just because.

Then, before I headed back to the bridal suite, I took one last look at my man and promised, “See you at the altar, papi.”