Page 32

Jacob

" Whoa, whoa, whoa. What do you mean you won't cook?" Gabi stands in the kitchen staring at me, her green eyes wide with shock.

"I mean exactly that." I fix the sleeves of my collared shirt, leaning against the counter as I gaze at my beautiful girlfriend. "Babe. Everyone will be okay if dinner is just a little bit late."

"But it's Christmas Eve! And the caterer is late. We have a whole dinner planned and we're hosting your family. And..." She bites her lip, her dark hair spilling over the shoulder of her pretty red dress. "And..."

"And..." I prod.

She sighs. "Everyone likes your lasagna more than mine."

"Finally! A little honesty." I chuckle, crossing the room to wrap my arms around her waist. "Sweetheart, you don't have to impress anyone or try to outdo yourself with cooking. You're already amazing as a person and as a girlfriend."

"Oh please. Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Walker."

I smile and press a kiss to her lips before whispering against them, "But it gets me everywhere with you, Miss De Luca."

Gabi giggles and smacks my chest lightly before pulling away slightly and looking up at me with those gorgeous green eyes of hers.

"Fine." She huffs dramatically but then grins. "But only because you're right."

"As always."

She laughs, and I join in. Only this time, I'm not sure that I'm right. The caterer being late might be a sign that I'm not right at all.

Tonight is supposed to be magical. It has to be.

After dinner, I plan to propose to Gabi, and nothing—I mean nothing—is going to ruin that moment.

Except, of course, for the ring being in my suit jacket which is at the dry cleaners because I spilled red wine on it last night. But that's a minor detail.

In addition to the wail that is erupting from the living room.

Holding up a finger to Gabi, I head straight there.

The first thing I see is our little Chiara looking far too pleased with herself. Meanwhile, while her dear unprepared Uncle Gio stands in shock, the wet patch on his trousers beginning to spread.

"Chiara," I say firmly.

My six-month-old actually has the nerve to grin at me. She knows she's done something wrong.

Gio glances down at the damp spot as he continues to hold Chiara in his arms. "Mind telling Gabi that those cloth diapers are no match for your daughter's aim?"

"Where do you think she learned that aim?" I motion for him to follow me to the bathroom. "Though, I'm better at aiming pucks than piss. I'll teach her that next."

He rolls his eyes and hands Chiara over to me before heading off to clean himself up.

"I can't believe she's already starting to crawl," he says, referring to Chiara who is now attempting to wiggle out of my grasp.

"It feels like just yesterday Gabi and I were holding her for the first time," I reply as we both watch my daughter with adoration.

As I cradle little Chiara in my arms, her tiny fingers grasping at my shirt, Gio dabs a towel at his shirt and damp pants. "I gotta say, being an uncle is pretty awesome. I get all the fun without any of the responsibility."

I chuckle and shake my head, knowing that Gio will make an incredible father one day. "Just wait until you have your own kid. Then the real fun begins."

Gio's face turns serious for a moment before he looks back at Chiara with a smile. "Yeah, someday. It's hard enough taking care of the family members I currently have." He glances up, green eyes narrowed. "Did you know that Nonna Chiara already got into the prune juice and mixed it with vodka?"

"Seriously? I told Gabi to hide that stuff."

"Yeah, well, Nonna can be sneaky when she wants to be. That's for sure. Lexi’s supposed to be babysitting her, but let's just say the two of them are more buddies than babysitter and charge right now."

"Dammit. And you know the rest of the guys—Halstead, Manning, Parker, and them—are about to roll in any minute."

"Great. Just what we need. A tipsy Nonna, the Abominable Alexandra, and a house full of hockey players."

"Wow. Using Lex's full government name." I snort. "That little TV segment she did on you must've really gotten under your skin, huh?"

"The woman is insufferable. I've had hangnails I liked better."

"Doesn't mean she's not good at what she does. Plus, you know how the media is always looking for a story."

"Yeah, yeah. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. I just put up with her because she's my sister's best friend. And while we're on the subject of putting up with people...is your dad still coming tonight?"

"Unfortunately, yes. He's on his way as we speak. Seems I get sentimental around the holidays."

"Sentimental's the theme of the night, I guess." He pauses, his gaze scanning my face. "How are you feeling about tonight’s proposal to Gabi? No pressure or anything.”

I glance down at my daughter, her eyes sparkling, oblivious to the brewing chaos around us. “If tonight goes as planned, it’ll be the best moment of my life."

"And if it doesn't?"

I take a deep breath. "If it doesn't, I'll still have the most amazing woman by my side. And that's all that really matters."

Gio nods, his expression solemn before he breaks into a grin. "All right, enough of this serious talk. Let's go wrangle Nonna and get ready for tonight."

"Yeah. I'll be right behind you. Just gotta get Chiara cleaned up first."

As Gio heads off to find Nonna, I turn my attention back to Chiara. She giggles as she plays with her tiny fingers, completely unaware of what's to come.

I smile, grateful for this moment of peace before the chaos ensues. It's moments like these that remind me of how blessed I am, not just with the love of my life but also with the crazy and loving family that comes along with her.

Focusing on Chiara, I gently clean her up and change her into a clean outfit. She coos and babbles as I work, making it nearly impossible for me to stay focused.

But somehow, I manage. I toss a wipe into the trash, but something catches my eye.

A glimpse of pink peeking from the bottom of the trash can.

My heart stops as I bend down and pull out a small pink box.

Holy...fuck. It's a pregnancy test.

I stumble back, my head spinning as I try to process the implications of this discovery. Could it be...?

But before I can even finish that thought, Gio bursts into the room, his dark brows furrowed on his forehead. "Come on, bro. Hurry up. I'm trying to pry that prune juice vodka bottle out of Nonna's hands, but she's surprisingly strong. Makes me wonder how Gabi and I ever…" He stops. "What's wrong?"

Balancing Chiara on my hip, I turn to the trash shoving the test back inside. "Nothing. Have you seen Gabi?”

“Last I saw, she headed to the treehouse in the backyard. She says you guys kept decorations in there."

I nod and hand Chiara over to him.

“Keep an eye on her, will you? I need to talk to Gabi.”

Gio nods and takes Chiara from me. I give her a playful tickle before heading off to the backyard.

I make my way to the treehouse, following Gabi's voice as she hums a tune. I climb up the ladder and push open the door, stepping inside.

Gabi is sitting on the floor, surrounded by boxes of decorations. She looks up at me with a bright smile. “Hey, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I can't help myself. I reach for her. "Nothing's wrong. Absolutely nothing." I pull her into a hug, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair. “In fact, everything's so goddamned right it scares me. I love you so much."

She runs a hand along my jaw, pulling back to me. "Baby, I love you, too." She swallows. "You're everything to me."

"And you're my everything," I whisper.

I can't contain the whirlwind of emotions surging through me. The discovery of that test ignites something primal and urgent within, pulling me closer to Gabi. I gently guide her to the small comfy couch nestled against the treehouse wall, the soft cushions enveloping us like a sanctuary.

As I lift her dress, the outside world fades, leaving only this moment between us. I sink to my knees, the weight of uncertainty mixing with the overwhelming love I feel.

My heart races as I look up into her eyes.

"Gabi, I need you right now," I whisper, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and desire. Our connection is electrifying, and in that instant, I know I would do anything to protect the life we’ve built together. "Right now, I can’t imagine my life without you. You’re all I want. All I’ve ever wanted."

I lean in and kiss her, pouring all my passion into it.

She kisses me back with equal fervor, pulling me closer until there’s no space between us. Our hands roam each other's bodies like we’re discovering each other for the first time. The familiar touch is intoxicating, but there’s a new intensity to it now that we’re about to create a new life together.

I break the kiss, my breath shallow, and let the reality of this moment wash over me.

I dive deeper, pressing my nose against the soft fabric of her underwear, inhaling the scent of her pussy mixed with the faint scent of winter air.

It's intoxicating, grounding me in the present, reminding me of everything we’ve shared and everything that’s yet to come.

My pulse quickens.

Her breath hitches above me, her body reacting to my every move.

As my fingers trace the delicate fabric of her underwear, I gently push it aside, revealing her pussy completely to me, and my breath catches at the sight. Lowering myself closer, I press soft kisses along the delicate skin between her legs, feeling the warmth radiate from her body, intertwining with my awareness of my own thickening dick.

The taste of her skin and her wetness is sweet and intoxicating, and I lose myself in the sensation, eager to worship her.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper, my lips brushing against her skin as I explore every inch of her. “I could spend forever lost in you.”

I lay my tongue against Gabi's pussy, and instantly she moans, the sound guttural.

“You taste so sweet, just for me,” I murmur, the warmth of my breath sending shivers across her skin. “You’re everything I want, and I can’t get enough of you."

Unable to hold back from being inside her any longer, I stand, carefully lifting Gabi and positioning her on all fours on the treehouse couch. Dropping my slacks and underwear, I line my cock up to her soaking entrance.

"Ready for me, baby?" I growl.

"So ready. Always ready."

Grinning, I piston directly into her. We both groan together, the sound drifting through the evening air. I don't notice. I don't notice anything but Gabi.

How wet she feels. How slippery. How perfect.

Gripping her hips, I thrust inside her, swinging my own hips back and forth as my hardened dick is swallowed by every inch of slick slit.

I grunt out loud. "Do you know what you do to me, sweetheart? Do you know how intoxicating you are? How amazing?"

I thrust and thrust and thrust, my fingertips imprinting into her soft skin.

"Be my wife, Gabriella De Luca. Be my wife, and stop this fucking agony I feel not having you as mine for every single second of our lives.

Swiveling my hips, I hit another spot inside of Gabi that makes her whimper. "Yes, Jacob! Anything!"

A bead of sweat forms on my brow as I reach around, thumbing her clit. "That's right, Gabi. You're mine. You're fucking mine. Say it now."

A gasp. A sigh. And then a sound. "I'm yours, Jacob!"

It's her final cry before she comes, and it's the most sensual thing I've ever heard.

Gabi, accepting my fucked-up proposal as her body clenches around me.

I come a second after, my body still pounding into hers, my groin still slapping against her soft, grip-worthy ass as I spill my seed inside her.

My hands hold her harder until the spasms finally subside.

Leaning forward, I push her dress higher past her hips. I place a kiss on the small of her back before withdrawing.

Adjusting her dress once again, I take a step back. In seconds, I'm dressed yet again. But my soul, my feelings, my mind?

They're still raw. Still naked with unbridled want.

Reaching for Gabi's waist, I settle on the couch, pulling her into my lap. She sighs as I sink my face into her hair, inhaling. Together our breaths slow until they are practically one.

The quiet inside the wooden treehouse thickens until finally, Gabi breaks it with one word. "So..."

"So."

"I don't know how soon after I should be asking this, but I have to know." She turns to look at me. "Was that proposal you just gave me real? Or was that the really really, really good sex talking?"

I laugh but stop quickly because this is a serious question.

"I meant every word I said, Gabi. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." My voice shakes a little as I say it aloud for the first time.

"You mean the rest of your life fucking me?"

"That, too." I smirk, but then soften my expression. "But in all seriousness, there is nothing trivial about my wanting to marry you, Gabs. I've never been more serious about anything in my life."

Gabi's eyes fill with tears, and she throws her arms around me. "Yes," she whispers into my neck.

I hug her tightly, feeling a sense of relief and happiness wash over me. We sit there for what feels like hours, just holding each other and basking in the moment.

Eventually, we break apart, and Gabi turns to face me, wiping away her tears. "Lex knew you were going to propose, didn't she?"

I chuckle. "Yeah, she did."

"I thought so. She kept acting weird every time I mentioned Christmas Eve."

"I'm sure she just wanted it to be perfect."

"Which it was. Everything with you is perfect." Gabi leans in to kiss me, and I feel my heart swell with love for this woman. "I can't believe this is happening," she says with a shaky voice.

"Honestly? Me neither. I never thought that the most perfect woman I've ever met would want to spend forever with me."

"Well, I'm glad you were wrong."

"I was. And her giving me children was just icing on the cake."

"Even ones that pee on my brother? Because I saw what…" Her brows rise. "Wait. You said 'children'. Not 'child'." She searches my face. "Jacob..."

"Yes. I know about the pregnancy test, Gabi. I found it in the trash."

"Damn. Maybe I should use the paper shredder next time."

"Probably a good idea except it’ll jam the dang thing."

Gabi's expression turns serious again. "So, what now?"

"Well, first we need to make amends with your brother and sincerely apologize for the pee incident." I pause for a moment before continuing. "Then, we can start planning our wedding."

"Really? You don't want to wait until after the baby is born?"

"I don't see why we should wait. We're already starting a family together." I take her hand in mine and give it a squeeze. "But if you'd rather wait, then we can do that too."

"No," she says firmly. "I want to marry you as soon as possible."

"And I want to marry you sooner than that." I lean in and kiss her softly. "If we can make it through this damn family dinner tonight in one piece."

She snorts. "I know. The circus has already begun, and it's only going to get worse."

"But we'll make it through. Together." I brush away a stray tear from her cheek.

"Together."

I glance out the treehouse window and toward the house, thinking of the time. "We still have, what, a half an hour before we have to start getting ready?"

"Just about. Why?"

"Because I'd like to spend that half an hour doing something that's a lot more fun than being a carnival ringleader."

Oh." She giggles as I lift her dress, rubbing her bare hips with my fingertips. "I can think of a few things that might fit the bill."

"Like what?" I tease, kissing her neck softly.

"Maybe some dessert?"

"I like the sound of that." My cock hardens as Gabi shifts on my lap to straddle me, her hands reaching for my pants.

"And I like the sound of forever with you.”

"Forever isn't long enough." I lift my hips so Gabi can push my underwear down. "But we'll make these next thirty minutes feel like it. Hold tight, baby."

With a shared laugh, the two of us start to sink into one another again, our bodies promising one another an eternity that our souls are eager to live up to.