“You’ve only known about the baby for a few hours. Cut yourself some slack. You are here. By my side. It’s all I need.” She wasn’t lying to appease him.
“You’ll never regret giving me a second chance. That, at least, is something I am confident in.”
“Any luck on finding us a place to live? My due date is February 19th. So, we have a few months, but I would like some time to decorate the baby’s room.”
“Well, I hope you’ll feel up to decorating more than just the one room, babe. My dad, brother, and I have a job we’d like to hire Triskelion for.”
“Oh, really, Bran, that’s great. We don’t want you guys to hire us because you feel you have to, though. We need to be the right fit, and we understand business. You would not hurt our feelings.”
Bran grinned at her as they pulled up to the curb outside the doctor's office. “I’d say no one could fit this particular job better. We bought the building next to Triskelion. The four-story one.”
“You...” And that’s all Raven’s brain had left. She’d known Bran’s family was next level, but this...
As they walked into the clinic, he explained their informal plans for each floor... the elevator, Saoirse’s part in the sale, Timothy’s recruitment... the promised bonus for finishing before Baby O was born.
“Pat suggested your sisters stay in the guest rooms until they decide where to live. They’ll have en suite bathrooms, and the ground floor will have a small communal kitchen.” Bran stopped and got his phone out of his pocket. “Damn it, I forgot to remind Patrick to ask Miss Kennedy to look for a nice apartment for your sisters close to work.”
Still having trouble processing so many life-changing events at once, Raven snapped to attention at the mention of anapartment. She placed her hand over his screen. “No, Bran. My sisters won’t thank you for the interference.”
“But, Rave, you can’t think I’d want them to stay there.”
“I love that you love them, but what they do and when is their choice. I will talk to them later about it. Come on,” she tugged him forward as he reluctantly put his phone away, “let’s take a look at our baby.”
Bran still lookedshell-shocked as they walked back into Triskelion. Her sisters were bent over their large design table, swatches of paint, fabrics, and sketches laid out before a middle-aged woman, who smiled brightly when they entered the shop.
“Oh, my gracious, your sister, I’d guess.”
They all laughed. Raven and Bran walked over and introduced themselves. Bran was all charm, but she could tell he was still having some internal meltdown.
“I’m so glad I got to meet you today, Mrs. Baker. Please excuse Mr. O’Faolain and me while we pop upstairs for a... bite to eat.” Both River and Rowan looked at her questioningly but waved her away.
“Oh, Raven, when you’re ready, we’d love to hear about your earlier appointment.”
Raven knew they were dying to hear if they were getting a niece or nephew.
Once the flat’s door was closed behind them, she told Bran to sit down. She grabbed two room-temperature bottles of water and sat next to him.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Bran. How can we help each other if we don’t confide?”
He took a sip of water and screwed the cap back on before taking her hand and kissing the back. “A son, Raven. My God, we’re having a son. I... I’m trying to... picture him.” He swallowed, clearly emotional.
“My thoughts are all over the place, babe. I have this irrational need to be clingy like you might change your mind and not want me anymore. I know nothing about pregnancy, so I have to start researching. I’m now frantic to get the fucking building renovated. We need a home before our child arrives. Our son, Rave. You’ve given me the biggest gift.” He finally managed a small smile, “Did I sufficiently confide?”
“You are sufficient in every way. I love you, and you know what? You and I could find a cute little apartment now. Just because it wouldn’t be a forever home doesn’t mean I couldn’t make a lovely space for the baby. It would relieve the stress of you feeling like the monster next door has to be done— which is a gigantically tall order.”
“Our son isnotcoming home from the hospital to a... rental. He would think I wasn’t capable of providing for him and his mother. Not happening. Between Dad and Pat and I, we’ll figure out a way.” He smiled, stretching out his long frame and pulling her chair closer to kiss her neck. Tingles shot down her back and around her belly. Mmm.
“You were right. Talking about my fears made me remember something— I don’t fail. You know what else?”
Raven arched her neck further in an invitation. “What?”
“It’s 4 o’clock and Friday, which means Triskelion is closed, and we have the whole weekend.”
“Thank God,” she breathed into his ear.
Bran was aboutto pull Raven from her chair into his lap when the door opened, and her sisters waltzed in.
“Shit, did we interrupt?” River’s smirking face was... annoying.
