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Knowing exactly how my mother was going to react to finding out she was going to be a grandmother, I couldn’t stop from grinning. “Whatever you want, love. Just tell me who you want told, and I’ll make it happen.”
She jumped to her knees and turned to face me. “We should do it in a cute way. When Violet told her parents she was pregnant, she got them presents. Uncle Shane’s read, “My grandpa rocks harder than yours” or something like that. But I think we should do something that is inclusive to both your parents and mine. Maybe we could have dinner together, and I can get cupcakes with chocolate nameplates on them. Ours can say Mommy and Daddy, and theirs can say grandmother-to-be…” Her nose scrunched up. “Or is that too cheesy? Why are you smiling at me like that?”
I cupped the back of her head and pulled her in for a gentle kiss. “Because you are, without a doubt, the most amazing, most beautiful woman in the world.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “You own my heart, Arella. I never knew happiness like this existed until you became mine.”
“Jordan,” she breathed, tears filling her eyes. “Don’t make me cry.”
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the little ring box, opened it, and held it out to her. I’d wanted to do this in a more romantic way, but I didn’t think I could wait another second to ask her and put that ring on her finger. “When I asked your father to give me his blessing earlier today, I promised him I would never make you cry again. Please don’t make me break that promise, love.”
She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “You…you really asked for his blessing?”
“I told you I would,” I reminded her.
“Yeah, but…” Dropping her hand, she shook her head, her eyes going to the oval diamond engagement ring glittering brightly in the light. I’d bought the ring while I was in Italy the last time and kept it in my pocket to remind myself why I was working so hard to get back to Arella. “He actually gave you his blessing?”
“He didn’t want to at first,” I told her honestly. “But then he said that I was part of your dreams and he couldn’t stand in the way of making them come true.”
“Oh God,” she sobbed. “This is real?”
“Baby, please don’t cry.” I could feel the pressure returning to my chest, making it hard to breathe again. “Do you not want to marry me? I-if you want to wait, we can.”
“No, no, no,” she whimpered, shaking her head and causing her tears to drip onto the bed.
My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes. “No, you don’t want to wait? Or no, you don’t want to…” I couldn’t even speak the words. They felt like razor blades in my throat, and with each inhale, they shredded something vital.
Suddenly, she was back in my lap, her legs straddling my hips as she cupped each side of my face in her soft hands. “Jordan, look at me.”
I blinked back the wetness from my eyes so I could see her beautiful face. Her own tears hadn’t dried yet, but she was smiling. That had to be a good sign.
Please, fuck, p
lease let it be a good sign.
“I love you so much it hurts,” she murmured softly. “Of course I’ll marry you. And no, I really don’t want to wait. I want to get married straightaway. Like, before I develop a baby bump. I don’t want to look fat in my wedding dress.”
The relief of having the weight disappear off my chest was so intense that I saw spots for a moment. Finally able to draw a deep enough breath, I crushed my mouth against hers in a kiss that branded us both.
Twenty-Five
Arella
I figured telling our parents about the upcoming wedding and our pregnancy news all at the same time was the best. That way, no one’s feelings would be hurt if we told one set of parentals before the other.
I had Elliot set up a private room at one of my favorite restaurants and then went in to speak to the chef personally to tell him what I wanted to do to surprise the grandparents. It didn’t take more than a few bats of my lashes to talk him into doing a special dessert for my little bitty dinner party. That probably wasn’t the only reason, as I suspected my doting fiancé had made a call beforehand to grease the man’s palms in order to get me what I wanted, but I was going to pretend it was my own doing.
Afterward, I rushed home so I could get ready for our big surprise dinner. Jordan was taking a meeting with a team of producers from a different studio, and I’d already given Elliot the rest of the day off, so it was only me in the back of the SUV on the way home.
My bodyguard pulled into the garage and drove straight for my usual parking place. I was so excited about dinner that I didn’t even think about his rule that I stay in the vehicle until he made sure the surrounding area was safe and he opened the door for me. Humming to myself, I stepped out into the garage and took two steps toward the elevator.
That was as far as I got before a hand clamped over my mouth from behind and I was jerked back against someone. I screamed into the person’s palm, realizing from the size of it that it was a man’s.
“Release her,” I heard Samuel command.
I was suddenly turned so that I was facing Samuel, and I felt something sharp touch my stomach. A sudden sting and then the feel of blood dripping from the wound on my abdomen made me scream into the palm again, and I looked at my bodyguard with overwhelming fear in my eyes, silently pleading with him to help me. Whoever had grabbed me had a very deadly knife from the feel of it, and he was holding it right against my stomach.
Oh God, please don’t let anything happen to my little nugget.
Samuel had a gun pointed at the person holding me, his hands steady as he kept it trained several inches above my head. I hadn’t even realized he carried a gun. They scared me, but at that moment, I was glad he had it. “Release her,” he barked again, his voice never wavering as he took a step closer.
