“So the next one is due around sixth of Jan?” She nods. “Let’s use twenty-eight days as it’s easier. Ovulation would be day fourteen, which is the nineteenth of January. We’ll make it the Saturday before so we can hit the whole fertility window. So… sixteenth of January it is.” I type it in and look up at her.
“Is what?”
“Our wedding day.”
She stares at me. “You mean next month?”
“Yeah. Unless you want to wait until the year after?” I smile. “I thought you wanted a baby as soon as possible? This way, you’ll be fertile practically the whole week after we get married. With luck and a following wind, you’ll find out you’re pregnant at the beginning of Feb.”
Her mouth opens again, and I can see the realization sinking in like raisins into cake batter. Slowly, her lips curve up, and she gives a beautiful smile. “The beginning of February,” she whispers.
“Yeah. I mean, I know it’s generally a one in three chance, but if we’re lucky you could be giving birth around…” I look at the app. “The middle of October.”
That makes her laugh. “This year?” she says. “I could have a baby this year?”
“Yeah.” I can’t help but smile at the sheer happiness on her face. “You like that idea?”
She nods. “I still can’t quite believe it.”
“It’s a lot easier than IVF. A lot more likely to work. And a lot more fun.”
She ignores the last part. “How do you know about IVF and dates and stuff?”
“You said you wanted a baby. So I did my research. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it properly. If there’s a way of increasing your chances of getting pregnant, I’m going to makesure we do it.” I skim my gaze down her, taking in the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the flare of her hips. “The thought of doing my best to get you pregnant is kinda hot.”
“Oh my God, Mars!”
I chuckle. Then I look at my calendar again. “What are you doing on New Year’s Eve?”
“Um… not much.”
“Okay. We’ll make that our formal engagement party.”
She inhales sharply. “Oh no.”
“Oh yes. Although you need to meet my parents before then.”
“I’ve met your parents, remember?”
“As my fiancée, I mean. But we can officially announce the engagement to the board at the party. I’ll try to keep you out of the press as much as I can, but they’re going to want a photograph of us together.”
“I can’t…”
“It’ll just be small. Think of yourself holding our baby.”
She stops in her tracks and gives me a wry look. Her expression softens, which melts me all over again. Then she blows out a breath and nods.
“That’s my girl.”
“Oh, stop it.” She rubs her nose. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“That’s okay, I’m going to give you some money. Don’t flip out. There are going to be a few events like the engagement party where we’ll have to be seen together, and I want you to feel confident in what you’re wearing. If you need some help, just ask.”
“I think I know what clothes to buy.”
“Don’t glare at me. I meant if you want me to recommend some shops, I can do that.”
“I told you I don’t want your money. I want your father to know I requested that to be in the prenup.”
