“That’s my baby in there,” he breathed. Her eyes filled immediately.
“Oh no,” she whispered weakly. “I’m gonna cry again.”
A helpless laugh escaped him as he pulled her against his chest. “Yeah,” he murmured softly into her hair. “I know, baby girl.”
Jonnas had never imagined that watching a woman cry because he touched her stomach would become one of the most important moments of his life. But standing in his bedroom with Dani wrapped in his shirt while tears filled her eyes at the thought of their baby—yeah, that one hit deep.
“Oh no,” she whispered again, laughing shakily through the tears. “I’m emotional just because you touched me.”
“You’re emotional because you’re carrying our kid and finally letting somebody share the weight with you,” he insisted. Jonnas immediately pulled her fully against his chest before she could apologize again. Because he’d already noticed the pattern. The second she felt vulnerable, she tried to make herself smaller, and he wasn’t letting that happen anymore.
“You know what I need from you?” he murmured into her hair.
“For me to stop crying,” she grumbled.
He chuckled. “No more apologizing every time you feel something.”
Dani let out a weak laugh. “That sounds unrealistic.”
“I’m serious,” he said.
“I know.” Her arms tightened around his waist. “That’s the problem.” Warmth spread heavily through his chest because God, he loved her honesty. Even when it came wrapped in nerves and fear and too many emotions all at once.
Jonnas tipped her chin up gently until she looked at him again. “You trust me?” The question settled between them quietly. Dani didn’t answer right away, not because she hesitated, but because she was taking it seriously.
Finally, she nodded. “Yes.” The simple sincerity in her voice nearly knocked the air out of him.
Jonnas brushed his thumb softly beneath her eye, wiping her tears from her face. “Then trust me when I tell you that needing comfort doesn’t make you weak.”
Emotion flickered across her face again immediately. “Jonnas—” she breathed.
“No.” His voice gentled further. “Listen to me, baby girl. You’ve spent your whole life surviving,” he continued quietly. “You’ve been working your ass off to take care of yourself and handling everything alone.” His gaze locked onto hers. “Just let me help you, Dani. Let me take some of the weight off your shoulders.”
A tear slipped down her cheek again, and Dani laughed weakly. “You really need to stop saying devastating things before breakfast.” He dipped his head to gently kiss her lips.
“What was that for?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I just like hearing you laugh.” Jonnas kissed her forehead before stepping back slightly. “Come on, let’s get you some breakfast before you pass out from nausea and stubbornness.”
Dani narrowed her eyes. “You think I’m stubborn?”
“I think you’d try surviving on crackers and spite if left unsupervised.” That startled a real laugh out of her. Jonnas took her hand and led her downstairs barefoot, unable to stop himself from glancing back at her every few seconds. His shirt hung off one of her shoulders, her hair was messy, and she still looked at him sometimes like she couldn’t quite believe he was real. That part gutted him every damn time.
By the time they reached the kitchen, Dani looked calmer. Jonnas guided her toward one of the stools at the island. “Sit.”
“You really enjoy ordering me around,” she grumbled.
“You’re really good at doing as I ask,” he said. Her entire face flushed instantly. Every reaction she gave him only made him more certain about this connection between them, not because she obeyed automatically, but because she relaxed when somebody steady took control. There was a big difference.
Jonnas moved around the kitchen gathering ingredients while Dani watched him openly now. “You’re staring again,” he murmured.
“You make pancakes from scratch?” she asked.
“I’m sorry your standards for men are so low,” he teased. “But if they made you pancakes from a box, then they weren’t good enough for you, baby girl.” She snorted softly.
Jonnas cracked eggs into a bowl before glancing back at her again. Dani had gone quiet. “What’s going on in that head?” he asked softly.
She traced her fingers along the countertop slowly. “I keep waiting for this to stop feeling real.” His chest tightened instantly. Jonnas set the bowl down before crossing back toward her, and when he stepped between her knees, Dani looked up automatically.
