I don’t care if the baby isn’t mine—I’ll love him or her regardless.
My eyes trail over Danielle’s stomach, and her fingers that lay protectively over it.
This is her first experience of being a mother. I’ll be here every step of the way, but I just want to know whether it’s my first experience as a daddy.
Danielle stirs, and her sleepy gaze falls on me as she smiles. She’s so fucking cute with her excitement at seeing me first thing in the morning, her hands reaching out for me like she needs me.
I get it. I need her too.
“Hey,” Danielle whispers as I kiss her mouth, dotting kisses down to her bare stomach as she giggles. “Are you okay?”
I can’t lie to her.
If anything, we need to be honest with each other, right? No bullshit.
“I hope you’re not mad with me,” I begin, looking up at her. Her expression doesn’t change as she cocks her head to the side. “But I’ve been looking into DNA testing.”
Danielle blinks, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand. “Why would I be mad with you?” she asks softly, reaching out to stroke my cheek.
I turn my face into her hand, inhaling her sweet scent as I sigh. “Because it’s your body. Your baby, regardless of anything else.”
Danielle nods. “And you’re my husband. The man I love. Of course, this is important to you, Blake. I get it.”
Danielle drags herself up to a sitting position, her eyes meeting mine.
She still takes my breath away.
How did I ever exist without her?
“Is it something that can be done while I’m pregnant, or do we wait until after the baby is born?”
My heart swells with love for this woman, for wanting to give me answers regardless of anything else.
I explain the process of non-invasive testing to her, and she sucks on her bottom lip, her eyes glazing over.
My breath catches in my throat as she nods, blinking her attention back to me.
“Honestly, Blake, I think this is a great idea. I don’t want either of us worrying about paternity for nine months.”
“No,” I agree, kissing her hands. “But I meant what I said, you know I’ll love your baby regardless.”
Tears fill her eyes as I drag her into my arms, burying my head in her coconut-scented shampoo.
I mean it. Whatever the outcome, I’m not going anywhere.
But if this baby is Issac’s, I may well fucking kill him.
I just don’t need to tell Danielle that.
“I love you so much. If someone would’ve told me that I'd be married to you and expecting a baby a year ago, I would have laughed at them. Let alone not knowing who the father of my baby is.” Danielle moves back, shame filling her features.
I stay silent because I can’t reassure her more than I already have. But as a tear rolls down her cheek, I rest my forehead on hers. “Hey, look at me.”
She does, letting out a deep sigh.
“Let me arrange the test. Whatever the result, we’ll feel better. Then we can focus on things like the nursery and what stroller you want.”
Danielle nods, pulling me into her arms as she snuggles into my chest. “God, I love you.” Her words are muffled, but I hear them as they vibrate through my chest, going straight to my heart.
