The shelf above the clothes is calling for my attention, too—especially the wooden box perched on the edge—but I can’t reach it without something to stand on. Maybe his baby pictures are in there. God, he was probably such a cute baby.
I scoot over to the closet, awkwardly moving around my baby belly as I separate our shoes and form them into neat little rows and separated by functionality.
There.
That makes me feel better. And it looks better, too. Now for the bag. The logo on it looks familiar...like the one where we bought my maternity clothes. My belly touches my legs as I lean forward and drag it closer.
I was right. It’s from the same store. Now that’s weird. I thought we’d put away everything we’d bought from there. Oh, well. No time like the present. I reach inside the bag and freeze, my heart melting into a pile of mush as I lift out four baby onesies that he must have bought in secret. How does he make me fall for him time and time again?
“Daddy’s Little Princess,” I whisper out loud. “AndDaddy’s Handsome Man. Oh, Connor...”
Two of each.
Now I almost understand his obsession with being called Daddy.Thank you, Daddyis what I’d said when he wrapped his giant jacket around me when we met.Who am I to these babies?he’d said on our wedding night.
He just...he just wants to be a daddy. A family man.
And as if I needed any more signs that this was meant to be, a sensation swirls deep within my stomach. Almost like...little pops of popcorn? Or like something’s swimming inside me.
Or someone.
Two of them.
“Oh, God.” Dropping the onesies, I press a shaky hand to myself. “Connor!” I’d thought I’d felt them before...possibly. But there’s no denying what this is.
He must mistake the wonder in my voice for panic, because he books it to our room and hovers over me, hands roaming my body. “What’s wrong?”
Looking up at him a little starry-eyed, I tell him. “The babies. I think I just felt them move.”
“You did? Shit, Rosanna.” He’s a little breathless, too, as his big palms search for any movement. “I can’t...I don’t feel anything. Are they still moving?”
I hold still for long seconds to concentrate. “No, I think they stopped.” At his crestfallen expression, I kiss his downturned lips. “Don’t worry, Daddy. You’ll be able to feel them soon enough. With the two of them in there, it’s bound to get pretty tight soon.”
“Daddy?” The word is hot against my neck. “Finally, you’re getting my name right.”
Speaking of names... I pull back and hold up an incriminating onesie, arching an eyebrow. “You picked these out after that first appointment, didn’t you?”
Red starts at his ears and slowly crawls over his cheeks as the evidence of his sneakiness is displayed. “You caught me. I couldn’t help myself.”
This sexy beast with his freaking soft heart deserves a prize. “Oh, Connor...I love you. Now help me to the bed.”
“The bed? Do you want me to lay down with you for a nap? I was just about to season the chicken, but it can wait.”
I swear, men can be so dense sometimes. Grabbing his hand, I inspect it. “This is clean, right? No raw chicken on it?”
“What?” he laughs. “No, kitten. I’ve only touched the sweet potatoes.”
“Good.” I open my mouth and suck a thick finger inside. Laughter falling away, he lets out a hissedfuck.Coming off with a pop, I lick my lips. “Yes, Connor. Come take a fucking nap with me.”
With a devilish smile, he lifts me into his arms.
Chapter eighteen
Rosanna
A few months later
Pregnancycravingsarenojoke. Dr. Lawrence said they should taper off in the last trimester, but I’m just not there yet. The urge to stuff my face is undeniable, so I slowly ease out of bed and cover the light of my phone’s screen as I sneakily lumber out of our room. Connor caught me the first time tonight—or is it early this morning?—and insisted on accompanying me to the kitchen, but he stays asleep now, never hearing my silent footsteps.
