The small package weighed nothing. After untying the bow, he pulled apart the tissue.
Whoa.
He knew the second he saw it. His gaze jumped to the display window, the plus sign filling the small screen.
His heart exploded in his chest, the wave of joy taking him by surprise. His throat squeezed with emotion and tears pricked his eyes.
“We’re having a baby? Ohmygod, we’re having a baby!”
He swept her into his lap, holding her close, and kissing her again and again. Then, he whispered, “I love you, Brit.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
She took the tissue, wiped her eyes. “Your response was perfect.” More tears slid down her cheeks and he swiped them away, kissed her softly.
He broke into a grin. “This is great. Better than great. It’s the best news. I thought you were ending things with me. We’re havin’ a baby, baby.”
She started sob-laughing. He wasn’t sure how to react. Was she crying? Was she laughing? What the hell was happening?
“I thought you’d say, ‘You’repregnant’, but you didn’t. You said, ‘We’rehaving a baby.’”
He stared at her. “Isn’t that what this is?”
“I imagined this going so many different ways. I thought you’d be focused on ‘how did this happen’ or ‘how couldyoulet this happen?’”
“Jesus, that would make me a real shit,” he said.
That made her laugh. “I haven’t been to the doctor because I didn’t want your sister to find out before you did.”
He dropped tender kisses on her lips. “Thank you for telling me first. I love having this secret… just the three of us.”
She started cry-laughing all over again.
After gaining her composure, she said, “I skipped my pill one night, but I’m pretty sure it was the antibiotics. They can mess up the potency of the birth control, but I didn’t know that.”
“That explains the nausea,” he said.
“And why I’ve been so tired.”
“When did you take the test?” he asked.
“Yesterday, after the HR director mentioned the date. I realized I was late, so I stopped for the tests on the way home.” She smiled. “Home.”
“Our home.”
“How do you feel about having this baby?” she asked.
“Excited, surprised, over the moon.” Then, realization broke through his joy. She was adamant aboutnotwanting kids. “How are you doin’ with this? You don’t want children.”
“I told myself I wouldn’t have children because of how Liliana messed up my life, but her leaving turned out to be a blessing. Z’s a wonderful dad. I mean, he taught me to be a trained assassin, so there is that.” She shot him a smile.
Rebel kissed her. “Extra points for being a badass.”
“I’ve had a day alone with my tiny pea baby and I want this child. I would never abandon my child or my family, so I’m already miles ahead of Liliana.”
“You’re gonna make an amazing mom.” He peered into her eyes. “This is the best news.”
She moved off his lap, sat beside him on the sofa. “I want us to work, but I don’t want either of us to feel obligated if things don’t.”
