He drops his head, growling but it quickly turns into a laugh as he looks back up. “How does pizza sound?”
I giggle again. “Pizza sounds lovely.” The pups all bark as if in agreement. Yes, Shane has been handing them little bits of table food every now and then, even though I keep telling him not to. “I think our kids agree as well.”
“Of course, they do. They have good taste.” He ruffles all their heads then stands from the ground. “Let me go turn off the stove and oven, then I have another surprise for you.”
“Is this the little twist you mentioned?”
He grins. “It is.”
He exits the room, returning only five minutes later. “Come, Angel.” He holds out his hand for me to take.
I gladly place mine in his and let him help me up. He takes me to the back patio doors, sliding them open to reveal the most romantic scenery I’ve ever seen. It’s like it was taken straight out from a romance movie.
Rose petals and little lanterns form a path to where a huge four-poster canopy bed, with white drapes at every corner, sits in the back of our yard. I know for a fact this wasn’t here this morning, so I have no idea when Shane had the time to do this.
“I had help while you were with Libby,” he says quietly into my ear, reading my thoughts as the pups all run off with joy toward the new additions to our yard.
“Shane, this is magical.” I gasp when we reach the bed.
There’s a huge white screen a few feet ahead of it and a projector placed before it, ready to play a movie for us. At the foot of the bed, there are trays with every snack I’ve craved during my pregnancy, as well as drinks.
On the floor in front of the bed is a huge doggie bed for the pups to snuggle up together in. As if knowing that’s their spot,they instantly run into it and settle in, playing with the few toys in it for them.
Shane comes behind me, wrapping his arms around my body. “I know our lives are about to change soon, and we won’t have many nights alone anymore. We won’t be able to go on dates whenever we feel like it or do as we wish. And that’s okay, because we’ll have our daughter, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.” He kisses my neck, then my shoulder.
“I just… I wanted to give you this. A night all about you. I know how hard this pregnancy has been on you, and I just want you to know how much I appreciate you going through all of this for us. How much it all means to me. How muchyoumean to me.” He kisses my skin again, emotions lacing his voice as I begin to turn in his arms.
“Shane, I love you for this, but it really wasn’t necessary. I already know all these things,” I tell him softly, my hands resting on his chest.
“But itwasnecessary. You deserve this and so much more, Angel.” He leans in, kissing my forehead as I close my eyes. “There will never come a day where I’ve given you everything you deserve. Because you deserve the world, Aubrey.”
My eyes sting with tears as my heart swells with love. I open my eyes and look up at the man who has changed my life, the man who has stolen my heart, and I pray he never gives it back.
Chapter thirty-three
Shane
Naughty mosquitoes.
We settle in on the bed after I’ve set up a movie on the laptop.The Lake Housebegins to play on the huge white screen, and Aubrey eyes light up with excitement when she notices I’ve put one of her favorite movies on.
“You remembered,” she says with wonder. It was something she mentioned to me when we first started dating.
“I remember everything you say, Angel.” I lean back into the pillows as she rests her head on my chest.
I place my phone beside me since we’re still waiting for the pizza to arrive while she drags a tray filled with every candy imaginable between us and begins to pick at it. Surprisingly, our furry babies aren’t trying to get to the food and instead stay on the floor in their bed. Although when the pizza arrives, that will be another story. She was right when she said I shouldn’t feedthem table food. Now every time they smell something good, they come running and beg.
“You know, this date turned out pretty much like our first.” Aubrey giggles as she munches on her licorice.
“How so?”
“Well, we made food but didn’t eat it. We had wine but didn’t drink it. And instead, we’re having sweets in bed before the actual dinner, which is takeout, like last time,” she points out.
I laugh when I realize how right she is. “I don’t think I’m good at this date thing either.”
“I think our dates are perfect,” she says, lifting her head and smiling at me.
“I think you’re perfect,” I whisper as her eyes stay on me, something like comprehension passing through them. “What are you thinking about, sweetheart?”
