Page 110 of The FBI Agents Who Stole Me

By the time we get to the hospital, I’m pissed.

Elliot drove like a maniac and even put a fake cop light on the top of the car to help with traffic. There was none, and my apartment is only ten minutes from the hospital. Julian kept checking my pulse like I was about to flatline in the passenger seat. And now I’m in a stupid wheelchair and Julian is threatening everyone in the hospital like he owns it. Actually, I think his uncle might. Their name is on the wall.

Marge and Georgie are already in the waiting room when Elliot wheels me past. Marge has a giant container of cookies, and Georgie is holding a cute blanket, pale yellow with little stars.

“Lee, eek. We are so excited for you,” Marge says, standing up fast.

“Yep, you got this, girl,” Georgie adds with a fist pump.

“Tell them that,” I mutter, glaring at my two idiots as we’re pushed toward a room.

Georgie just smiles and hands the blanket and the baked goods to Julian. “Cookies for after.”

“Unless she kills you both. Then there will be more for us,” Marge says with a laugh.

We wave them off and head to our room.

I put on the hospital gown and get ready. Julian starts laying everything out for the baby on the counters and takes over the whiteboard.

Elliot hasn’t sat down. He’s pacing the small space between the bed and the door.

“Elliot,” I say between breaths. “You’re freaking me out more than the contractions.”

He stops. Runs a hand over his face. “I don’t like this.”

“Yeah, well, you liked it when you were all ‘take my baby batter, Lee. I want you knocked up.’”

Elliot turns and belts out a laugh and comes to my side.

“Baby batter never came out of my mouth,” he says and leans to kiss the top of my hair. “God, I love you. I don’t want you to hurt, Lee.”

Julian grabs a chair and sits at my side. His thumb strokes over my knuckles, steady and warm. He’s the calm one right now, but I can feel how tight he’s holding on.

Another contraction hits. I let out a string of curses just as the nurse sticks her head in and tells me I’m doing great. I tell her she’s a liar with my eyes.

When it lets up, Julian glances at Elliot. Something silent passes between them. Elliot nods once, jaw tight, and reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket.

My brain is foggy, so it takes me a second to register what he’s holding.

A small black box.

Julian shifts closer to the bed, still holding my hand. His voice is quieter than usual.

“We had a whole plan,” he says, his eyes glassy. “But then our baby decided she was going to come here today.”

Julian opens the box.

The ruby is huge. It's a bright-red oval cut, my favorite color, on a simple gold band.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

“We can’t wait anymore,” Elliot says. His voice is rough, like he’s been holding it in. “You’re about to have our baby. We don’t want to go another second without you knowing you’re it for us. Both of us.”

Julian’s thumb keeps stroking my knuckles. “Marry us, Lee.”

I stare at the ring. Then at them. Elliot looks like he might actually pass out waiting for my answer. Julian looks steady, but his eyes are doing that dark, devastating thing that always makes me wet.

Another contraction starts building. I can feel it coming.