Page 59 of The Decoy

Brody lets out a laugh that vibrates against my cheek.

“Eh, who cares,” he smirks, his arm tightening around my waist, pulling me in even closer. “I’m not going to hide how much I love taking care of you.”

I go still against him.

Love. He didn’t say he loved me, but it’s the first time he’s used the word love. Yes, he’s told me he cares about me, has called me his, treats me like I’m his entire world, but he’s never said love in any context.

I shift slightly, lifting my head to look up at him again. He’s looking down at me, his face relaxed.

“Brody…” I whisper, my heart hammering in my chest. “I…”

He reaches up, his fingers brushing away a stray lock of hair from my face. “Yeah?”

“I just,” I say, stumbling over my words.

“You can tell me anything,” he says, brushing his thumb across my lips. “Because I have things to say too, and I really hope it doesn’t scare you away.”

“I’m not scared,” I whisper.

He looks at me, his eyes meeting mine. “I’m falling in love with you, Ellis. I feel like every time I see you, I fall even more.”

A tear slips down my cheek. I don’t even bother wiping it away. I just lean up and press my lips to his.

“I love you too,” I breathe against his mouth. “More than I knew was possible.”

He smiles into the kiss, his hand running down my body, just as a tiny flutter nudges my side.

Brody stops, breaking the kiss.

“Was that? Did you…?”

“Yep, that’s our little guy,” I smile, covering his hand with mine. “He just wants to add his two cents and tell you he loves you too.”

Brody looks down at our joined hands over my stomach, a blinding smile breaking across his face. He keeps his hand there as the baby moves around a bit. And once he stops moving, Brody wraps us up in the blankets, and we eventually fall asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Brody

Ten fingers. Ten tiny, perfect toes. A strong heartbeat. Half a pound of life measuring right on schedule down to the exact millimeter. Twenty weeks. Halfway there.

I glance over and look at Ellis in the passenger seat. She’s staring down at the black and white image of the baby from the ultrasound in her hand. Her other hand is resting low on her curved belly. Even after these appointments, and with the fast-approaching reality of this baby coming, the wonder of it all is still present.

Her bump is round, firm, and a reminder that she will need to make some kind of statement soon.

She’s quiet, but a soft smile plays on her lips.

“You doing okay over there, Princess?” I ask, keeping my hand firm on the wheel as a yellow cab cuts across my front bumper, blaring its horn.

“I’m better than okay,” she murmurs, a smile touching her lips. “He’s getting so big. I know we’ve seen him on the monitor a few times now, but seeing his face so clearly on the 3d render today…seeing his little nose and the way he kept tucking his hands up by his chin…he’s just getting so big.”

“And the doc said everything looks perfect,” I say, pure pride vibrating through my entire body. “Perfect weight, perfect heart, healthy mama. That’s the only thing that matters.”

“He’s so cute, isn’t he?” She turns her head to look at me, smiling. “It’s just so real when I get to see him. I mean, I’ve felt the flutters for a while now, but today makes the countdown feel different somehow.”

“He’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen.” I smile thinking about his little face and movements in the womb. “And yeah, it’s pretty real,” I say simply as I swing my truck off the congested street and down a concrete ramp into a private valet parking garage off Fifth Avenue.

I pull into a wide stall near the elevator, shutting off the engine. But I don’t make a move to open my door yet.