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“I guess you could give birth here. Women used to do it all the time.”
“And most women died in childbirth,” I countered. “That’s too risky.”
“Then I don’t know what the answer is. I could call a guy to prepare fake documents for you. That might be the only way around it.”
“Yeah…” I didn’t know what to name the baby. But I wanted them to have my last name. Even if I registered under a different name, Cato might scan the birth records. I also felt bad giving the baby my last name when they should have Cato’s. It seemed like I was denying my baby their birthright.
“We’ve got several months before we have to worry about that.” He finished his lunch and left the dishes in the sink. “I’m going to take a nap. Got a headache.”
“Alright.” I finished my lunch then washed the dishes in the sink. Then I washed the laundry before I carried it outside. It was supposed to rain in the next few days, so I knew I needed to do all the laundry now—unless we wanted our clothes to smell like rainwater.
I hung up Landon’s shirts and jeans then moved on to my clothing. I also had all our towels to get through. One by one, I hung them up, clipping them into place so the sunlight and breeze could dry them out.
Just when I was about to step back from the last towel, I saw the silhouette of a large man through it. With muscular shoulders, a foot of extra height on top of mine, and long legs, his outlined reminded me of Cato’s. I’d thought the same thing before when I saw Landon, but then I remembered my brother was inside the house.
I stood motionless as I stared at the towel, stared at how still the man was. He didn’t make a move or a sound.
My heart started to race, both with fear and painful relief. If Cato was on the other side, it would probably be bad news for me. But I couldn’t help but be excited that I was about to step into his arms and feel at home again. My eyes watered slightly, but I didn’t let any tears fall. Then the baby started to kick for the very first time.
My hand moved over my stomach and I felt it, the powerful kicks that my baby made. It was the first time I’d felt so much life in my stomach, so much excitement from the little child growing in me. Maybe my spiked heartrate excited them. Or maybe they knew their father was just inches away from me.
He pulled back the towel and stepped forward.
It was him.
In dark jeans, boots, and a long-sleeved shirt, he was the same powerful man I remembered. Muscular, strong, and brutish, he was threatening in every way—except the softness in his eyes.
The softness I used to see every single day.
His eyes shifted back and forth slightly as he looked at me, like he was memorizing the way I looked. His gaze slowly drifted to my stomach and where my hand rested, looking at how much my stomach had grown. He stared for a long time before he lifted his gaze again.
Silenced by his look, I didn’t speak. After all this time apart, I didn’t know what to say. His presence didn’t seem to be hostile, but without an introduction, I really didn’t know. “This is the first time I’ve ever felt the baby kick.” I grabbed his hand, feeling the hot thrill down my spine, and placed it over my stomach.
His eyes focused on my tummy, and when a soft smile spread across his lips, I knew he could feel it. He closed his eyes to focus on the movement even more. Then he placed his other hand against my belly and enjoyed it. “Beautiful.” His eyes lifted to mine, and he sighed quietly under his breath. He must have noticed the thin film of moisture in my eyes because his expression softened even more. “Baby, come home.” His hands moved over my belly to my waist as he stepped closer to me. “This isn’t where you two belong.”
I didn’t want to put up a fight at all. I didn’t want to fight for my rights or explain why I left in the first place. All I wanted was this man. I didn’t understand just how deeply I’d missed him until I felt him again. “I have one condition.”
He pressed his forehead to mine and closed his eyes. “Alright.”
“You have to sleep with me every night. Because I can’t go another night without you.” I put my heart out there to be crushed, giving away my most private desires. I didn’t just want this man physically, I wanted all of him. I wanted him in a way I’d never had him before.
