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"You're only jealous because I spotted her long legs first." He grins. "I like her…in a brotherly way, of course."
"Of course, you do." I roll my eyes. "The parents want to know my intention toward Poppy."
“I’d marry her!”
“Jaxon!” Mom groans. “All because she is pregnant does not mean your brother has to marry her.”
"You're kidding, right? He's in love with her, why wouldn't he marry her?"
Heat creeps up my neck and onto my face as Ryan’s big mouth drops me in it. I wrap an arm around his neck and say, “Why don’t you get married?”
“No way, man. I’m good.” Jaxon grins.
Dad focuses on him, and Ryan twitches. "We need to have words about that," Dad says.
“I’m not talking about my…um…my—”
Dad crosses his arms in front of his chest and grins. “Work?” he offers.
“Yeah! Work.” Ryan grins and nudges into my side. “So, why are you both on at Jaxon over Poppy? I don’t get it. She’s pretty. She obviously cares about Jaxon and his feelings, or she wouldn’t have come back, especially pregnant. That should go a long way toward accepting her at face value.” Ryan pauses. “And as I said before, Jaxon loves her so, I don’t see the problem.”
“Just wait until you have a girl pregnant,” I counter.
“Hell no! Two condoms at a time.” He smirks. “I’m too young for kids.”
Surprised, I laugh. “How the hell do you feel anything with all that—” I catch Mom’s eye “—wrapping?”
“I think I’ve heard enough.” Mom squeezes my arm. “As long as you’re happy, Jaxon, then we are.”
“Oh,” Ryan straightens and winces, “On my way in, Poppy was on her way out.”
“What?” I move to go and find her when Ryan grabs my arm.
“She was upset.” He glances between the three of us, and adds, “Maybe she overheard you talking.”
“Fuck!”
Ignoring Mom’s wince at the ‘F’ word, I move with speed to the front of the house, sighing in relief as I spot my girl relaxing on the porch. Catching my breath, I take a moment to watch her. The peaceful look on her face as she stares off over to the horizon. The way a hand softly strokes back and forth over her baby bump. Something in my chest flutters at the beauty of my woman. She's a clever girl. Having a doctorate and becoming a Professor at a young age is not easy to do, but she did it. Beauty and brains.
“Are you going to watch me all day?” she asks softly.
"I could." I join her, and after only a moment's hesitation, I take her hand into mine. "What did you hear?"
Smiling softly, she says, “Ryan told you?”
"Nothing. He said you might have heard something." I glance away, kissing her palm before I rest it on my thigh. My hand covers hers, but I realize it isn't enough. Giving her a slight tug, she follows my lead and settles on my lap. My arms wrap around her waist, and I'm thrilled when she rests her head on my shoulder. "My parents wanted to make sure you and the baby are what I wanted. I dropped you both on them earlier, and I should have known better. I just didn't want you to leave Lexington if I didn't keep you close."
I continue, “I don’t know what the future holds for either of us, but one thing I am certain of is that I want you and our baby part of mine. Not just the baby Poppy. I had no idea you were pregnant when I went after you the first time, nor did I know when I planned with Ryan to go after you again.” I kiss her forehead. “As long as I’m happy, then my parents’ are. They just wanted to make sure.”
“Ryan likes me,” she comments, and I tense beneath her. “He does, but as your…um—”
“Girlfriend is the word you’re looking for.” My lips curve into a smile against the top of her head. “I’m afraid too, Poppy. I’m afraid of screwing up with you because I don’t really know what I’m doing. I never expected you to show up pregnant, but I find that I’m happy you did.” Playing with the ends of her dark hair, I add, “Tomorrow, we’ll move into the guest accommodation at McKenzie’s until we can find our own place.”
After a long pause, she says, "I don't mind staying here, for now, Jaxon. I don't want to put anyone out."
"I'm selfish. I don't want to share you with anyone—at least not yet." I kiss her on the tip of her nose. "I want you to be completely comfortable, and I should have thought about that before I brought you here."
She frowns and looks away.
