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“I figured you might be craving something sweet.”
“I haven’t really had any cravings, but now that you’ve brought these, I’ll probably be craving them for the rest of my pregnancy.” She couldn’t help but smile at him. “Thanks for bringing this over.”
“No problem. It’s my pleasure.” Every time he smiled at her, Bella felt butterflies in his stomach. He still had the power to make her heart melt. Bringing her peanut butter cups was such a sweet gesture. It was crazy how Heath knew her inside and out—all of her little quirks and favorites and weaknesses. She wondered if Heath knew that he was her number one soft spot. Did he have any idea how firmly he was entrenched in her soul?
“Hey. Just to let you know, I told my folks about the baby the other day. And last night I showed them the ultrasound photo you gave me.”
Bella’s pulse began to race. She hoped Jude and Penelope didn’t think poorly of her for getting pregnant. She knew how much they loved and adored their son. If things had been different between her and Heath, they might have become her in-laws. The very thought of it made her want to cry with disappointment.
“W-what did they say?” she asked, trying to tamp down her nerves.
“They said that they can’t wait to meet our little one. So you can stop worrying, Bella. My parents weren’t going to judge us.”
Her shoulders sagged with relief. “Jude and Penelope are great,” she raved. “My father’s reaction wasn’t the most positive, so I was bracing for another blistering attack. Not that I thought your parents would do that.”
“Your dad loves you. He probably regrets his reaction.”
A sudden fear gripped Bella. She’d totally forgotten that her father was doing inventory in the back room. She could hear him moving around at this very moment.
“Heath, I’ve been meaning to tell you something about my father. I probably should have mentioned it before, but—”
“Donahue!” a voice barked from behind them. Bella cringed and shut her eyes tightly. Her father had come out of the back room and seen Heath.
Please Lord, just let the floor swallow me up. I don’t want to be here right now.
Heath turned around just in time to come face-to-face with Jimmy. In the past, they had been the best of friends. Her father had always given Heath the official stamp of approval. He had held him in high esteem due to his military service and coming from the Donahue clan. Penelope and Jude Donahue were well-respected in Pelican Bay, as were their offspring.
“Jimmy,” Heath said with a nod. “I was hoping to see you today.”
Jimmy let out a snort. “Really? I’m not sure you want to hear what I have to say to you, Heath Donahue.”
“Daddy, please. Not here. Not now,” Bella pleaded. “Somebody could walk in and overhear.”
Her father sent her a glare. “What makes you think I care about that?”
“I care!” Bella said in a mortified tone.
“Whatever you have to say to me, I’ll take it on the chin. I’d like to say a few things to you as well,” Heath said, his expression calm. Bella didn’t know how he could stay so cool and collected under the weight of her father’s steely gaze and bellowing voice.
“I’d love to know what you have to say to me,” Jimmy said, his face blotchy and reddened. “For the life of me I simply cannot imagine.” He folded his arms across his burly chest. In Bella’s opinion he resembled a volcano about to erupt. One wrong word from Heath’s lips and her father would explode.
“First of all, I’d like you to know I still love your daughter. I never stopped. And even though the circumstances aren’t ideal, I am happy and excited about the baby. I’m hoping Bella will change her mind about my marriage proposal and—”
Jimmy’s jaw dropped. His gaze narrowed as he stared down Heath. “Marriage proposal? What marriage proposal?”
Bella blushed and bowed her head. She could feel two pair of eyes trained on her. She hadn’t mentioned a word about Heath’s proposal to her father and she’d sworn her three sisters to secrecy.
“Bella?” her father asked, his voice unusually subdued considering the circumstances.
She swung her gaze up and met the surprise and confusion in both of their eyes.
“Heath proposed?” her father asked.
“You didn’t tell him?” Heath asked, hurt visible in his expression.
Bella shook her head. “Yes. Heath proposed, daddy. Once he found out I was pregnant he asked me to marry him. For the baby.”
“And you said no?” Jimmy asked.
