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“No.” Riva’s smile was eerily calm.
Jeremy stood beside me. “Then what is it?”
Riva’s smile grew and grew until it threatened to split her face apart. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” I asked, confused. “But our unprotected sex session wasn’t long ago. How do they know already?”
“I’m actually four weeks along, so they think a condom might have broken.”
With his mouth agape, Jeremy shook his head. “I never felt one break.
“Then it might have been a microtear. Apparently, it can be a manufacturer issue.” An anxious frown creased Riva’s brow, and she wrung her hands together. “You’re going to be a daddy, Jeremy.”
“What the bloody hell?” Jeremy fell back into his seat. Then he began to cry. And laugh. And mumble into his beard. “A daddy. Fuck me, a daddy.” He leaped up and engulfed a relieved Riva in his arms.
Tearing up myself, I tentatively reached my hand out toward Riva’s belly. “I want to be a mommy too.”
“You will be. This baby will have a daddy and two mummies. It’ll be the luckiest baby in the world.”
I faltered. “You want me to be its mom too?”
“You’re my girlfriend, are you not?” Riva asked with a sigh.
“Y-yes.”
“Then, of course, you’ll be its mother as well.” She pulled me into a kiss.
Jeremy wrapped his arms around the both of us and kissed our heads. “Come on, then. Let’s go and tell the others the good news.”
“Let me try to wrap my head around this. One, Riva is pregnant. Two, you want to move north onto a large country property. Three, Sienna is going to quit Estate Stylesand help you manage Cruz’s band. Four, you want us all to live on this country property together. Is that everything?” Augustus ticked these things off on his fingers like a checklist.
“That’s everything,” Jeremy said with a nod.“Think about it, mate. No more paparazzi, complete privacy to live our lives in this unique way without prying eyes.”
“Paparazzi are everywhere and always will be, as are prying eyes. My brother and I are public figures and will always attract a high level of scrutiny. What makes you think hiding from the world will lessen its impact?”
I stopped wandering around the sitting room we had gathered in, placed my hand on the grand piano behind me, and then faced Augustus. “It’s not about hiding. It’s about taking back control of our lives.Mylife, in particular, I’ll admit. I think this would be good for all of us.”
“I agree.” Cruz absently strummed the guitar he had sitting on his knee. “I don’t need to live in London, and neither do you, little brother. I can’t speak for Ruben, but I know country life would do our cousin a world of good. The Marines have affected him more than he lets on—”
“Cruz,” Jeremy cut in with a frown.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed, Jer.” He glanced at Riva and Jeremy for a moment before turning back to Augustus. “In the same breath, I’ve seen what a turnaround meeting Sienna and Riva has had on him, and now he’s got a child on the way. Imagine the negative impact the London press will have on that little one. Riva’s baby and our women ought to be our first priority.”
As one, Jeremy and Riva’s hands covered Riva’s stomach. I moved to where they were sitting with Riva on Jeremy’s lap, and my hand joined theirs. With a smile, she clung to us both. “A peaceful country upbringing is the best way to raise a child,” Riva said.
“Well, yes, all right, you all make good points.” Augustus waved his hand at us. “But it can’t be Yorkshire. It’s simply too far away. Riva has a new permanent job with Estate Styles, and Ruben starts at Oxford soon as well as being transferred to Rawlins Industries in London, and I also have regular business in the capital. So we need someplace close that has an easy commute.”
“We’re open to suggestions,” Ruben piped up.
“I know the perfect place. I have an estate in Gloucestershire that would suit all our needs perfectly. I hardly use it as it is, but I’m more than happy to turn it into a permanent residence. The bedrooms are numerous and large with their own en suites. There are various sitting and reception rooms, formal gardens, and a large swathe of land perfect for farming ventures. We even have our own private woodland, so I could help you get hunting permits and the like, Jeremy.”
“Oh my God, it sounds like heaven,” I gushed. “Can we do this? Pretty please?”
I wasn’t above begging, and that’s exactly what I did. In fact, I even kneeled in front of Augustus and took his hands in mine, all the while knowing I would never live this down.
He pulled me back up. “Stop throwing yourself at my feet, hotness. Of course, we can. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m rather looking forward to making a home with you and Ruben.” He waved his hand to the others. “And the rest of you sods, of course.”
Cruz smirked. “Roomies once again, little brother, hmm? Who would have thought?”
