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“Okay, but I think you’re going to get an argument about that when you leave the bathroom. If I’m correct, I think the women were sending Dean out to get one.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“Hey, a man in love can’t say no. I’m sure he did what Tessa asked.”
Zoey leaned forward and put her head on Bennett’s chest. “Any way you can sneak me out of here before he gets back?”
There was a knock on the bathroom door. “How are you doing in there, Zoey?” Lena asked.
“She’s okay,” Bennett answered.
“Dean should be back in five minutes. Then we’ll know for sure.”
Zoey let out a soft sigh. “Yippee.”
Bennett laughed softly. “You’re surrounded by people who love you. Honestly, is there a better place to get the results?”
He was right. For so long she’d hidden herself away, too afraid to share with her brothers. It was time to stop. Peeing on a stick and waving it in the air may be a bigger step than I’m ready for.
“How about we get out of here before your entire family is standing at the door?”
Zoey nodded, her head still planted on him.
She heard Bennett open the door and only then did she stand up straight. “I love you, Bennett Stone.”
He kissed her forehead. “Good thing, because I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t.”
Bennett waited at the dining room table while the women were all in the other room reading the directions. Dean had no idea what to get, so he’d returned with five different pregnancy tests. Logan was a doctor, but no one wanted to hear a word from him. They shut him out just like the rest of the men.
Bennett only had a few minutes to talk to Brice with an update on recruitment. One thing was most definitely true: once a Marine, always a Marine. He had a list of trusted men ready to act whenever they were needed. First, they needed to devise a firm plan. This mission was going to be complex because they were going to need inside help. Going in and removing the corrupt government without innocent people being affected was going to take time. We get one shot at it, so we better make it count.
Alex, sitting across from him, had an odd look on his face. It was as though he had something on his mind that was troubling him. Bennett knew it had nothing to do with what the ladies were doing in the other room. Brice confirmed he hadn’t told anyone in the family. Was it possible Alex had stumbled across something in his own research?
Alex was one brother Brice would have to provide an explanation to eventually. We don’t need him getting in our way. So maybe it’s time we think about bringing Alex in. One thing he understood; it was easier to control a situation when you knew who the players were. A loose cannon like Alex was a liability no one could afford.
The ladies in the other room were all quiet. He wasn’t sure if that was good or not. When they returned to the dining room, Bennett got up and walked over to Zoey. She was holding a white plastic strip that held the results.
She handed it to him. It was the first time he’d ever read one of those, but he couldn’t mistake what he saw. A bold plus sign was in the center. His face lit up.
“We’re pregnant,” Zoey said.
The room erupted in shouts of joy. Bennett didn’t care what they were saying. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. The room only got louder. He wanted to keep her in his arms longer, but they were all pulling at her to hug her as well.
Eventually Bennett let go and stepped back. Zoey never looked more beautiful than she did at that very moment. It wasn’t just the news about the baby, she really was happy, and it showed. She looks as though she is at peace, connected. She has her family back.
Brice came up and put a hand on Bennett’s shoulder. “It’s probably overdue, but welcome to the family.”
Bennett watched Zoey laughing with the other women and talking about stuff he didn’t understand. Two years ago he took a job protecting this family. He’d done his job, kept them safe. Now he was part of them, and his commitment to protect them was permanent.
His heart, though, was held by one very special, very treasured woman. He hadn’t worked through all his demons. She hadn’t confessed all her medical concerns. They hadn’t discussed where they would live when they were married. But it didn’t matter. They had time, they had their music, they had each other—a passion and yearning he never knew possible—and soon their own child to adore and spoil with unconditional love. In other words, they had it all.
The End
