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“I’m gonna have to tell her. And maybe say yes about the baby.” Speed raised his brows at Blake, looking so adorably hopeful and unsure. He took Blake’s breath away.
“Yes!” He nodded jerkily and was crying again as he threw his arms around Speed. “We’re gonna have a baby!” They were whispering and giggling as Speed spun them but Blake had to hit pause for a moment. “We can’t guarantee we’ll have a girl and we won’t know until Kat’s a few months along,” he warned Speed but he waved it off.
“I don’t care! My little girl would live like a real princess but I’d be a mess if I had a son who looked like you or like Henry or Nate’s boys,” Speed said.
“No.” Blake shook his head. “We’ve got enough of Dad’s carbon copies running around between me and my brothers and the grandkids. You’re going to be the father if we’re doing this.”
“Me?” Speed said, just before his eyes rolled and his body went limp in Blake’s arms.
“Kat,” Blake called loudly as he eased Speed onto the floor. “I’m gonna need a hand in here.”
She skidded into the pantry a moment later, champagne glass still in hand. “Good lord! What happened?”
“He’s really excited about being a father,” Blake told her. He was crying again as she sat on the pantry floor next to him.
“Oh! I’m so glad!” She grabbed his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for this family but you’re special, Blake.” She became quiet and uncharacteristically serious. “I know I was a wild mess before I had Henry and settled down. Part of me always knew I’d never be happy unless I found someone really special, like you or Daddy, so I ran after all the wrong men. And I wanted a flashy life because I thought we’d grown up in the most boring place in the world.”
“No way,” Blake said with a teasing grin and a soft shove. “I think we all lost our way for a little while after we left Sparks. Except Nate. He’s always been a douchebag.” They both laughed and Kat was smiling as she brushed the hair away from Speed’s eyes. He was half-sprawled on Blake but he looked comfortable. “Even Lane went through a rough patch before he met Aiden.”
“True. But you never judged me or gave me a moment of grief when I told you I was pregnant. You were just excited about Henry and you promised you’d be there. And you were. You never let us down and you stopped Daddy from strangling me when I told him that Henry’s father was a magician.”
Blake laughed and had to fan his face until he stopped crying. “Dad wasso madthat a magician had the nerve to dump his baby girl. Mom had to call me and Lane because she was scared he was going to fly to Vegas and whoop that loser’s ass.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that mad but you talked him down. You’ve always been so calm and there’s nothing you won’t do to make the people you love happy. You care so much and when you love someone you love them so completely and you don’t hold a thing back. Your heart is so big and so perfect.”
“No. I’m not perfect. I just—”
She threw him her most threatening look so Blake piped down. “I know you’re not arguing with me.” She humphed at Speed but her lips pulled into a soft smile. “We wouldn’t have made it off the runway that morning if I had any doubts that this man was not good enough for my baby brother or that he didn’t understand just how special you were. But he loves you so much and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you.”
“He really loves me and I’ve never loved anyone the way I love him! And he’s helped me finally love myself.”
“That’s so wonderful,” she made a dreamy sound as she watched Speed.
“What about you?”
“I might be too set in my ways.” Kat winked at him conspiratorially. “I still chase after the awful men. But I’ve learned that it’s the kinky sex and short shelf life that attracts me to them so I don’t bother pretending anymore. It’s been liberating, dating until the animal attraction passes and then cutting them loose. I can’t even remember the last guy’s name but it was a hell of a month.”
“As long as you’re happy,” Blake said but his stomach hurt and he wanted to shake her. He reminded himself that she was an adult and knew exactly what she wanted. She was an unstoppable force, and if Kat wanted to be in a relationship, she would be in a relationship.
“I am,” she stated. “And I’m 100% focused on this wedding.” Her eyes dropped to Speed again and a frown furrowed her brow. “Why doesn’t Speed ever talk about his family? You don’t either,” she whispered. The breath caught in Blake’s throat and he couldn’t help the tears that sprang from his eyes at the thought of the Maras and everything that had happened to Speed after their murder. He shook his head, silently begging her not to push.
“I can’t, Kat!”
“Ok!” She grabbed his hand. “We’re his family now. Let’s get him up!”
“Right!” Blake flashed her a sheepish wince. “He’s had a really long day and it’s been pretty hectic since we got engaged.”
“And he did get shot,” she added helpfully.
“Yeah. It’s been pretty wild around here but your surprise was the last straw. In a good way,” Blake reassured her as he patted Speed’s cheek. He mumbled and slurred Blake’s name. “Hey. Let’s get you upstairs,” he said softly. Speed’s eyelids fluttered, then snapped open. He tried to sit up but Blake and Kat shushed and spotted him, careful not to jostle his shoulder as they helped Speed to his feet.
“That’s probably a good idea,” he said to Blake’s relief. He didn’t know if the prospect of fatherhood had scared Speed into being sensible but Blake was able to get him tucked into bed with a book.
He finished off the champagne with Kat and Speed was just nodding off when Blake returned and slipped into bed.
“I forgot to tell Kat I love her,” Speed said, yawning as he scooted so his back was resting against Blake’s chest.
“She knows and she loves you too.”
