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“It really was,” she agrees.
She’s been a fucking rock star at this pregnancy thing. She’s been tired and only had a few bouts of morning sickness; otherwise, she’s been very healthy, and she’s fucking glowing. I’ve heard that before but never really witnessed it. No, that’s not right. I never really cared to notice. Not until it was my woman and our baby.
“I was thinking about going out for some fresh air before bed. If I promise to keep you warm, will you join me?”
“Like… for a walk?” she asks, and I can already see she’s going to turn me down if that’s the case. Growing our little girl is wearing her out.
“No. Just sit out on the back patio for a few minutes.”
“Sure.” She shrugs and stands.
I grab the blanket off the back of the couch and tap my pocket to make sure the ring that I put there early this morning is still there. I thought maybe I’d ask her at her parents’ place, then I thought, nah, I’ll do it at my parents’, but then I realized I wanted it to just be us. I had a plan to tell her that I was in love with her, and well, it was a good plan, so I’m going to use it with a minor modification.
Pulling open the sliding glass door, I step out on the back patio. I take a seat on the lounge chair and pat the spot next to me. Palmer cuddles up next to me, and I cover us both with the blanket.
“It’s a nice night. Lots of stars,” she says, staring up at the night sky.
“You know, this was my plan.”
“What?” she asks, still looking up at the stars.
“I planned to bring you out here just like this and tell you that I was in love with you. I planned to tell you that our arrangement was null and void because you owned my heart.”
“You getting sappy on me, big guy?” she teases, but I don’t miss the soft sigh.
“Just telling you I had a plan, and this was it.”
“Well, I’m sorry you didn’t get to use it. It would have been perfect.” She lifts her head from my chest to look at me. “I love you.”
“I love you.” My hand is under the blanket, so I slip my hand into my pocket and clasp the ring that I bought her. It took me some time to find the right one, and then it had to be sized, or it would already be on her finger. I palm the ring and reach for her hand. I trace over each finger.
“What do you think about a swing set over there?” I nod toward the side of the yard. “And maybe a tree house in that old oak tree?”
“I can see it,” she replies, her eyes staring out at our backyard. “Are you building both?” she asks. “I mean, I can supervise, but I’m not all that great with a hammer.”
“Baby girl has nine uncles, maybe ten if Heath ever pulls his head out of his ass and asks Piper to marry him.”
She laughs. “They’ll get there.”
“What if I told you that I want us to get there?”
She sits up and looks at me. “What do you mean?”
I stand and walk around the lounger, pulling her to her feet and dropping to one knee. “I didn’t get to bring you out here under the stars and tell you that I love you, so I’m improvising. Instead, I’m asking you to marry me. I’m asking you to spend the rest of your life with me. Let me love you for eternity as Palmer Kincaid.” I swallow hard. “Palmer, will you do me the incredible honor of being my wife? Will you marry me, beautiful?”
The tears coating her cheeks glisten in the moonlight. She nods but doesn’t give me the words. “Let me hear you say it, beautiful.”
“Yes.” She screams way louder than she should for being outside this time of night. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
I slip the ring on her finger and stand, pulling her into my arms. I never knew it was possible to love someone as much as I love Palmer and our unborn child. I’ll spend every day showing them what they mean to me.
EPILOGUE PALMER
Palmer
It’s Christmas Eve, and Brooks and I managed to convince our families to come together for one big celebration. Ramsey and I had to go to both places, so she and I teamed up and used that as the excuse. It wasn’t a hard sell.
Ramsey and Deacon are still the only two who know about the baby. We wanted to wait until we were through the first trimester before we told everyone. That was two weeks ago, and today is finally the day. I’m fourteen weeks, and I feel great. I have a small little bump that I’ve been able to hide with leggings and loose sweaters.
