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“Declan—”
“Please, Kennedy. Do this for me.”
“Okay,” I concede. This has to happen, and he’s right. This is probably the best place for privacy without having Sterling and Alyssa take Blakely out of the house, and that’s her home. She shouldn’t have to leave. This is a better choice.
In the room, he tosses his keys on the small table. He guides me to the bed, and I sit on the edge. I expect him to sit next to me, but he surprises me when he falls to his knees in front of me. He moves between my legs and wraps his arms around me. On instinct, I run my hands through his hair. We sit like that for what feels like hours when in reality, only a few minutes have passed.
When he pulls back, his eyes find mine. “I’m in love with you.” He pauses and places his hand over my belly. “All of you.”
I can’t stop the sob that fills the room.
“I want to be the man you lean on during your pregnancy. You once told me you wanted a partner to do this with, and that’s who I want to be. I want to be your partner. I want to be there for every appointment and when you bring this little one into the world. I want to witness every milestone, and when you’re ready, we’ll try again, or adopt, or foster, or whatever we have to do to keep growing our family.”
My tears are flowing so hard I don’t bother trying to wipe them away. Declan tries with his thumbs, but they keep coating my cheeks. “I want this baby to make Blakely a big sister and me a daddy again. I want you to stay forever.”
My tears fall harder.
He stands and sits. “Come here, Kens.”
Not needing to be told twice, I move to straddle his hips and bury my face in his neck.
“I’ve got you, baby. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. I know asking you to stay is a lot. I know you’d be leaving your best friend and your parents, but we have a huge support system here. I have my business, and you’d be here for Maureen. This baby will have so many aunts, uncles, and cousins that he or she will never be lonely and will be loved. So much love, Kens.”
“You really want that?” I ask. “Knowing this baby” I can’t make myself say the words.
“I want you to be Blakely’s mom. Does it matter to you that she’s not yours?”
“Of course not. I love her.”
“And I love this baby. He or she is a part of you, Kennedy. How could I not love a piece of you?”
“What about your family?”
He smiles. “They love you too.”
“I mean the baby.”
“Is mine.” He gauges my reaction. “I can see your wheels turning. We can tell them or not. I don’t care. This baby is mine in every single way that matters.”
“I don’t want to lie to the baby. I just… I want to be honest.”
He nods. “When the time is right. When he or she is old enough to understand, we’ll do it together.”
“I’m sorry, Declan. I wish this baby were yours.”
“Hey.” He tilts my chin up to look at him. “This is my baby. Do you hear me? It might not be my DNA, but my heart, it’s already got a piece carved out for this little one. It will be my name on the birth certificate. It will be me who rocks him or her to sleep. It will be me who he or she calls daddy. It will be me who loves this baby just as much as I love Blakely.”
“I love you. I love you so much.” My heart feels as if it could burst from the love that I have for this man.
“I love you too. Now, tell me, baby? Are you going to stay forever?”
“Yes.” I don’t even think about my answer. My life used to be in Tallahassee, now it’s in Willow River. I know that with a clarity I didn’t expect. My answer is without question or reservation. I want to stay forever with Declan, Blakely, and this baby.
He kisses me. It’s tender, showing me that it’s not just words. He means everything he says. “One more thing.”
“Yes, I agree we should not let this perfectly good hotel room go to waste.” I smile through my tears. Tears of happiness, not sorrow.
“Okay, two more things.” He smirks.
“Well, let’s hurry with the first, so we can get to the second.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He taps my thigh, and I take the hint and stand. He does as well but quickly drops to his knees. “I don’t have a ring, but we’re going to take care of that today. Right after we take advantage of this perfectly good hotel room. However, I can’t wait for another second to ask you. Kennedy Edwards, will you marry me? Will you stay with me forever? Will you let me love you until we’re old and gray?”
