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I pet his head, whispering soothing words. “It’s okay. You’re here now.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, lifting to stare at me. I’m surprised there’s no condemnation, just curiosity.
“I wanted you to want this baby, not be obligated to it. I didn’t want to get you back that way.”
Van nods, his gaze drifting toward the fire in contemplation. “How can you trust that I’m here for the right reasons, then?”
His focus remains on the fire, as if he’s afraid to look at me when I provide the answer. I reach out a hand, slide it behind his neck and force him to face me. “Because I trust you love me, Van. That is something that was never once damaged in all of this craziness. Not once did I question your love or your loyalty. In fact, I know it was the depth of your love that had you acting crazy.”
Van’s expression is dubious, so I bring our faces closer as I repeat the words he needs. “I trust your love for me.”
He just stares, his expression doubtful.
“Do you hear me? Do you believe me?” I press, squeezing his neck.
“I always believe everything you tell me,” he murmurs. “You’re the one person who I know will always give it to me straight.”
“And you know I love you, right?”
“You must to even let me in the door,” he says dryly.
“I love you more than anything, Van.”
And finally, after weeks of wanting him to make a true move that expresses how he feels in actions instead of words, Van takes my face in his palms and kisses me. It’s soft and gentle, his lips having immediate mastery over mine. His tongue slips in my mouth, touching my own briefly before he pulls away. Resting his forehead to mine, he says, “We’re having a baby.”
I hear the excitement in his voice and it’s music to my ears. “We’re having a baby,” I echo.
Van lifts his head and I’m surprised by the desire in his expression. “Is it weird that you being pregnant makes me want to fuck you really bad?”
I snicker and press my mouth to his, giving a slight shake of my head. “Lucky for you, pregnancy hormones make me hornier than normal.”
“Jesus… I’ve died and gone to heaven.” Van leans back, his lust quelled a tiny bit as he asks for one more affirmation. “What else do I need to do to make this right?”
“Nothing,” I assure him.
“Well, I did bring you something that I was hoping to use to convince you to give me another chance,” he says, moving off the couch and rounding to his duffel. I twist to see him rummaging in it and he pulls out a white shirt.
Returning to the couch, he spreads it open and hands it back to me. I gasp when I see it, then start laughing. It’s a Titan Queens T-shirt like the one I cut up.
I reach for it but he jerks it back, wagging a finger. “You only get this if you pack your bags and return to Pittsburgh with me tomorrow morning. You have to act the part of hockey wife if you want the official T-shirt, assuming you want that. I know we have to figure out your job and everything.”
Laughing, I throw myself into his arms, knocking him onto the couch. I kiss him hard before saying, “Yes, I’m going back with you.”
He grins up at me. “Almost all my dreams have come true.”
“What other dream needs to be fulfilled?” I ask as I stroke my fingers over his collarbone.
“I need you to get naked, Simone. I need it bad.”
CHAPTER 18
Van
“Van,” Boone callsbefore I’m able to slip out of the locker room. “You better get your ass over to Mario’s for a celebratory beer.”
“Not tonight. I’ve got a hot date.”
Several of the guys laugh and I throw my hand up in the air to wave goodbye. I spread the word during the pregame prep that Simone and I were back together.
