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Brooklyn
“Yes!”
I feel like I have a flood of emotions taking over me, crashing down in one glorious wave after another.
“How did I wake up this morning and in the span of less than 24 hours, I find out I’m not only going to be a mom but a wife too?”
The floodgates open again the moment I say the words out loud. I spend the next 10 minutes going back and forth between crying and kissing Tyler to staring at my ring.
“How are you feeling?”
He places his hand protectively against my stomach and it’s suddenly so different than all the times before. It feels so real. I look down at where his hand is resting and place mine on top of his.
“Scared. Terrified. Still in shock.” I shake my head as I try to wrap my head around the fact that there’s life inside me. “Is it okay if it takes me some time?” I look up at him nervously, hoping he understands, and I can see that he does.
“Of course. This is huge—a major life change we obviously weren’t expecting yet. I know it won’t be easy, but I do know that you have a huge network of support out here with my family. There’s like . . . close to 300,000 Slades now, I think.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I don’t doubt I’ll have that support with your family. I know mine will also fly out and want to spend probably too much time with us and the baby. When should we tell people?”
“That’s your call, sweetheart.” He kisses my temple. “I know people often wait after the first trimester, but I have no issue if you want to tell your family sooner.” He scratches his head nervously. “Speaking of, I may have really fucked up today. I told Trent. I was angry when I left your office, and Decker called him and told him he needed to come out and talk to me. Please don’t hate me.”
“I’m not upset, honestly. This morning was kind of a shit show, and if Mallory had been here, I probably would’ve run and done the same thing. But he better keep his mouth shut or I’ll come after him. Trust me, you don’t want an angry pregnant woman after you.”
“You mentioned wanting to get married this summer. Is that still your desire, or has that changed with the baby?”
I think about it briefly. “No, it hasn’t changed. I want to be your wife and I don’t want to wait until I’ve had the baby. Plus, I feel like I want to wait to tell everyone else about the pregnancy. Maybe we could tell them at the reception?”
“That’s an idea.” He brushes my hair behind my ear. I’ve noticed all the little touches of endearment Tyler has given me in just a few moments. His protective instincts are already kicking in.
“I’m thinking something small and intimate—just our friends and family—so I guess not too small with the Slade brood. But yeah, something small on the ranch.”
“Here?”
“Yes, this is my home now. You’re my home and I want to make every memory I can here with our little family.”
Tyler holds me in his arms, our hands resting against my belly.
“I think Trent has a crush on this wine lady.”
“Oh my God, Amelia?” I spin around to face him.
“Yeah, how do you know her?”
“That’s where we went yesterday in Fort Collins: her wine tasting room. She came over and introduced herself to us. She’s so amazing and I gave her my card. We’re going to connect and talk about maybe doing some cross-promotion together—her winery and the brewery.”
Tyler winces. “I don’t know if that will be a good idea.”
“Why not? Just because Trent has a crush? Which, by the way, she’s way out of his league. She’s like an old Hollywood glamazon. So classy.”
“There’s a little more to it. I guess her family winery sold to some bigger conglomerate. They’re a parent company that does those chain brewhouses and wineries in strip malls. Trent doesn’t like the idea of a big chain establishment moving in here.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize that.”
“Yeah, and my guess is if they do plan to build any sort of major chain out here, the other ranchers aren’t going to like it either. It could really start a turf war situation. Don’t worry, though. I told him we’re not going to get involved—no underhanded shenanigans. My family has some really bad history with land rights and such, and it took my dad years to get back into the good graces of these people.”
I turn back around and lie against him again. A small knot forms in my stomach at the thought of something arising between us and the Blancs. They’re a powerful family—maybe not as much as the Slades, but right now, all I can focus on is my job and my baby.
“I should make a doctor’s appointment this week.”
