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She turned to him, her eyes wide. “It’s beautiful.”
His blue orbs flashed with relief.
“When did you do all this?”
“Aspen helped me put it together. I moved the furniture out with Finn’s help while you and Charli took that trip to the store.”
Oh. “Sneaky.”
Half of his mouth turned up in a smile. “I figured you could decorate it how you want, but I wanted to get the basics done.”
She nodded, taking in the room again. “Why two rocking chairs?”
“I figure we’ll have some nights when we might both be up feeding and rocking a baby each.” He shrugged.
He was envisioning midnight feedings with her? “Do you expect me to move in here after the babies are born?”
He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. “If I have my way, you won’t ever leave.”
What? “This was supposed to be temporary, until I was feeling better from my concussion.”
“Do you want this to be temporary?”
No. “That isn’t fair.”
“Why?” His deep voice vibrated through her.
“Because . . . you can’t just treat me like a queen and then do something like build me a secret library of my dreams and. . .” Her eyes moved wildly around the room. “Now you’ve gone ahead and given up your space for a nursery. How could I stand a chance of not falling in love with you, or wanting this to be permanent?”
He smiled as tears tracked down her cheeks.
“It isn’t funny.” She sniffed. “Stupid hormones are turning me into a water fountain . . . and that’s your fault too.”
“If this is all good, what’s the problem?”
Her belly flipped as her fears came tumbling out. “What if I give you everything and you walk away again?”
Mason’s hold tightened on her as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his hard chest. He stroked her back and held her for a few moments without saying a word.
Is he going to give up and walk away now?
Mason fell to his knees, holding her hands and gazing up at her. “Beauty, there isn’t a thing I can do to change the past. But I’d really like to move forward into a future with you. My therapist told me that in order to make this work, I had to be willing to be vulnerable, to share my feelings with you, even when it scares me . . .” He took a deep breath and let it out. “So, here it goes . . . Pippa, I’m terrified that I won’t be enough for you, or Aspen, or these babies.” He placed a hand on her stomach. “I’m afraid that I won’t be able to protect you from everything. Which I know is impossible, but the fear is there, just the same . . . I fucking love you with everything in me and that scares me too. But I’m done running. I’m done being a coward.” Mason squeezed her hand. “I decided I’m gonna be brave for you, Beauty.”
She didn’t try to stop the flood of happy tears welling up from the incandescent happiness that bubbled inside her. She fell to her knees, grasping his hard jaw in her hands, one side of his face smooth, with rough stubble, the other swirled with old burn scars.
“You be brave, and I’ll fight for us. Together, we’ll figure this out. Because I don’t want to lose you again. You hear me?” She shook his head slightly in her palms.
He nodded.
“Good, now kiss me and take me to bed—”
His lips collided with hers, hungry and wanting. His hand slipped to the back of her head, pulling her impossibly closer. Finally, she was home.
“I love you, Beauty.”
“I love you too, Beast.”
He growled and lifted her in his arms. “I’m gonna show you just how much I’ve missed your gorgeous body.”
