on.
“Kyla,” he starts, meeting my questioning gaze with one full of anticipation and love.
That’s when it hits me.
“Oh my God!” I bellow, my hands coming up to cover my mouth.
He chuckles and reaches out for a hand. I slowly bring my shaking left one down and place it in his. First thing he does is kiss the top of it before returning his eyes to mine. “Sweetheart, I’ve thought of this day so many times over the last year. I’ve thought about how we started and how far we’ve come together since you showed up here. Every day, I fall more in love with you and look forward to each day that follows. I want to continue to build our life together, and maybe someday, when we’re ready, fill this treehouse with kids. I know it’s not much now, just a floor, but it’s a good base and a solid foundation. I want to build it all with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He takes a deep breath. “Kyla Morgan, will you marry me?”
He blurs slightly through my unshed tears. I nod, knowing there’s only one answer to his question. “Yes.”
Mason slides a ring on my finger and jumps to his feet, taking me in his arms. His kiss is full of an overwhelming sense of happiness and passion, and all I want to do is strip him down and show him just how much I love him.
But I can’t.
Not yet.
I pull my lips from his and suck in a gasp of air. “Mason, actually I have something I need to tell you.”
He looks worried as he takes in my words, his critical eyes scanning me from head to toe. “Is everything okay?”
I clear my throat and smile. “Yes, I think so. I’m hoping things will be very okay,” I reply nervously. I pull back and put a little space between us. He lets me go, but I can tell he doesn’t like it. I take a deep, cleansing breath and let it out. I’ve wondered how I’d say these words to him. Do I just say it, like ripping off a Band-Aid, or do I give him some sweet words, like he did with his proposal?
Maybe a spot in between…
“I’m pregnant.”
Oops!
That’s not at all how I was going to do it. So much for finding the sweet spot in between.
“What?” he gasps, his eyes wide with shock.
“I just found out two days ago. My period was late and so I took a home test. It was positive.”
“You’re pregnant?” he asks, trying to wrap his head around what he’s heard.
“I am.”
He blinks a few times before a smile sweeps across his handsome face. Mason lets out a whoop before taking me in his arms and spinning around. I laugh, my feet dangling above the ground, until he suddenly stops and sets me down. “Shit, Ky, I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s okay,” I reply, sniffling. Suddenly, I’m all teary-eyed again, my emotions completely overcoming me.
He pushes back, his eyes dropping to my stomach. I feel his hands gently caress the flat skin. “This is the best day ever,” he whispers, before taking me in his arms once more and placing a kiss on my lips.
“It is.”
“I can’t believe we’re going to have a baby,” he says, almost absently. “I’m going to have to hurry up.”
“Hurry up?”
“Well, first I need to get you down the aisle. I want to marry you as quickly as we can arrange it. And then I need to get these walls done.”
I bark out a laugh. “I don’t think the baby will be able to climb into a treehouse for a few years, Mason.”
“No, probably not, but I still want to finish this place so it’s ready to go.” He offers me a smile. “We’re having a baby.”
“We are,” I confirm once more, placing my own hand on my belly.
“I can’t wait to watch you grow with our child, Ky. Thank you. You’ve given me two gifts today.”
“Thank you for loving me,” I reply, wrapping my arms around his waist and settling my cheek against his chest.
“Easiest thing I’ve ever done, sweetheart. Loving you is the greatest part of my life.” He glances down and grins in contentment. “And now, we get to share that with a baby. I’m truly blessed.”
We both are.
Blessed beyond imagination and it’s only the beginning.
THE END
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Books Also by Lacey Black
Rivers Edge series
Trust Me, Rivers Edge book 1 (Maddox and Avery) – FREE at all retailers
Fight Me, Rivers Edge book 2 (Jake and Erin)
Expect Me, Rivers Edge book 3 (Travis and Josselyn)
Promise Me: A Novella, Rivers Edge book 3.5 (Jase and Holly)
Protect Me, Rivers Edge book 4 (Nate and Lia)
Boss Me, Rivers Edge book 5 (Will and Carmen)
Trust Us: A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Maddox and Avery)
~ This novella was originally part of the Christmas Miracles Anthology
BOX SET – contains all 5 novels, 2 novellas, and a BONUS short story
With Me, A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Brooklyn and Becker)
Bound Together series
Submerged, Bound Together book 1 (Blake and Carly)
Profited, Bound Together book 2 (Reid and Dani)
Entwined, Bound Together book 3 (Luke and Sidney)
Summer Sisters series
My Kinda Kisses, Summer Sisters book 1 (Jaime and Ryan)
My Kinda Night, Summer Sisters book 2 (Payton and Dean)
My Kinda Song, Summer Sisters book 3 (Abby and Levi)
My Kinda Mess, Summer Sisters book 4 (Lexi and Linkin)
My Kinda Player, Summer Sisters book 5 (AJ and Sawyer)
My Kinda Player, Summer Sisters book 6 (Meghan and Nick)
My Kinda Wedding, A Summer Sisters Novella book 7 (Meghan and Nick)
Rockland Falls series
Love and Pancakes, Rockland Falls book 1
Love and Lingerie, Rockland Falls book 2
Love and Landscape, Rockland Falls book 3
Love and Neckties, Rockland Falls book 4
Standalone
Music Notes, a sexy contemporary romance standalone
A Place To Call Home, a Memorial Day novella
Exes and Ho Ho Ho’s, a sexy contemporary romance standalone novella
Pants on Fire, a sexy contemporary romance standalone
Double Dog Dare You, a new standalone
Grip, A Driven World Novel
Co-Written with NYT Bestselling Author, Kaylee Ryan
It’s Not Over, Fair Lakes book 1
Just Getting Started, Fair Lakes book 2
Can’t Get Enough, Fair Lakes book 3
Fair Lakes Box Set
Boy Trouble, The All American Boy Series
Home To You, a second-chance novella
Acknowledgments
First, THANK YOU to Ruth Cardello for the opportunity to write in this world! I had the most fun diving into the Bachelor Tower and adding my own twist to an amazing series. Thank you to your behind the scenes team, and to your loyal readers for welcoming me into the Cardello book family. And a special thank you to the other authors writing in the world – it’s been a wonderful experience!
A huge thank you to the best editing team there is – Kara Hildebrand, Sandra Shipman, Joanne Thompson, and Karen Hrdlicka.
Thank you Melissa Gill for another amazing cover design. Thank you Gel with Tempting Illustrations for gorgeous images and teasers. Thank you Brenda with Formatting Done Wright for making the book pretty. Thank you to the team at Give Me Books for helping promote this book.
Thank you Kaylee Ryan, Holly Collins, Lacey’s Ladies, and my ARC team for your support.
To my husband and kids, thank you for always standing by my side and forgiving me when I submerge myself into my book world. It’s not easy, but we make it work together.
To all the bloggers and readers, thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I loved writing it.
About the Author
Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.
Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaceyblack
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthLaceyBlack
Website: www.laceyblackbooks.com
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