“Knew that,” he muttered. “And I want to be by your side when you collect all the accolades for how the club turned out.” He continued to play with her pu**y, knowing he could give her one good orgasm before she had to shower and get ready for the night. He’d get his treats later on.
“It’s Lucy’s baby,” Isabelle reminded him, still thinking about the club, but she began rocking her hips against his hand.
Another thing Gabe loved about Isabelle, her lack of ego or need to brag. That was fine; he could brag enough for them both. And Lucy planned to share credit.
“It’s good that you know that,” he told her. “Because you’re going to be too busy with our baby to worry about club openings.” He hadn’t planned on telling her, but now seemed as good a time as any. He slid his hand from her bottoms and waited for the reaction.
Her mouth opened then closed again. “What are you talking about?” she finally asked.
“I think you’re pregnant, kitten.”
“I can’t be!”
“No? Queasy? Check. Sore boobs?” He gently rubbed his finger over her nipple, and she squirmed out of reach. “Check. Where are your pills? Or should I ask, when was the last time you took one?”
The ocean waves were the only sound as she thought back. “Oh my God.”
He enclosed his hand protectively around her belly.
“Oh my God,” she said again. “I’m… We’re… Are you…?”
“Ecstatic, baby. You?” Suddenly he was the nervous one. Maybe she loved the job so much that kids weren’t something on her radar now. Maybe she no longer wanted the family she’d thought she did. What if—
“Oh my God!” she exclaimed yet again, and before he knew what was happening, she was in his arms, legs wrapped around him, peppering kisses all over him.
The twisting around his heart eased. Nothing had changed, after all. She was still a woman with an unloved little girl inside her, who wanted nothing more than a family to call her own.
He wanted nothing more than to give it to her, and he hoped that he had.
“Do you think they have home pregnancy tests on this island?” she asked.
“To hear the stories, some pretty amazing things have happened here. I think one phone call can get you anything you need.”
“Rumor has it it’s the Bermuda Triangle nearby that makes the island experience so different for everyone.”
He laughed. “Every time I wonder how the hell we’re so alone and isolated with my entire family supposedly nearby, I think the same thing.”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Let’s go make that phone call. I want to know for sure.”
“Doesn’t matter. If you’re not pregnant yet, I’ll just spend all my free time making sure that you are.” Now that he knew what it felt like to hope, to want their child, to know she did as well, on the off chance he was wrong, he was damned determined to make it happen.
He started for the room, Isabelle still in his arms.
“About that little comment you made? The one about me not having time for club openings because of our baby?” She tipped her head back, looking at him.
He nearly tripped. The last thing he needed was her flipping out on him, thinking he wanted to take everything she’d worked for away from her. “I was joking, Iz. You can work if that’s what you want.”
Although he’d love it if she stayed home with the baby. His mom had done that. But he knew how important Isabelle’s independence was to her. It was the one thing she’d fought him for—the only thing. And he wouldn’t risk losing her by putting that at risk.
She bit down on her lower lip, and he slowed to a stop, keeping her close to him. “What if I don’t?” she asked.
“What?”
“Want to work? What if I want to be home for the baby? I mean, I can do some consulting work with Lucy, I guess, to keep my hand in things so I have something for me … but…” She drew a deep breath.
He waited. Everything he was—everything he cared about—was tied up in this woman. He’d give her the moon if that’s what she wanted.
Her eyes grew glassy. “All I ever dreamed of was having a family that was mine. People who loved me, who I loved, who appreciated one another, including their kids. Everything I never had growing up.”