Rogue Beast (The Rourkes #12) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,84
saying six kids was plenty.”
“I sure wasn’t a happy accident.”
I straighten. “This baby is.” I stare at her stomach covered by the large sweater. It still looks flat.
“I was going to call you tomorrow about meeting up over the holidays, but I’m so glad you’re here now.”
I can’t take my eyes off her stomach. My daughter or son is in there. “Is everything…okay with it?”
“Yes. I’m eight weeks along, due next June. I want you to be part of the baby’s life, but I don’t want you to feel like we have to be together because of it.”
I push a lock of her hair over her ear. “I’m thrilled to be a dad. I want to be part of this child’s life in whatever way you need. And I hope we’ll raise the baby together as a couple. And I’m not saying that because of the baby. I came here today to tell you I love you, and this time apart so I could work in a movie wasn’t worth losing you. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure we’re together. I’ll run projects by you before I accept. You were right about that. Couples should make these decisions together because it affects both of us. And if you’ll have me back, I hope you’ll do the same because we’re more important than any job.”
She throws her arms around me. “I’m sorry I said those hurtful things the last time we talked. I messed up. All I wanted was to keep you close. I’m okay with your acting career. I’m okay with anything you want to do. I’ll root for you all the way.”
I pull back and frame her face in my hands. Her lower lip wobbles, tears threatening. My own eyes sting too. “I believe we have a future together, Harper. I’ve waited for the One for a long time. My life started again in a new way the moment we met and for the better.”
“Oh, Garrett.” She kisses me and hugs me tight for a long moment.
“And now you give me this gift.” My voice chokes. She pulls back and strokes my cheek. “A child. It’s the best gift you could’ve given me.” I gesture to where the stuffed reindeer and Santa are perched on the coffee table. “Better than my gift for you.”
She laughs through tears. “Which one is mine?”
“Whatever one you want.” I cradle her jaw and kiss her. Then I stare at her stomach. “Is it okay to touch it?”
“Of course. The baby’s protected in there. You can touch.” She lifts her sweater, and there’s a slight rounding that wasn’t there before. I place my hand over it, my throat clogged with emotion. “I don’t feel any movement. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“It’s too tiny to feel yet. Soon.”
“You are the One, you know. I want to marry you.”
She looks away. “We don’t have to be married just because I’m pregnant.”
I cup her jaw and turn her back to me. “Don’t you understand how much I feel for you? I never want us to be apart again. I knew that before you told me the baby news.”
She worries her lower lip. “Maybe we should wait until after the baby’s born. You might change your mind.”
“Never doubt my word. I will stick with you and Garrett Junior for the rest of my years.”
She smiles. “Garrett Junior? What if it’s a girl?”
“Joan?”
Her jaw drops. “No, stop.”
“What? Your grandmother would love it.”
She smiles tenderly. “You actually like her.”
“What’s not to like? She raised my future wife, the mother of all my future children.”
Tears leak out of her eyes, and I pull her close, hugging her.
After a bit, she lifts her head, wiping her tears and sniffling. I fetch her a tissue from her grandmother’s side table.
“Thanks,” she says. “And, as far as work goes, I’m going to be directing a few episodes of a new show through Claire Jordan’s production company. It films in New York. I had a good meeting with her, and we talked about my future career. I’d like to do more behind-the-scenes work that would keep me local. At the time, I was thinking of visitation for you with the baby, but now it means so much more. The exciting part is, she asked me to pitch some show ideas. I like the idea of running a show because that gives me creative control, including where we film. So that means I’ll be working closely with her, so I’ll be near you. What