His Hush-Hush Baby - Holly Rayner Page 0,58
I’m here. Whether that’s as friends and co-parents, or as partners. You’re the most important thing to me.”
Her head swam with his confession.
“I…” She tried again. “Wow.”
“I mean it,” he said. “Every single word.”
“Kai?”
“Yes?” His hand slid to the back of her neck.
“Are you asking me to stay in New York with you?”
“I would move anywhere you wanted. It wouldn’t need to be New York. I can figure work out. I own the company I work at, after all.”
“You love me?” Diane said.
“I really, really do.” His laugh was throaty.
“I love you too, Kai.” She wrapped her hands around his wrists and laughed out loud.
“I’ve wanted to say that for so long. I planned on saying it after my trip.”
She felt her lips tremble. “I’m sorry you didn’t get the chance to.”
“It’s okay. I’m saying it now. What’s important is that you know I really mean it.”
He dropped his forehead to hers. She closed her eyes, breathing him in. His fresh scent. His warm presence. The tender promise of better days to come.
“We’re going to be parents,” he whispered.
Diane’s face broke into a grin. “Yes. We are.”
“Let me show you something.” He took her hand and gently guided her to standing.
“What?”
Instead of answering, he maneuvered her across the living room and down the hallway.
“Are you showing me your bedroom?” she teased. “Because I’ve seen that before.”
He wrapped his arm around her and breathed into her neck. “No,” he whispered into her ear. “I want to show you this.”
He stopped at his gym and opened the door. Diane stood in the doorway, staring at the treadmill and the weights.
She turned to him, waiting for more.
“We could make it into a nursery,” he said. “I don’t use it that much anyway. I usually end up in the gym at work.”
“A nursery,” she repeated.
It had been something she hadn’t allowed herself to think about. Planning nurseries were what happy, excited pregnant women did, and she’d been too stressed and out of sorts. Until now.
“If you want.” Kai took her hands in his.
“I do want,” she murmured. “I want to be with you, Kai. As far as where we live…” She trailed off with a head shake.
He pulled her closer to him, and she dropped her head against his firm chest as his arms wrapped around her.
“I not only want to take care of you,” he said into her hair, “I want to help your family as well.”
He must have felt her tense at that, because he took a step back and looked down at her.
“Your mom and dad are my kid’s grandparents, okay?” A smile lifted his lips. “I’m hiring a full-time caregiver for your mom, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
His words sank in, melting the last of Diane’s reserves. This was the life she’d dreamed of, and she would be crazy to resist it. Drama had come between them for a short while, but in the end they’d emerged stronger.
“That would be appreciated,” she said. “Thank you.”
She wasn’t sure how her prideful father would react to someone else paying for Ruby’s care, but he’d get used to it. And he would be relieved, even if he would be too tough to show it at first.
“I want to live in Florida,” she said. “At least part-time. It’s not just that I want to help them. I want them to be a part of my kid’s life. Our kid’s life.”
“Me, too.” He pushed his hands up through her hair, taking his time letting the strands fall between his fingers.
“I have to be honest. It kind of feels like you’re simply trying to give me whatever I want.”
His hands stilled, then fell to her shoulders. “And would that be bad?”
“Um…” She bit into her bottom lip.
“I want you, Diane. I want this baby. I want your parents in my life. Do you believe me?”
One of his hands trailed down her body to hold her at the waist while the other skimmed fingers along her lips. Her heart fluttered, and she suddenly felt weightless.
“Yes,” she said, meaning it with every ounce of her being. “I believe you, and I want you, too.”
He exhaled in happiness and drew her tight to him. They stayed that way for a long time, embracing each other in the doorway.
“So that’s where my ultrasound print went,” she said into his shoulder.
He chuckled. “Yeah. I can return it, if you like, although I’d much rather frame it and put it on the mantel.”
The idea made her smile. “I like