as McCoy wisely slid out of the room. "You think it's crazy to want to make sure you and the baby stay safe?" he asked, voice a bit raw. "That's our baby in there," he added, waving toward my still-flat tummy.
"I know," I agreed. "And we are going to protect it."
"That's what I'm trying to do," he insisted. "I have about a dozen people to call to get things changed around here, to make it as safe as possible. I want a fortress for you and our baby."
I had always thought that possessive, alpha boyfriend Huck was hot.
But possessive, alpha, protective prospective daddy Huck was just dreamy.
"I get that," I told him, reaching out to place my hand over his hand. "And I appreciate that more than you know. But, Huck... everything doesn't need to happen today. I really kind of need you to sit with me and tell me if you're okay with this or not," I told him, feeling more vulnerable than I should have.
"Okay with it?" he repeated, brows pinching together. "Babe, for fuck's sake, of course I'm okay with it. I'm fucking thrilled about it. I never knew how much I wanted a kid with you until you told me you were giving me one. I just..."
"Panicked," I supplied, smiling a bit at the lost look on his face.
"Yeah, something like that," he agreed. "You're going to have to let me be over-protective, babe. I don't know what the fuck else to do here."
"Oh, there will be going to birthing classes and rubbing my feet and building a nursery and putting together baby furniture. You'll have your hands full for the next few months."
"Think I'd rather take on another prospect for all the heavy lifting, and spend the next few months with you in bed."
"Well, that is certainly an option," I told him, slipping onto his lap, burying my face in his neck, feeling his big, strong arms going around me, knowing right down to my bones that me and this baby could never be safer anywhere else than with this man.
"I need to get you a ring now."
"Yes, you do," I declared.
"Think I should ask your family for your hand too," he added, chuckling.
"I'd pay to see that."
"And, the most important thing of all."
"What's that?" I asked, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
"Gotta get you an old lady cut."
"A... what?"
"An old lady cut. Like the ones we wear, but saying you're mine."
"Oh, for God's sake. That's a barbaric custom."
"Want the whole world to know you're mine, babe, and that you're carrying my baby."
Well then.
Maybe an old lady cut wasn't so bad after all, was it?
"Oh, shit," he declared, suddenly shooting up, leaving me on the couch alone. "I need to talk to Arty. We need background checks on all the doctors in the area. Gotta get the best one lined up and over here as soon as possible," he said on his way out of the door.
Remy came in, handing me my hot chocolate, then rushing out to go take more orders from the barking president outside.
"Hey girl," I said, patting the cushion next to me as Ramona came up to me. "These men are lunatics, don't you think?" I asked, patting her big, flat head. "And they think we are the dramatic ones," I went on as she rested her head in my lap. "I guess I should thank you for all of this, huh?" I asked, watching as she turned just enough to look up at me, a little doggy smile on her face, her eyes keen.
Almost like she was telling me this was her plan all along.
Sneak out.
Come get me.
And introduce me to the love of my life.
Remy was making his way through the front of the house, carrying some giant pile of what looked like scrap metal, tripping, and crashing down, the clatter making both Ramona and I shrink into ourselves.
"You okay? Are you alright?" Remy asked, shooting up onto his feet.
"Remy, you're the one who fell," I reminded him. "I'm supposed to be asking you that. Your daddy is crazy, girl," I told Ramona, shaking my head. "I don't know how we are going to make it through these next nine months. We need more girls in this house to even things out," I told her.
And I swear, the old girl brightened up.
Like I'd just given her a new mission in life.
"Hey," Huck said, voice booming into the space, making me jolt and turn to find him leaning in from the kitchen.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"I love you," he told me, giving me a firm nod, then rushing off.
He did.
It was becoming more and more clear by the moment.
And, God, I loved him right back.
Also by Jessica Gadziala
If you liked this book, check out these other series and titles in the NAVESINK BANK UNIVERSE:
The Henchmen MC
Reign
Cash
Wolf
Repo
Duke
Renny
Lazarus
Pagan
Cyrus
Edison
Reeve
Sugar
The Fall of V
Adler
Roderick
Virgin
Roan
Camden
West
Colson
The Savages
Monster
Killer
Savior
Mallick Brothers
For A Good Time, Call
Shane
Ryan
Mark
Eli
Charlie & Helen: Back to the Beginning
Investigators
367 Days
14 Weeks
4 Months
Dark
Dark Mysteries
Dark Secrets
Dark Horse
Professionals
The Fixer
The Ghost
The Messenger
The General
The Babysitter
The Middle Man
The Negotiator
The Client
Rivers Brothers
Lift You Up
Lock You Down
Pull You In
STANDALONES WITHIN NAVESINK BANK:
Vigilante
Grudge Match
NAVESINK BANK LEGACY SERIES:
The Rise of Ferryn
Counterfeit Love
OTHER SERIES AND STANDALONES:
Stars Landing
What The Heart Needs
What The Heart Wants
What The Heart Finds
What The Heart Knows
The Stars Landing Deviant
What The Heart Learns
Surrogate
The Sex Surrogate
Dr. Chase Hudson
The Green Series
Into the Green
Escape from the Green
DEBT
Dissent
Stuffed: A Thanksgiving Romance
Unwrapped
Peace, Love, & Macarons
A Navesink Bank Christmas
Don't Come
Fix It Up
N.Y.E.
faire l'amour
Revenge
There Better Be Pie
The Woman in the Trunk
The Woman at the Docks
About the author
Jessica Gadziala is a full-time writer, parrot enthusiast, and coffee drinker who has an unhealthy obsession with acquiring houseplants. She enjoys short rides to the book store, sad songs, and cold weather. She lives in New Jersey with her parrots, dogs, and a whole flock of chickens.
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<3/ Jessica