said…I love giving blowjobs. Make sure I give you one a day or I’ll be really cranky.”
“I must have been really drunk to say that.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger. And right after that promise was when I told you…If I ever get mad because you called me out on my bullshit, know that it’s because I’m terrified of failure and disappointing the ones I love.”
“Yep. That memory is clear as a bell.”
Lachlan smiled. “And then I said…The only thing I want in this life is to provide for my family, because you and our future unborn baby and Bast—who is actually my son, by the way—are the most important people in my life.”
I knocked my forehead against his, unable to hide my smile. “I think that’s the one that made me drop the panties.”
“No. It’s the one that kept them off.”
“I’m sorry, Lachlan.”
He brushed my cheek. “No. It was my fault. I lost my temper. Hell, I didn’t even know I had one.”
“First time for everything.”
“Hopefully the last. I don’t like feeling like that. It’s not me.”
“And who are you?”
“A man who wants to protect you. Honor you. Help you.” His hand brushed low, settling on my tummy. “I’m not just some mistake from Vegas. I want to be the best decision you ever made. I love you, Elle.”
It was the kind of declaration a girl could get used to hearing. I smiled, but Lachlan didn’t let me speak. He grabbed his duffle bag and herded me to the couch.
“I know this is a whirlwind relationship,” he said. “That’s part of the fun. Our marriage isn’t a conventional one.”
“Not by any stretch of the imagination.”
“But, luckily for you, I have a good imagination.”
“That I really remember.”
“It’s time we start this again.” He pointed to the shelves behind me, full of knick-knacks and trinkets. “You need a couple additions to the Lachlan Collection.”
“I do?”
“Yep. And you need to start this marriage right.”
“How?”
He grinned, rifling through the bag before offering me a small package. “We got married, but you didn’t have any of the traditional luck for a bride. So there’s your something old.”
“You’re being a little sweet.”
“Ain’t seen nothing yet.”
I tugged on the packaging. The paper fell away, and I held a deck of playing cards, emblazoned with the insignia for the Bellagio in Vegas.
“Something old, from the first day we met,” he said. “Plus we can play strip poker later.”
“Only if you want me to kick your bare butt once I win your clothes.”
“I’ll take that challenge.” He handed me the second package. “This is your something new.”
I shook the box open. A spaghetti spoon wasn’t exactly romantic, but he sexy’ed it up with a curly bow.
“From our first date?” I asked.
“It has a silicon grip. Top of the line utensil right there.”
I giggled. “Now if we could just learn how to cook.”
“We’ll have plenty of time for that, Mrs. Reed.”
I was starting to love the sound of that.
The next package was soft and flexible.
“Something borrowed…” I murmured.
I ripped the paper off and clutched the blue baby blanket to my chest.
I didn’t care if it was hormonal or not. I let the tears come.
“Because I got pregnant on our second date?” I whispered.
“It was Bast’s when he was a baby.” Lachlan touched the blanket with a gentle finger. “I thought maybe our boy would like it as much as he did.”
“Or our girl.”
“Nah. I only make boys.”
“Sample size of one.”
“Call it a hunch.” He reached for the last present. “I’m cheating on this one.”
“You don’t have to do all this.”
“The pack-rat doesn’t want any more presents?”
I giggled, brushing away the tears. “I didn’t say that.”
“Then this is your something blue.”
I tore through the paper. The photograph was framed and lovely—me smiling and cheerful, but Lachlan looked like he swallowed his tongue.
“This is the picture I took when I told you I was pregnant,” I said. “Third date?”
“I think my face turned a good shade of blue there.”
“Maybe a little purple, but I won’t tell.” I cradled the picture. “Lachlan, this is amazing.”
“Wait. I have one more thing for you.” His eyes brightened. “But it doesn’t belong on a shelf.”
He wasn’t.
He couldn’t.
I held my breath.
Lachlan knelt before me on one knee, pulling a velvet box from his pocket.
Two gold wedding bands rested inside the box.
“I love you, Elle.”
I couldn’t speak.
Lachlan stared at me, his voice solemn. “This was never a three date bet for a crazy adrenaline rush. We are meant to be together. You made me realize the man I could