Plan B (Best Laid Plans #2) - Jana Aston Page 0,72
point. I’d thought I was going to see you the following week. You’d accepted the invitation to the conference and I was confident you’d show up. If you hadn’t, my plan B was that I’d contact you directly, as stalkery as the idea seemed. Imagine my surprise when I arrive at the party and discover I have a fiancée. You. The woman I’ve been searching for, in the midst of lying to my family about being engaged to me.”
“Oh, right. Forgot that part.” She bites her lip, and I think I might have a chance here.
“I stole your camera and left that day because I panicked. I didn’t know if I could trust you. You took that photo of us in bed and honestly… I got a little paranoid. I was just going to delete it, but I couldn’t figure out how to work the camera. And I was late for my flight, which I needed to be on because Kerrigan’s high-school graduation was that afternoon. It was stupid of me.”
“And so you just left.”
“I regretted it. I regretted it halfway to the airport, knew I’d overreacted and that you weren’t out to sell or post a compromising photo of me. I called the hotel and asked to be connected to the room, but you didn’t pick up. You were already gone. My next call was to my lawyer, asking him to spearhead hiring a team to find you.”
“How very Prince Charming of you.”
“My only lead a locked camera, instead of a glass slipper.”
“Promise you’re not with me out of a sense of honor. Because of the baby? Because you’re Mr. Family Values. Because you get off on doing the right thing?”
“Daisy. Please. I’ve got four baby mommas already. If I was worried about honor I’d have married the first one.”
“What?” Her eyes fly up to meet mine, expression alarmed.
“Relax, I’m kidding.” I close the distance between us and take her hands before getting onto one knee before her. “Daisy Kingston, would you please do me the honor of remaining my wife? I know I’ve gone about this all wrong, and I should have told you how I felt much sooner. And I should have explained about the completely insane trust my grandfather set up before I was even born, but I do love you. And I hope that’s enough because I don’t want to live without you. Not for a single day.”
“Oh, my God.” She yanks one of her hands out of mine and places it on her stomach, eyes wide.
“What is it? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She laughs. “The baby just kicked. I mean, I think that was a kick. I’ve never felt gas like that, so I’m pretty sure.” She laughs again, a look of joy on her face as she marvels at the milestone. “You probably can’t feel that,” she tells me, taking my hand and flattening it over a spot on her stomach.
She’s right. I can’t. But I enjoy the feel of her hand over mine and the look of happiness on her face.
She glances back to me, I think having momentarily forgotten why I’m on my knees before her.
“Yes. Yes, I will stay married to you, Kyle Kingston.”
26
Daisy
“Damn, I’m so glad you let me talk you into that babymoon,” Kyle says from beside me in the bed.
“Stop looking at those photos, you pervert.”
Kyle convinced me to take a babymoon about eight weeks ago—when I was seven months pregnant. He rented us a private house with its own pool and beach access on a Hawaiian island, and I wore a bikini. You heard that right. Maternity. Bikini. Bask in the imagery with me.
Kyle thought it was hot, so he took a bunch of photos of me that he loves to flip through. I’m glad he enjoys them. It’ll give him something to jerk off to while I’m out of commission after the baby finally shows up. Which is never happening. Sorry, I’m super testy and bitchy right now.
“We should take another trip,” I suggest, “since this baby is clearly not coming anytime soon. Because I’m gestating a giraffe baby and they incubate for something like fifteen months so we might as well make the most of our time. Let’s visit my sister in London.”
“Great idea. We’ll do that after the baby arrives. Babies can technically fly after two days old, but I think we should give both of you six weeks before we travel.”
“Why can’t we just go now? All I do is go to