Chapter 39 Love
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
LOVE
Devon
Three weeks later
It’s been a fucking whirlwind. I’ve counted down every week, day, and hour.
Now we’re down to minutes.
The nurse looks to me. “It’s time to say goodbye. You’ll see her in three short hours—give or take.”
Short, my arse.
They’ll be the longest hours of my life.
I look down at the woman I plan to knock up as soon as her body can handle it. “I hope you’re done trying to prove how brave you are after this.”
“It will be fine,” she says, but it’s laced with nerves. For the first time since she made this decision, she sounds like she’s trying to talk herself into it.
“It will. I’ll be here when you wake up.” I mean it with every bone in my body. “Harlow?”
“Hmm?”
I look deep into her beautiful eyes. “I love you, baby.”
She gasps. “You love me? And you’re telling me this now?”
I smile. “Of course, I do. And yes. I’m telling you I love you because when you wake up, we’re moving forward in every way possible.”
Tears fill her eyes. “Leave it to you to profess your love and boss me around in the same sentence moments before I go into surgery.”
“I’m giving you something to look forward to.” I lean down and kiss her.
Tears leak from her eyes. “You love me.”
“I think I’ve loved you since you called me a dried-up James Bond.”
“Sir, it’s time,” the nurse says.
We both ignore her.
“You could’ve told me sooner,” Harlow complains. “I’m too emotional as it is. I can’t handle this.”
I press my lips to her forehead and find it hard to tear myself away. My voice is as heavy with emotion as my heart, because the words come easy. It’s a relief to finally say them. Hell, I could chant them to the world. “Love you, baby. Come back to me.”
“I love you too,” she whispers. “I’ll see you in three hours—albeit a little lighter.”
I swipe her cheek with my thumb before I force myself to step aside. “Spreading the love, just like you always do.”
“I love you,” she calls as the nurse takes the breaks off the hospital bed and starts to wheel her out.
I don’t take my eyes off her until she disappears around the corner.
Love makes you feel powerless. I’m officially fucked.
Harlow
“There she is. I think she’s waking up,” the nurse singsongs like she does this all day, every day. Which I guess she does. She does work in surgery.
I feel him before I see him. His warm hand engulfs mine, our fingers laced, as his other strokes my hair. “You did great, baby. It’s over.”
I drag my heavy eyelids open to the man who was one of the last I saw before they made me count down from ten. I could barely concentrate on the menial task because all I could think of was his profession of love.
“All vitals are perfect,” the nurse announces. “Success all around and looking good.”
I try to swallow over my dry throat. “What about—”
“When I said success, I mean success.” the nurse interrupts.
She double checks a monitor from my finger as the automatic cuff on my arm puffs up to take my blood pressure.
“Everyone is doing great. It was easy—no complications. The team said it went as well as it could have. We’ll give you some time before we wheel you over for a visit. ”
My chest is heavy as I sigh with relief.
“She’s a giver,” Devon announces. “I knew she was, but I had no idea it would come to this.”
The nurse smiles at me. “I’m going to get you a cup of water—but just a few sips. We’ll start you out with some bland food as soon as we can.”
“But not too much,” Devon says with a smirk and never takes his eyes off me. “We don’t like waste.”
I lick my dry lips and am about to tell him he can give me all the shit he wants about my quirks, because he loves me. However, I don’t have the chance.
As soon as the nurse leaves us, he picks up my left hand and slides a band on my ring finger.
“What’s this—”
Devon doesn’t give me a chance to ask. He lifts my hand to his lips and presses a kiss to the base of my finger next to the diamond he just put there.
“As soon as you’re up to it, we’re making this official.
We’ll do it at the manor or in the middle of the construction at your grandma’s house, but we’re getting married.
When your body is ready, we’re having a baby.
From what I researched, six months is possible, waiting a year is better.
I’ve waited a lifetime for you, so I don’t care. ”
“Devon.” I look at the ring he just put on my hand and listen to the heart monitor pick up speed.
Tears form. So many tears in the last few months. But they’ve gone from scared to mad to happy. And the happy ones have been worth it. “Yes—not that you asked, but yes. I can’t wait to marry you. And babies. I can’t wait for that either.”
He leans down to take my mouth in a deep, searing kiss. When he lets up, he tips his forehead to mine. “From bridal assistant to groom. I really climbed the ladder, huh?”
My smile is weak but happy. “We got here the hard way, but it was worth it.”
“Every minute, baby. Every bloody minute it took to make you mine was worth it.”