Chapter Seven
Two Months Later
“You’re moody,” Christopher said.
“I’m not moody. I’m thinking … that is a completely different thing.”
He wasn’t in the mood to talk. This morning, once again, he and Kirsty had woken up together, and she had no choice but to run to the toilet to vomit. He had noticed this happening every day this past week.
It wasn’t down to the food she had eaten, as she’d cooked it all, and he was fine. They had gone from sharing one or two meals a week to eating with each other every single day. If they were not at his home, they were at hers, and they were still sneaking around.
The sneaking around had started to bother him a little. He wanted to make their relationship public, but Kirsty wasn’t ready. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was embarrassed to be dating him, which upset him. He wasn’t embarrassed about her, but Kirsty was still insisting on them sneaking around.
There was no fun to be had. No fun at all.
He ran a hand down his face, and where a few months ago he’d found himself to be inspired, right now he was in a mood. Even though he’d told Christopher he wasn’t in a mood, he was. And it was all because of Kirsty.
His Kirsty. The woman he’d fallen in love with. No, that was not accurate. The woman he’d been in love with since high school, but one stupid reason after another had kept them apart. He was pissed.
And she could also be pregnant, which he didn’t know if she was aware of or not.
“You and I have two very different definitions of what we consider moody,” Christopher said.
“Look, I’m sorry, I’m not in the mood.”
“Trouble in paradise?” Christopher asked.
He opened his mouth and closed it.
Christopher laughed. “Everyone knows you and Kirsty are in a sexual relationship, Ward. The only ones that don’t believe it are the two of you. Sneaking around doesn’t work.”
Ward blew out a breath and collapsed into his office chair. “I don’t know what to do.”
“About?”
“Kirsty.”
“We all know you and Kirsty are together, but that doesn’t mean we know what kind of problems you’re having.”
“Kirsty doesn’t want to go public. She … I don’t know … I think she likes sneaking around.”
“Or, maybe she likes having you to herself?” Christopher asked.
“Nah, that can’t be it. Even if we were to tell the whole town we’re together, she’d still have me to herself.”
“Would she? Or would people keep poking and prodding, wanting to know your business? In case you didn’t know, people like to do that, and feel they have a right to do that.” Christopher shrugged.
“I get the feeling you’re defending her.”
“I’m just saying there could be a reason she doesn’t want to go public, and even though it doesn’t sound like a logical one, it kind of is. Also, she is being a little selfish in keeping you.” Christopher stared at him. “But I get the sense that’s not all that is bothering you.”
Ward groaned and ran a hand across his face. “No, it’s not.”
“Then tell me, what is?”
He knew he didn’t have anything to lose. If Kirsty was pregnant, it was only a matter of time before everyone knew the truth. “I think she’s pregnant.”
“Wow,” Christopher said, and took a step back.
“It’s not contagious.”
“Oh, I know, I just didn’t know how you were going to react. You’ve gotten a woman pregnant.”
“No, I’ve gotten Kirsty pregnant. There is a difference.”
“Yeah, what is the difference?” Christopher asked.
“I love Kirsty,” he said, and then he looked toward his best friend, who was merely smiling. “What the … did you do that on purpose?”
“Nah, I didn’t do anything on purpose. I just wanted to hear the truth of what I’ve known all these years.”
“That I am in love with Kirsty Blake?”
“Yeah, and what are you going to do about it?” he asked.
“I don’t know what the hell to do.”
“Does she know how you feel?” Christopher asked.
“I don’t have a clue.”
“Then I guess it’s up to you to figure that one out.”
Ward didn’t know what to do. Running a hand across his face, he tried to clear all the fog that surrounded him. Nothing seemed to make a lot of sense to him.
He wasn’t afraid of Kirsty being pregnant. In fact, he would be delighted. He wanted to marry her, to grow old and have a family together, to love her for the rest of their lives.
Holy crap, he didn’t know when this realization began to happen, only that it did. She had gone from being his enemy to the person he looked forward to seeing. Even before then, he looked forward to seeing her, just to argue.
He must be losing his mind, but damn it, he was in love with Kirsty.
“Will you mind the shop?” Ward asked.
He didn’t have any clients booked for at least a couple of hours, but he needed to see Kirsty.
Christopher had already responded by the time he was out the door.
****
Pregnant.
Those were what the lines represented, and Kirsty wasn’t at all surprised. The sickness had been a massive indicator of the fact something wasn’t right. Also, her sense of smell was way off lately, and she was sensitive to certain smells. Bethany had even asked her, jokingly, if she was pregnant.
She’d wanted to talk to Ward before she went and got a random test, but now, as she stared at the lines, she really wished she’d talked to him that afternoon.
Putting the cap back on the end of the test, she left the bathroom. She should have totally done this inside her apartment, but she’d not wanted to leave the bar, as she was dealing with multiple deliveries. Stepping out of the toilet, she heard her name being called, and she turned to see Ward in the main bar.
“Ward, what are you doing here?” she asked.
He walked right up to her and sunk his fingers into her hair, pressing his lips against hers.
There was no one from town around. The bar wasn’t even open yet. Not that she cared. The truth was, she couldn’t wait to tell the town that she and Ward were together, but she was being selfish. They would try to have their say, and the truth was, she loved Ward and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
She didn’t know how he’d gone from being her enemy to the guy she was in love with. Seeing him every day, being near him, made her suddenly realize what she’d been missing all these years.
Ward pressed his head against hers.
“I love you, Kirsty Blake. I have always loved you, but it’s only now that I realize it. I don’t give a fuck about the bet, or what the town thinks, or any of that shit. All I care about is you. You’re the only person I want, the only person I crave, and I want you to know that. I’m not going anywhere.”
He kissed her again, and then he spun around as if to leave.
Kirsty watched him go, and then it was like her brain suddenly activated, and she rushed out to see him. He was heading back to his truck.
“Ward, wait.” She rushed toward him, and then threw herself into his arms.
He held onto her, and she kissed him back.
“I love you too,” she said between kisses, and then she cupped his face and released a little laugh. “I love you, and I hope this doesn’t scare you away, but we’re going to have a baby.”
She reached into her jeans pocket and held up a stick for him to read. “We’re pregnant.”
Kirsty didn’t know what she expected him to do. To laugh, maybe show rejoice, or any number of things, but he sunk down on one knee and stared up at her. She didn’t anticipate this. Her mouth went dry, there was a little panic within her body, and she waited.
“Marry me,” he said.
“Ward?”
“I don’t care. I love you, Kirsty and we’ve wasted enough time. Fighting with you is fun. Saying crazy shit is great, and I won’t stop teasing or tormenting you, but I’ve got to have you. I love your crazy ass. I want to be with you, every single part of you, forever. Please marry me. I want to be your husband and the father of your babies.”
She didn’t think, she didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”
He got to his feet, cupped her face, and then sealed it with a kiss. Kirsty’s heart fluttered.
“I don’t have a ring yet, but I’ll get you one.”
“I don’t need a ring,” she said. “All I need is you.”
“You’ve got me—for the rest of our lives, you have me.”
For months, they had been sneaking around, where every prying local seemed to be there, to talk about what they were doing and with who. The moment Kirsty tells him she’s pregnant, and Ward proposes, there’s not a single person to bear witness, and it’s a tale she and Ward have to tell repeatedly, and sometimes even reenact.