Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Donovan
Life doesn’t often grant you moments that become etched so deeply in your memory that they are an integral part of who you are and dictate every decision you make going forward.
Even before Delia enters the main living area, I know that I’ll remember this morning for the rest of my life.
The sun hasn’t risen over the city yet, but the view from the window I’m next to is quintessential New York City. Park Avenue is beyond the glass and although most of the city is still waking up, there are dozens of people rushing down the sidewalks while others pass themin cars, SUVs and trucks.
“Donovan?” she calls to me in a voice that is laced with emotion.
I bite my bottom lip to quell everything I’m feeling because regardless of the result, I’m in love with her.
I spin and I know. I know instantly because there’s a bright smile on her face and her hands are resting on her shirt over her stomach.
“We’re having a baby, Donovan.”
The words surround me. I feel as though they’re cloaking me in a future that I only ever dreamed was a remote possibility for me.
“Delia.” I rush to her and gather her into my arms. “Delia.”
“I’m happy,” she whispers. “I’m so happy. Are you?”
I step back so she can see the answer within my eyes. “I’m so fucking happy.”
“You are?” she questions, studying my face. “Truly?”
“Truly.” My voice cracks. “I can’t tell you how happy.”
She nods. “It’s still very early so we can’t tell anyone. When Bianca was pregnant she didn’t share the news with any of us until she was more than three months along.”
Her sister-in-law took the safe route. We will, too.
“I’ll need to find a doctor,” she muses out loud. “I have a doctor, but I need an OBGYN. I can’t exactly ask Faith for a recommendation.”
I can’t tell if she’s thinking about that in terms of Matt finding out, but that’s inevitable at this point.
I’m all for waiting another six weeks to be sure the pregnancy passes the crucial three month mark, but we’ll have to tell her brother about it at some point before our baby arrives.
Our baby.
I’m having a baby with the woman I love.
“I have a friend who I’m sure will be more than happy to take you on as a patient.”
“Really?” Her gaze finds mine and I see joy there. I see nothing but joy in her beautiful brown eyes.
“Dr. Hazel Waverly is her name.” I steady my hands on her shoulders. “I’ll reach out when you’re ready to see her.”
“Soon, I think, right?” she questions. “I’ve never had a baby so I’m not sure, but I think I need to take vitamins. She’ll help with that.”
“She will,” I assure her.
“We’ll do this together?” Her hands jump to her face to swipe away a rush of tears. “We’ll co-parent, right?”
I want a hell of a lot more than that, but baby steps seem appropriate right now since we’ve gone from almost strangers to expecting a child together in the span of six weeks.
“We’ll co-parent our child, Delia,” I stress each word. “I’ll be here every step of the way.”
“I’ll need to get a crib,” she whispers. “You’ll need one for your house, too.”
I don’t want that. I want this baby to have one crib, one changing table, one home and I want that to be wherever Delia wants it to be, but she’s not on the same path that I am in that regard and now is not the time to profess my love for her.
“There’s plenty of time for all of that,” I say as I stare at her.
“I’ll make a list,” she tells me. “I always make lists when it comes to important things and this is the most important thing ever.”
“For me, too.”
Her gaze roams my face. “You’re going to be a dad, Donovan. You do know the baby is yours, right?”
If she were anyone else I’d likely demand a paternity test, but this is Delia. My heart knows that this baby is mine.
I nod. “I know.”
“We’ll need a custody agreement, I guess.” She glances down before her eyes are right back on mine. “That’s important, isn’t it?”
Unable to answer, I simply look at her.
“I don’t need child support or anything like that.” She blows out a breath. “You won’t either, will you?”
“No,” I answer succinctly. “We can figure all of that out in a few months.”
I want that window of time so I can find a way to get her to understand that I’m the man for her.
“We will.” She blows out a deep breath. “Everything’s changed, Donovan.”
I take a risk and reach out to cradle her beautiful face in my hands. “In the best possible way.”
A single tear falls from her eye. “It must have happened on the ship. I messed up the timing of my birth control pills, then I got sick from the shrimp scampi and couldn’t keep anything in.”
“Then I took you raw after we bathed together,” I continue our story.
Her tongue trails over her bottom lip. “I’ll never forget that.”
Neither will I.
I press my lips to hers for a soft kiss but she deepens it almost instantly when she wraps her hands around my biceps.
We break apart just as moan leaves her. “Come to bed with me?”
I don’t know if she’s asking for more than comfort, but I’ll give her whatever she needs. “It would be my pleasure.”
“That’s what I want,” she whispers, her gaze giving that away as it drops to the front of my jeans. “Pleasure.”
I’ll give her that every chance I get for as long as I get, so I hike her up so she can wrap her legs around my waist. “Tell me where I’m headed to, Delia.”
“My bed.” She glances over her shoulder. “It’s the last door on the left.”
With my hands on her ass, I carry her down the hallway while she rests her lips against my neck. “I love when you fuck me.”
I love you.
Those three words that I’ve been holding so tightly within me for weeks almost fall from my lips, but I keep them in because tonight is not the night for that.
Tonight, I’ll make her come under my touch again and again.