Chapter 17 #3
With frustration rippling off him in great waves, he sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. “I know it’s a big deal, Laura. I get it. Trust me on that.”
“It’s a lot to ask anyone to take on. Everything between us is so new, and who knows how you’ll feel in a couple of months when it all becomes very real?”
He stared at her, incredulous. “You still think I’m going to bolt, don’t you? After all we’ve already been through together, you’re waiting for me to cut and run.”
Gripping his arm, she stopped him when he would’ve left the bed. “I don’t think you’re going to bolt. Honestly, I don’t. But it’s really important to me that you know if the day comes when it becomes too much for you, all you have to do is say so.”
How could she say that? Especially after what had just transpired between them. “Duly noted.”
“You’re mad.”
Scrubbing his hands over his face, he released a ragged deep breath and forced himself to look at her. “Not mad. Frustrated, I guess.” Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips. “When I say I love you, I mean it. I really do.”
“I know you do. You’ve shown me that every day for months.”
“I’ve gone out of my way to avoid words like ‘love’ and ‘forever’ because I wasn’t willing to make the commitment that goes with them. Now I am.”
Her eyes went soft and misty, which made him want her all over again. “And I love you for that. More than you could possibly know. All I’m saying is it’s one thing to make a commitment to me. It’s another thing altogether to commit to a baby who isn’t yours.”
He bit back a flash of anger. “When is your next doctor’s appointment?”
She seemed surprised by the question and his unusually sharp tone. “Um, I’m seeing Victoria, the midwife, on Monday for an exam and ultrasound. Why?”
“Can I come?”
Her eyes got very big, and she started to say something but stopped herself.
“Well, can I?”
“Y-yes, I suppose if you really want to.”
“I really want to. What about the classes? The ones they show in the movies with all the huffing and puffing.”
Biting back a laugh at his description, she said, “Childbirth preparation?”
“Yeah. Who’s going to that with you?”
“I was going to ask Grace—”
“I’ll do it.”
“Oh.” She seemed momentarily speechless. “You know that means you also have to be in the delivery room as my labor coach, right?”
“Duh.” He knew he sounded like a bratty ten-year-old, but damn it, she’d pissed him off by questioning his commitment.
And as fast as he’d worked up the head of steam it dissipated.
He supposed it was only natural that she’d be concerned about whether he would be as committed to her child as he was to her. “Sorry. That was uncalled for.”
Laura held out her arms to him. “Come here.”
Under no circumstances could he resist her when she looked at him that way.
Even though he was still annoyed and agitated, he slid into her warm embrace.
Being in her arms was like coming home, only better.
As a military brat, he’d never been truly at home anywhere, except for the summers he’d spent at the Surf with his grandparents.
How ironic—and fitting—that the hotel should serve as the backdrop for this new chapter in his life.
“I’m sorry.” She kissed his cheek and ran a soothing hand over his back. “I didn’t mean to question your commitment. That’s not fair after everything you’ve done for me.”
“It’s not about what I’ve done for you. I only do exactly what I want to—nothing more, nothing less. Being with you, doing things for you, it’s the most natural thing in the world to me.”
She tightened her hold on him. “Owen . . .”
“What, honey?”
“Do you really want to be my labor coach?”
“Hell, yes. I want to be there when the little guy takes his first breath. I want to be there for his first steps. I want to be there for everything.” When his gaze met hers, he was surprised to find her eyes swimming with tears. “What?”
“You’re amazing. I have to be the luckiest girl on the face of the earth.”
Touched by her words and the emotion he heard behind them, he said, “Just because he isn’t mine doesn’t mean I won’t love him, Princess. As much as I love his mother.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. “Thank you. For that and a million other things. I love you so much. So, so much.”
With his face buried in soft, fragrant hair, his hands full of soft, fragrant skin, and his heart full of her soft, sincere words, Owen had never been happier or more content.
If only the nagging worry about what Justin might or might not do weren’t hanging over them, everything in Owen’s world would be perfect.
“We need to get going to Luke and Syd’s. ”
“In a minute.” Her mouth found his in a kiss that said more than words alone ever could about the deep bond they’d formed.
“Keep that up, and we’re going to need more than a few minutes.”
“I don’t mind being late,” she said with a saucy grin that got his motor running all over again. “Do you?”
He slid his leg between hers and tugged her closer to him. “I don’t mind at all.”