20. Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Ellie
T he floorboards creak under my restless steps as I pace the length of my living room, my mind a tangled web of what-ifs and how-tos. My thumb hovers over my phone screen, as I think about what Danielle and Olivia told me over brunch last weekend—about focusing on the first step of just telling Jake. Then I can deal with what comes next.
I pause by the window, staring out at the late afternoon sunlight, feeling the weight of the secret inside me. Jake hasn't been at his apartment since our fallout, and I'm torn between the desire to respect his need for space and the urgency to not let another day slip by without telling him about the baby. Showing up unannounced at his ranch could backfire, though. The image of him, arms crossed, jaw clenched in that defensive stance he does so well, flashes through my mind.
Maybe meeting somewhere neutral would be best. I can just convince him to meet me for coffee. That’s what I’ll do.
I look at my phone, ready to tap out a message, when I see an incoming text that makes my heart leap into my throat. It's from Jake: Can you come by the ranch today?
I blink at it a few times, wondering if I’m seeing things. I have no idea what this means. Does he want to talk or tell me about something of mine I left there? I don’t know, but it seems like it will be a good time to face my worries and just tell him about this life now growing inside me.
I respond and tell him I’m on my way. Then without letting myself have doubts, I grab my car keys and head out. It's now or never.
I get in the car and head out to the ranch, the familiar turns onto unpaved roads and winding driveways doing little to calm my frayed nerves. By the time I pull up in front of the main ranch house, my heart's pounding so hard I'm afraid it might burst from my chest. I take a deep breath and step out, the smell of earth and hay hitting my nose.
Jake's already waiting on the front porch, leaning against the railing with his arms crossed, his usual worn jeans and boots accentuating his muscular frame. He straightens when I step out of the car, raking a hand through his hair as I approach.
There's something about him today that seems less...fortified than usual. His shoulders aren't quite as squared, his eyes not as shielded. We greet each other with a stilted hello, the awkwardness hanging between us.
"Charlotte okay?" I ask, trying to fill the silence with something, anything familiar.
"Yeah. She's at a friend's for the night," he replies, and his voice has that telltale tremor of nerves. I hug myself, suddenly cold despite the warm air.
I’m too anxious for small talk, so I get to the question that’s heavy on my mind. "Why did you ask me here, Jake?"
"Can we...go for a horseback ride?" he asks, and I can tell it's not really what he wants to ask. There's a bigger question in his eyes.
I glance warily at the two horses Jake already saddled. They’re reigns are tied to a fence nearby. A horseback ride is the last thing I should be doing right now because of the risk for the baby. I hesitate, and Jake misreads it instantly. "Don't worry, the one I picked for you is gentle. She'll take good care of you."
"Jake," I start, but stop myself. This isn't how I want to break the news. Not yet. He deserves to say his piece first because he clearly invited me here for a reason. “I, um…Why did you ask me here?”
He nods and rakes a hand through his long dark hair again. "Listen, Ellie," he starts, then takes a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine. "I've been a complete idiot. Pushing you away, telling myself I wasn't ready. Truth is, I was just scared. Scared of not being enough for you. I kept trying to keep my distance because the more time I spent with you, the harder it was to remember why I shouldn't..."
He trails off, but the unspoken words hang in the air between us, as loud as any confession. My heart kicks into a sprint, pulse thrumming at his admission.
"Shouldn't what?" I ask softly.
Jake meets my gaze, a storm of emotion swirling in his eyes. "Shouldn't fall for you. But I did anyway."
My breath catches in my throat, but I don’t say anything, just give him time.
The vulnerability in his eyes makes my chest ache. "Ellie, I'm a widower with an eight-year-old daughter. My life is complicated, and the last thing I should be doing is dragging you into it."
"I'm a big girl," I say softly. "I can handle complicated."
Jake shakes his head. "I'm not the same man I was before Sarah died. There are days when the grief still hits me like a ton of bricks. It's not something that just goes away."
I reach for his hand, lacing our fingers together. "You loved her with all your heart. She'll always be a part of you."
He stares at our joined hands, thumb tracing circles over my knuckles. "I don't know if I can give you what you deserve. But I’m ready to try. You're someone special, Ellie Carter, and I'd be a damn fool to let you slip away. I know that now, and I’m sorry for how foolishly I acted before." Jake meets my gaze, eyes dark with longing. "If we do this, it has to be real. I won't do anything halfway, and I won't let you go without a fight."
My heart swells at his words. "I wouldn't want it any other way." Tears prick the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over. Olivia's words echo in my head—Jake just needed time to face his fears. And here he is, heart on his sleeve, asking for a second chance. I blink rapidly, trying to clear the emotional haze.
"Jake," I manage to get out, my voice barely above a whisper. He watches me with an intensity that makes my pulse race. "I...I forgive you." It's all I can say before the space between us disappears and his lips meet mine in a kiss that feels like coming home.
The kiss is a promise, a silent vow that speaks louder than any words could. The taste of him, the feel of his strong arms around me—it's overwhelming and exactly what I've been craving. But as we part, I'm brought back to reality by his next words.
"Join me for a sunset horseback ride?" Jake asks again, a hopeful glint in his brown eyes.
"Jake, I—I can't," I stammer, the weight of my secret pressing down on me. The tension between us crackles.
"Is it that you don't want to?" he asks. He looks so disappointed that my heart aches.
"No, it's not that." My heart hammers against my ribcage. "It's just..." The words stick in my throat, heavy and terrifying.
"Ellie, what is it?" He reaches out to steady me with gentle hands.
Taking a deep breath, I find the courage that's been hiding beneath my fear. "I'm pregnant."
The world stands still for a heartbeat. His eyes widen, mouth falling open as he tries to process the bombshell I've just dropped. Jake Wilder, the man who always seems to have everything under control, looks utterly shell-shocked.
"Y-you're what?" he stutters.
"Pregnant," I repeat, my voice trembling.
A silence stretches between us, fraught with a thousand unspoken thoughts, until suddenly, his shock morphs into joy. A wide smile spreads across Jake's face, lighting up his eyes, and he pulls me into a tight embrace that lifts me off the ground.
"Ellie." He cups my face in his hands, gazing down at me with a tenderness that makes my breath catch. "That's...that's the best news I've had in a long time."
Tears prick my eyes and I blink them back. "Really?"
"Really." He kisses me then, a sweet and lingering kiss that seals his promise. “I can't wait to meet our baby."
Our baby. The words send a surge of warmth through me as I cling to him, overwhelmed by the wave of joy and relief crashing over us. When we break apart I'm breathless, caught in the wonder of this moment.
"No more running away," he echoes. "You and this baby, you're my future now. My family."
Family. The word fills me with a peace I've never known. I rest my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, and smile.
He kisses my forehead. “But I really need you to come with me to the forest, so we’ll take an ATV.”
"Sounds perfect," I say, my own smile mirroring his.
The forest is bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun as we drive up to a secluded spot. Jake's hand is warm in mine, and I can't help but feel that despite the chaos, everything is as it should be.
He helps me off the ATV, and I gasp at the sight before me. A blanket spread on the ground with a picnic basket, surrounded by a sea of wildflowers, and in the center, a single rose. There are a few LED lanterns creating a soft glow around the scene.
Jake leads me to the blanket. "Ellie," he begins, his voice cracking with emotion as he goes down on one knee. My heart leaps into my throat. He’s always been a man who cuts to the point, so he simply asks. "Will you marry me?"
Joy floods through me, so intense it's almost paralyzing. Yet, there's a shadow lurking—Marcus. What will my protective older brother think of this?
"Jake, did you...?" I start, but he's ahead of me.
"Marcus knows. He gave me his blessing.”
"Are you serious?" Disbelief colors my tone; my mind can’t quite grasp it.
Without another word, Jake pulls out his phone and calls Marcus, putting him on speakerphone.
"Marcus?" I ask, my voice shaking. “Jake said he talked to you about…proposing?” I can barely get the word out, still not believing this is happening.
"Ellie," Marcus replies gruffly. "Jake's a great guy—you could do a lot worse."
Jake and I both laugh. "Thanks...I guess," I reply. “So you’re really okay with this? You’re not going to get on my case and act all moody?”
He sighs. “I’m warming up to it and gave him my blessing. Don’t make me change my mind. Jake…Did she say yes or what?”
"Don't know yet," Jake says, looking at me with raised eyebrows.
I stare at him. Oh my god, I haven’t even responded. “Yes!” I shout. “Yes. Yes I want to marry you and have this baby with you and all of it.”
“Baby??” Marcus yells, but Jake hangs up on him for now.
Jake slides the ring on my finger and then I launch myself into his arms.
Our kiss is full of the promises we're making to each other—a future together, a family. It's passionate and tender all at once, and as his hands roam my back, I'm struck by the realization that this is it. This is real. I'm going to marry Jake Wilder.
"Love you," I murmur against his lips.
"Love you more," he whispers back, and I know it's true.
We eat a romantic dinner under the fading light of sunset, then Jake packs it all up into the ATV and we drive back to the ranch house. From there, it’s a wonder we even make it to his room before tearing each other’s clothes off.
The door to Jake's room swings open and the world outside evaporates; it's just him and me, heat rising between us like a living thing. As if pulled by an invisible force, our hands are on each other, fingers dancing over fabric in a hurried frenzy. His shirt—gone. My dress—a pool of fabric at my feet.
"Ellie," he breathes out, his voice husky, as he backs me towards the bed.
"Jake," I whisper back, equally breathless. I'm aware of only him—the strength of his arms as they encircle me, the intensity in his brown eyes that flicker with a flame only I can quench.
He lays me down gently, his body hovering over mine. His lips find mine again, igniting a fire that burns through my veins. I arch into him, craving more, needing to feel as much of him as possible. His hands roam everywhere, setting every inch of my skin on fire.
"God, Ellie, you're so beautiful," he murmurs, as his mouth trails down my neck, marking a path to my chest.
"Jake, I—" The rest of my sentence dissolves into a moan as he latches onto a nipple. He's relentless, thorough, giving each breast attention.
He spreads my legs wide and just takes all of me in. "You have no idea how much I want you, Ellie. You’ve been on my mind every second since the moment you moved in next door and said hi.”
"Then take me," I say, winding my arms around his neck to pull him closer. "I'm yours. I think I was from that first moment."
He groans at my words and then his mouth is everywhere again—on my neck, my collarbone, my breasts. He lowers his lips between my legs, his tongue darting out to taste me. I arch into him, craving his touch, my hands fisting in his hair. His mouth and tongue work me into a frenzy, then he raises himself.
When he finally enters me we both cry out, the pleasure so intense it's nearly painful. He fills me, completes me, and as we move together in a rhythm, I’m so happy we found each other.
I’d cross that line with him over and over.
"I love you," I manage.
"Love you more," he replies, each thrust purposeful, as if he's trying to convey everything he feels with his body.
When I shatter around him, his name on my lips, he follows after me. We lie there together, slick with sweat and breathless, our hearts pounding against each other.
In the quiet aftermath, Jake's lips press against my stomach, sending shivers across my skin. "I can't believe we're having a baby," he whispers.
"Me neither," I confess, my hand finding his as it rests on my belly. We're silent for a moment, just holding each other, savoring the closeness. “But you’re happy?” I finally ask.
He grins. “So damn much.”
I grin back. I realize that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be—with the husband and family I always dreamed of.