46. Poppy
POPPY
F or a moment, I’m too stunned to speak.
Logan just asked me to marry him.
I never expected this. I mean, I should have. We fit together so perfectly—like two pieces of a puzzle. But still…he caught me completely off guard.
I stare at him, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. He looks more and more nervous by the second.
“Should I not have asked you?” he rumbles. “ I know this is a bad place for a proposal?—”
Realization slams into me. He thinks I don’t want him.
“No, no!” I blurt. “ I’m happy you asked me!”
“Then…will you?” His golden eyes search mine. “ Marry me, I mean?”
What is wrong with me, leaving the poor man hanging like this?
“Yes!” I exclaim. “ Yes , Logan —yes, I’ll marry you! But not just because we’re having these babies together. Because …” My voice falters. I feel suddenly shy, but I push the words out. “ Because you’re the kindest, sweetest, most protective man in the world. And I love you.”
There. I said it. The L word. Out in the open.
Will he say it too?
His face breaks into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. He reaches across the seat and drags me into a bear hug so strong it nearly squeezes the breath out of me.
“Oh, Poppy , sweetheart— I love you too! I’ve been wanting to tell you for so long but I didn’t know how you’d feel about it.”
He kisses me deeply and I melt into him, tasting him, savoring his warm, spicy scent that makes me feel so safe. Then I nuzzle my cheek against his rough jaw.
“Oh, Logan …how long do you think it will be before we can finalize the divorce from Dirk so you and I can get married? Do you think it can happen before I have the babies?”
Babies. Plural . The word still feels strange on my tongue.
Logan looks thoughtful.
“Let me talk to my lawyer friend again. I think we have to make a reasonable search before it can go through. But since I’ve had the private eye I hired looking for him all this time, that might count.
” He kisses me again, fierce and tender all at once.
“ I swear I’ll do everything in my power to marry you before the babies come. I swear it, kitten.”
“Thank you, Logan !” My heart is too full. I hug him tight again—so tight I almost don’t hear the rumble of my stomach.
Almost.
“Oops,” I say, embarrassed.
Logan throws back his head and laughs.
“Why are you embarrassed for being hungry? You’re pregnant, remember? You’re eating for three!”
I laugh too.
“I guess you’re right. Which is just another reason this is the perfect place for a proposal—because I think baby number two wants a big beef and cheddar.”
“Then let’s go get him one!” Logan grins. “ What does baby number one want?”
“Curly fries. Definitely curly fries.” I can’t help grinning.
“You know,” I add, “we need to start thinking of names. We can’t keep calling them ‘baby number one’ and ‘baby number two’ forever.”
“I know,” Logan agrees. “ We’ll have plenty of time to pick the perfect ones. Besides , we’re still not completely sure baby two is a boy yet.”
But I’m sure. I can feel it deep inside me. I’m carrying a little Alpha son as well as a sweet little Were girl. And soon, I’ll be married to the man of my dreams.
I can’t imagine being happier than this.
But happiness can be fragile. And somewhere in the shadows, something dark is stirring…waiting to tear our perfect world apart.