Waiting was the worst. I should have gone into my shop and sketched or maybe put some ink on a few arms and backs, but I didn’t. In my infinite wisdom, which turned out to be as deep as a puddle, I’d decided to wait at home all day for Trish. Thinking, for some reason, that she would get the first gift and then come running.

Then I thought maybe the second. Or the third. But now it was going on five and Trish was nowhere to be seen. I still had a small shred of hope since Nash, Zeke and the gossips in town hadn’t stopped by to give me the bad news. That was the thing about this town, it pulled you in and made you one of them before you were even aware it was happening. Sure they were nosy as hell and thought they were entitled to every aspect of your life, but as I was learning, there was pretty much nothing they wouldn’t do to help a guy get his girl.

The pizza arrived, which I thought I’d timed perfectly but leave it up to Trish to throw a wrench in my plans. I sat it on the table and waited.

And waited.

I was pretty sure that a few days had passed while I waited for her to come home but the clock said it was only thirty minutes. Who can be sure which is right? I sat on the sofa as she unlocked the door and tossed her keys into the little plate on the three legged stand beside the door, kicked off her shoes and padded into the living room. Stopping right in the doorway. “Mason.”

Was that a good or a bad ‘Mason’? I didn’t know. “Hey, Cupcake. Good day?”

Her shoulders fell with what I thought might be exhaustion but those rosy lips quirked upward at the corners into the most beautiful sight ever. A smile. “Pretty good. You?”

“Interminable.”

She laughed with her head thrown back and her throat on display. “I’ll bet. So.”

“So.” This wasn’t going well, was it? It was awkward and things weren’t awkward between us.

Her stomach growled loudly and I worked hard to suppress my smile. “Is that pizza?”

Were the pizza or love gods looking down on me with favor today? “It is. Veggie with a hint of meat and extra cheese.”

With a growl she dropped down onto the sofa and flipped open the box and popped up once more. Without looking at the pizza. “Oh I almost forgot.” She padded back to the door and came back immediately. “I made you a cake.”

That had to be good. “What kind?”

She smiled and did that little head tilt thing girls did when they were having a romantic moment. Like this one. “Black forest.”

“Aw, Cupcake, thanks babe.”

Her eyes never left mine as she dropped down again in front of the pizza. “You’re welcome. Mason, your gifts today were, well they were pretty damn amazing,” she laughed. “But your notes-,”

“Maybe you should eat first.” She frowned and I hated that flicker of doubt that flashed in her eyes but I knew it would vanish soon.

“Oh. Okay.” As much as I wanted to tear into that black forest cake animal style—no hands—I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her head slowly swiveled to the pizza and she reached for a slice and froze. “What the-?”

My heart raced as I watched her lips move while reading the message inside the box. In case you didn’t get that, I said I LOVE YOU, TRISH. Got it?

A laugh exploded out of her, equal parts shock and happiness. “Who knew bad boys were so cheesy?”

My eyebrows frowned even as my lips spread into an uncontainable smile. “Who knew good girls were so bad?”

Her smile dimmed a little. “Did you mean all the stuff you said in those notes?” I knew the answer was important to her so I took my time, making sure our gazes were locked when I answered.

“Every last one of them.” That tiny little gasp went straight to my heart.

“Because I don’t want you to say…what you did out of pity or some misguided sense of obligation or loyalty or whatever.”

Or whatever. That was typical Trish. “You need proof?” I wasn’t upset that she didn’t believe me. I’d done a crap job of making her see, really see how I felt about her. I have to admit I was kind of amused at her hesitation. It was adorable and it gave me something I desperately needed right now. Hope.

“I’m not saying that, but, oh my god,” she moaned one second after biting into the pizza which was her favorite. “That’s good pizza.” Then, seeming to remember the conversation we were having, she sat up taller. “You have to admit that it’s a little convenient that you think I’m pregnant and then suddenly you love me and want to marry me.”

I stood and went in search of the final envelope. The one I was hoping I wouldn’t need, but seeing how distraught she was made me feel better about grabbing it. If Trish didn’t want me, didn’t want us to happen, she wouldn’t care why I was declaring my love, right? That’s how I chose to think of it anyway.

“Don’t walk away from me, Mason!”

“Settle down, Cupcake!” It wasn’t wise to tease her when she was so emotionally fragile but I just couldn’t help it.

“Get back here, I’m trying to talk to you.”

My lips twitched to contain the smile I knew she would hear. “Keep talking, I’m just grabbing something. I can hear you.”

“Unbelievable,” she growled to herself. Then all I heard was chewing for a few moments before she spoke again. “Fine. I guess this is how I’ll tell you that I love you too for the very first time! But hey, that’s okay because you have to get something, right?”

Her frustration was mounting and even though my mouth was smiling, my hands were pressed against the wall to keep my heart from jumping right out of my chest at her words. I love you too. She loved me.

“You know I was gonna say all these great things about how you look so hot and tough on the outside but inside you have the heart of the very best man. I thought about telling you that I’ve never had sex or made love as intensely as I do with you, that I think we could have a really amazing life together if we gave this thing a chance.”

My legs moved to carry me down the stairs and back to the living room. “You were gonna say all that?” She nodded. “Would’ve been a beautiful speech.”

Her lips twitched. “Yeah it would’ve been amazing. You would have been in tears by now.”

I couldn’t let her see just how close I actually was so I flashed a smile. The one that never failed to get her all hot and bothered. “So you think I’m a stud in the bedroom?”

Trish tried to hang on to her serious face but she couldn’t. Two seconds she lasted before her head fell back and she laughed, loud and husky and happy. “No dummy, well I mean yes but not, that’s not what I’m saying.”

I stared at her, waiting while she took the world’s longest breath for her to tell me the words I wanted to hear. I needed to hear so I could stop this wicked racing heart. “Well, woman, are you going to leave me in suspense?”

“Oh sorry, I got lost in that pizza.”

“Cupcake.”

“Yes?”

“What are you saying?” She opened her mouth to speak and I stopped her. “Oh, wait. This is for you.”

“Another envelope. It doesn’t say April Fool’s does it?”

I arched a brow at her. “Is it April Fool’s Day?”

She snatched the envelope and pulled out the receipt for the gift certificate while I held my breath. “Three weeks ago? You bought this three weeks ago?”

“Yep. At first I didn’t even know why but then I did. And you know what, Cupcake, it felt damn good.” She did that little sideways smile and her knee bent just a little. My woman.

“But, that’s before…be-,” she stopped again, blue eyes welling with tears that just about tore apart from the inside out.

“Yeah. Before I found out that you were pregnant.”

“M-M-Might be pregnant,” she corrected. “You’re right, I’m a coward.”

“I know but that’s okay because if I realized I was falling in love with me, it might scare me too.”

She laughed just as I hoped she would. “That might be part of it but I see you, Mason. You might be able to land the role of bad boy in Hollywood but you’re not that guy. You are considerate,”

“But in a manly way.”

Her smile softened. “Totally manly. You’re also sweet and thoughtful, in a manly way.” The love I saw in her eyes humbled me. Brought me to my knees at her side. “You listen when I talk instead of just talking to my boobs.”

“Who says a man can’t do both?”

“Well I love you for listening and I can’t wait to put that baking equipment and the chocolate to use.”

“I’m surprised you showed up at all after getting your hands on that chocolate.”

Trish licked her lips. Slowly and it was like the tip was connected to my cock, slowly waking him up. “Who says I didn’t?”

“Does that mean we have something to celebrate? Like you saying that you’ll be my bride?”

Blue eyes sparkled up at me like I was…hell, I don’t know, something special. “Impatient?”

“Hell yes.”

She laughed again. “I love you, Mason.”

I slid closer and wrapped my arms around her waist, mindful that it was very likely my child was growing inside her right now. “I love you too, Cupcake. So much.”

She relaxed against me, laying her head on my shoulder. “That’s good to hear because I’m kind of excited to marry you.”

“We’re already married.” But if she wanted another ceremony, well I’d give it to her.

“Yeah but we have to give the town a satisfying ending they worked so hard for. A big celebration.”

“Or-,”

“A big celebration that takes place when you want it to.”

That was easy. Too easy. “What’s the catch?”

She blinked, innocently. “There’s no catch. But I want to remember our next wedding and our next wedding night. So,”

I didn’t like where that long pause was heading.

“I think we shouldn’t have sex until our wedding night.”

Dammit. “Does next week work for you?”

She nodded, laughing her cute little ass off as I nibbled her throat. “It does,” she told me and claimed my mouth in a hot raunchy kiss, grinding against me while she made love to my mouth with hers. “And you know what’s even better?”

Could anything be better than hearing my girl tell me she loves me? While she’s rubbing that irresistible body up against me? “What?”

“I’ve decided where I want my tattoo.”

I pulled back as she tore off her shirt. And her bra, lifting her left breast slightly she pointed to the spot just under it. “Right there. I do. And I want you to do it.”

Her smile bloomed beautifully and I stole another kiss that was quickly getting out of hand. “Can we uh…do this now?”

She laughed but her face sobered. “What if I’m not pregnant?”

That’s what she was worried about? I pressed our bodies together, pulling her down on the floor on top of me. “Then I guess we should start working on it, just to be sure.”

She wore a mock serious look. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint my husband.”

“Cupcake you could never disappoint me, now come closer so I can whisper naughty things in your ear.”

She laughed. “I love it when you talk dirty to me, Mason.”

I knew she did. Because I fell in love with a good girl who was bad to the bone.