Chapter 21
Claudia looked down at the huge diamond, platinum engagement ring adorning her finger. She had no idea diamonds could be so big. She never expected hers to be that big.
“Brody, it’s too much.” She couldn’t stop staring at the ring. It was so beautiful and sparkly.
“Do you like it?” He pulled her into his lap.
“Yes.” They were out on the balcony overlooking the city. The cool autumn air smelled of burning wood. It reminded Claudia of her childhood. Those days seemed like such a long time ago. “I love it.”
“Then it’s not too much.”
“I’m going to be your wife.” The thought was staggering on so many levels. The ring symbolized what they were to one another. She was going to be Mrs. Brody Callahan. A Callahan? Who would have thought?
“Did you just figure that out?” He laughed.
“Everything has happened so fast.”
“Too much?” he asked. “I didn’t mean to rush you.”
“Not too much, but I never thought…” She trailed off, not sure how to express her feelings. “I just don’t want to mess anything up.”
“How could you?”
“Our situation isn’t normal. Most men don’t ask a woman who is pregnant by his brother to marry him. Have you really thought it through?”
She loved him with all her heart. She wanted to protect him. She never wanted to do anything to hurt or embarrass him.
“We were meant to be together.” He tilted her chin. “You have to let everything else go. I don’t care how our baby came to be. You have to believe that doesn’t matter to me.”
“I do, but I worry that maybe one day you’ll realize things are too complicated and you’ll bail. I wouldn’t blame you, but—”
“Do you honestly believe I would ever leave you?” He leaned in and kissed her. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve asked you to marry me. That means I’m in this forever.”
“I’m sorry.” She hated to be insecure, but after the way things ended with Gavin, she was afraid.
“Don’t apologize to me. I need to know what worries you.”
She had to let him in. He needed to understand where her fears and apprehensions stemmed from. If he wanted to marry her and claim her baby as his own, he deserved to know who she was.
“I’ve been alone most of my life, Brody. I’ve always had my grandmother, but she was older by the time I came to live with her. It was hard for her to raise me on her own. I spent most of my teenage years hanging out with her. I’m not complaining, but there were so many things I’ve been naive about. I was cautious with you because my past with Gavin was awkward at best. But I was afraid to let myself fall for you.” She looked down, not exactly sure how she should continue.
He stroked her hair. “Tell me.”
“I’ve told you Gavin was the first guy I’d ever been with. I’d been on a few dates, but nothing serious. I was always going to school, working, and tending to my grandmother. I should have been smarter when he pursued me. But to be honest, I liked it.”
“He’s relentless.” Brody’s jaw clenched in anger. “I’ve seen him operate. I should have paid more attention when he started coming around you. He has a reputation with the staff.”
“How could you have known? You didn’t know anything about me. When he asked me to come to his apartment, I thought he wanted me to be his housekeeper. I could have turned him down when I figured out what he really wanted, but no one had ever shown that kind of interest in me. He was smart, good looking, and he seemed to like me. I figured it was time for me to grow up. I had no idea just how much of a grown up he’d make me.” She glanced down at her stomach. “When I told him I was pregnant, he practically laughed at me. I felt like such an idiot.”
Even after all of these months, the humiliation Claudia felt the morning in Gavin’s apartment was still fresh. No one had ever spoken to her that way before.
“You trusted the wrong guy. I’m sorry my brother did that to you.” He tensed against her. “I can’t believe he manipulated you like that.”
“He’d pick me up from the main house after work and spend hours getting to know me. I was lonely. I probably told him more than I should because once he found out I was a virgin, he poured on the charm. I thought we were friends. I didn’t think I’d end up sleeping with him.”
“I’m not Gavin. I would never abandon you. This isn’t a game for me.”
“I know, but I wanted you to understand just how inexperienced I am when it comes to relationships. You’re the first guy I’ve ever loved. I just needed you to see where I’m coming from.”
“You’re overwhelmed.” He twirled her hair around his fingers. “I understand.”
“Not because I don’t trust you.” She kissed him. “Everything is new for me, but it all feels right. Does that make sense? I’m afraid I’ll do something wrong.”
“You won’t.” He peppered her face with kisses. “I won’t let you.”
“Can we hold off on the wedding until after the baby comes?”
“If that’s what you need,” he said, but she saw the disappointment in his eyes.
“I want to marry you. I wouldn’t have said yes if I wasn’t absolutely certain, but we have so much going on. I don’t want us to lose one another in all of this.”
“You’ll never lose me. You have to let go of the insecurities and the negativity. Nothing you could tell me would scare me away.”
“You’ve proven that.”
“I should hope so.” He lay back on the lounge chair, cuddling her against his chest.
“I’ve never been this happy before.” She buried her head in the crook of his neck, inhaling his clean, crisp scent. “I love you.”
“I love you too. I’ll prove it every day. You have to trust me.”
“With my life and this life too.” She placed his hand on her stomach. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t trust you.”
“I won’t let you down, Sleeping Beauty. I promise.”
“To always save me.” She giggled.
“Always.”