Chapter Eight

Lena

“So, it’s a digital one.” I was rambling. I did that when I was nervous.

“Okay, baby.”

“It’s going to just say pregnant or not pregnant.” I fought from blinking, afraid to miss a moment. I had just done my thing and let him step into the bathroom.

“You’re shirtless,” I pointed out, looking at him now in navy blue sweatpants.

“We’re staying in.”

“We just got engaged.”

“We did.”

“Are you sure about—”

“Positive,” he cut me off, answering so damn sincerely there was no way of not believing him.

“How will this work? You’re all over the place, and I’m here.”

“Do you have to be here?” he asked, not in a critical way but in a way I knew he was honestly curious.

“No,” I answered honestly.

“But?” I smiled because even though the time between us wasn’t huge, he totally knew me.

“But.” I took a deep breath and shared, “My sister is here, and her boys are here. My nephews are important to me. My family is important.”

“Then we stay here.” He shrugged like he had just chosen an ice cream flavor instead of where we would be living.

“Knox—”

“I can work anywhere.”

“But your dad? You just asked me if I would go with you—”

“He and I talked. Babe, I told him all about you, and he was the one who suggested that maybe you wouldn’t want to move, so I should and stay here with you, and I agreed. So, I found my replacement, just in case. It’s all done and taken care of. I still had to ask what you wanted, even though I already knew.”

“So, you quit your job?” Shit, was my maybe baby daddy unemployed?

“I am taking a different position in my family’s business. Minimal travel. Most of the work I need to do can be done wherever I can access wi-fi.”

“That easy?”

“It’s what took time these last six weeks to set up. Otherwise, I would have never left for my last trip.”

“Who’s taking over for you?” I found myself asking, and the way he grinned, I knew.

“Casey. My assistant.” I laughed and leaned my head against his perfectly solid chest. “I’m not leaving.”

“You’re not leaving?” I asked, the surprise in my voice clear. Holy crap, everything was changing fast.

“Nope.” His talented fingers ran through my hair. The simple gesture was sweet and soothing and exactly what I needed so I wouldn’t freak out. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I like the sound of that,” I whispered against his lips, breathing his air.

He loved me, and I loved him.

We were getting married.

My morning was leaps and bounds better than I could have dreamt up when I woke up.

“I love how you feel next to me.” His lips moved over mine. Damn, all he had to do was breathe around me, and I was primed to go. My lips moved over his. I moved with his, pulling slightly away. “I like how you make me feel next to you.” His nose grazed mine, my body shivering. I was turned on. Kissing Knox Madison was foreplay on its own.

The alarm on his phone went off.

It’s time.

“It’s time,” he mumbled against my mouth, and I nodded. “Funny girl,” he called out right as I was about to turn, and I looked back up at his dark eyes.

“Yes?”

“No matter what that test says, I’m here. I’m not leaving. I’m here in a way that is for you. Not because you got Knoxed up.

“You just wanted to use your name as a verb,” I teased softly.

“Maybe.” He shrugged, a cute smirk on his face. “But maybe I’m saying it because I don’t ever want you to question why I’m here.”

His tone and words made my eyes sting, and a wave of relief washed over me. No matter what, everything would be okay. I knew I couldn’t see the future, but I knew that Knox and I would figure life out. Together.

“Okay.” And I knew it was a simple word to answer exactly how okay I was with that. I turned toward the counter as his body covered my back, his face on my shoulder peeking over.

Pregnant.

“You Knoxed me up.” I giggled. Warm, happy tears ran down my face, and I felt him squeeze me from behind.

“Thank fuck,” he cursed in my ear, the smile sounding in his voice, and it only made me laugh harder.