One to Take (One to Hold 8)

“I know! I don’t know what happened.” I shrug, gripping the tops of his toned shoulders. “I noticed my body acting weird, then I figured out I’d skipped a period. By the time I finally went to the doctor I was eight weeks along.”

“Eight weeks…” His eyes drop to my stomach followed closely by his hands. Holding my sides, he runs his palm along my still-flat stomach. “How far along are you now?”

“The doctor in town said I’m at twelve weeks. It’s time to do an ultrasound, but I couldn’t do it without you there.”

“The doctor in town?” His eyes are back on mine, and I nod, laughing again. “It’s why you were so distracted by Sylvia. You told my mother?”

“She found out. She caught me doing my daily bump check.”

“Bump check,” he repeats, looking down again and again sliding his hand across my stomach. “Why did you wait so long to tell me?”

Reaching for his cheeks again, I lift his gaze, needing to see his eyes when I say it. “Are you happy?”

Something flickers in his eyes, and in one fast move he catches my face, pulling it to his for a long, lingering kiss. He parts my lips, his to

ngue tracing the side of mine before moving to my cheek then he straightens to kiss my temple, my brow, before moving down again to find my eyes.

“I can’t believe it,” he says, his voice as quiet as mine.

My eyes are hot again, and I blink fast. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes isn’t right… Yes is too small a word.” He touches my cheek again. “You’re having my baby.”

“Stuart!” I can’t take these non-answers. My heart is beating painfully hard, and I need to hear him say it. “Is it okay? I know it’s not how we planned it, and I know you like to be in charge of everything—”

“Stop.” It’s a gentle order, and my lips press together. He kisses me once more, only briefly before catching my eyes again. “I’ve wanted this since our first night.”

Relief floods through me, and with a happy laugh, I dive forward, pushing my arms around his neck, holding his chest against mine so tight.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

He’s holding me just as tight, and I feel his lips against my shoulder. “For what?”

“For making me a family.”

My eyes press closed so the only thing I know is the warmth of our bodies touching, the beating of our hearts together, our breath swirling in and out in a rhythm all our own. The beautiful dream, my wish, has come true.

6

Ours

Stuart

The moment the words leave Mariska’s mouth, all the conflict in my mind recedes into the deep background. We’re having a baby. I study those four words a moment.

I’m thrilled, of course. And of course, that settles the question. We’ll go back to Princeton. Quick math tells me if she’s three months along, she’ll have the baby in late December or early January, and there’s no fucking way I’ll have her out here in the middle of winter going into labor.

Money isn’t a concern, and my condo in Princeton is plenty large enough for a baby. We have Walter (a.k.a., the best doorman on the planet) ready to get her anything she needs on a moment’s notice. Eventually, when it’s time for school, we’ll discuss moving. School…

She might have to take a semester off from grad school, but I’m sure she’s not the first woman to get pregnant and have to take a break. Just let those fuckers at Princeton try to give her a hard time. They can talk to me.

“Stuart!” Her desperate plea snaps me from the sudden To-Do list scrolling through my brain.

I focus on her gorgeous sunset eyes now round and filled with tears. Why the fuck is she crying? My brow clutches.

Her sweet voice trembles. “I know it’s not how we planned it, and I know you like to be in charge of everything—”

What the hell?