Claim My Baby (Crescent Cove 2)

“Sage.”

He didn’t give me time to turn around, just wrapped me in his arms and picked me straight up off my feet. My crazy hair flew back, probably choking the guy, but he didn’t set me down as I laughed and flailed. I wasn’t sure how it happened, but one minute we were standing and then we were in the snow, my body cradled and surrounded by his. And I wasn’t laughing anymore.

“Christ, I’m putting you in a bubble. And me too. C’mon, we have to get up, get you to the hospital to make sure—”

I let my shopping bags drop into the snow and shifted to frame his face with my mittened hands before lowering my mouth to his. I kissed him hard enough to shut him up, and also to let him know I wasn’t only fine, I was perfect. His lips were like a fever beneath mine, but only for a moment. Then they became soft and tentative. His palpable worry blanketed us almost as much as the snow.

That’s how much he loves you and the baby. He’s not even interested in making out.

Of course, we were in a snowbank, but whatever.

“I’m fine,” I said between kisses, nibbling his lower lip. “Not delicate. Not breakable. The kid is like the size of a Jell-O shot right now, so trust me, we’re all good.”

He didn’t laugh. “What are you doing out here? When Ally and Seth came in without you, I went through every minute of tonight all over again.”

“Oh God. I’m sorry. I didn’t think.” I tapped my head against his chest and he stopped me, cupping my cheek so gently with his snow-encrusted bare hands. “I just wanted to see your snow origami before it got covered up.”

“Snow origami?” Even in the low light where we were sprawled in the snow, his puzzlement was clear. “I don’t even know what that would entail. It’s beyond my paygrade in any case.”

“Oh. Hmm. But Seth said—”

“I should’ve known all roads lead back to him.” He sat up in the snow, angling me into his lap and cuddling me so close I almost forgot it was freezing out. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He brushed my hair away from my face, studying me intently. “You should know whatever your answer, I’m still taking you to urgent care. Doubly so, now that I’ve dropped you in the snow.”

“I landed on you. Safe and sound.”

“Not good enough.”

“You really are that concerned about me and the baby?”

“Of course. Did you ever doubt it?” As soon as he’d asked the question, he shut his eyes. “Yes, you did doubt it, because I’m the guy who can’t commit and doesn’t want a family and couldn’t grow roots in a hydroponic garden.”

I bit my lip to stop from smiling. Now wasn’t the time. “I wouldn’t have put it quite that way.”

“No, but it sums it all up.” He tipped up my chin with his thumb. “I didn’t think I wanted a wife and a family. Not until you. You made life so much brighter and fuller and yes, a little more insane. But you’re all I can see now.”

I tipped my head against his, fighting tears. I didn’t want to ruin a beautiful moment with more preggo hormonal sobbing. “I already said yes, you know.”

“I know. But I made a vow when Seth couldn’t reach you and Ally that if you came back to me whole, I’d spend the rest of my life spoiling you and the baby. That starts now.” Somehow he made it to his feet while still holding me in his arms.

That whole seemingly weightless thing with him? Yeah, addictive.

“Wait, where’s my message?” He was already carrying me out of the backyard, his face utterly focused.

“Oh, that. Snow covered it up. Dumb idea anyway. Time to get you to urgent care, and then—”

“Dammit, I want to see. You better put me down before I make sure this baby is your first and last with my knee.”

Chuckling, he finally stopped in his tracks and rerouted toward the back of the yard. “Fine, you want to see? It was meant for viewing from the second floor, and it’s been hours, but there you go.” He pointed a few feet ahead and I cocked my head, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

“I lo u, Sag?”

He swore and moved closer, hoisting me higher and tipping me a little forward to change my viewing angle. Which reminded me we’d left my naughty gear in a snowbank. Not what we wanted Laurie to stumble upon tomorrow while building snowmen. Especially since I’d snagged a little gift with purchase at the checkout that had batteries.

Ah, crap, if my very first vibrator got water damage, I was going to be very pissed off. Then again, what was better suited to handle moisture? Probably not quite that much volume. Though sometimes I got pretty excited.

I shrieked as he dangled me over the snow just right so I could take another look at the letters from this angle. “I lo u, Sag?” I finally got it and started to laugh, also because the jerk was trying to tickle me through my parka. “Aww, some of the letters got filled in. I get it now. I love you, Sage.”

He finally righted me, and I slid down his body until my feet hit the ground. “Well, I did, before you mercilessly teased me about my romantic gesture.” He sounded a little breathless, and I was pretty sure it wasn’t just from lifting me.