If It's Only Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 6)

I guide her out of her chair and pull her into my arms. Admittedly, hugs aren’t the same these days, with this big watermelon she’s carrying around on the front of her, but I’m not complaining. Shay is beautiful pregnant. It never did anything for me with Scarlett, but the sight of Shay’s rounded belly makes me want to pull out a camera and catalogue every inch and curve of her. I did that one night, but inevitably ended up pulling out other things before I finished.

“I’m so proud of you,” I murmur into her hair. “I knew you could do it.”

“It doesn’t mean anything yet. I told her I’ll sign with her, but now she has to find an editor who wants to buy it.”

“One step at a time.” I run my hands down her back then back up her sides. Slowly, I lower my mouth to hers and kiss her. She squeaks against me, and I pull back. “Are you okay?”

“Easton, I think I need to go to the hospital.” She grimaces.

“What? Are you in pain?” I look around on the floor. “Did your water break? Does something feel wrong?”

“I’ve been having contractions all morning. I just didn’t want to tell you, because you’ve been a little high-strung about this, but they’re about three minutes apart now, and—”

I’m already running to the nursery to get the hospital bag. I’ve nearly perfected my I-think-my-girlfriend’s-in-labor speed and I’m back in a flash. “You ready?”

“You’re ridiculous,” she says, but she’s smiling.

“I’m . . .” I sink to my knees and press a kiss to her rounded belly. “I’m desperately in love.”

“I love you too,” she says.

I nod. “Yes, that, but I was talking to the kid.” I cup her stomach in both hands. “What do you say, kiddo? Are you ready to meet your daddy?”

Shay cries out and crumples to the floor at the same time. I catch her on her way down. “I think we need to go.”

Shay

I was seven years old when I fell in love with Easton Connor and thirty-one when I made him a daddy for the second time. He wasn’t my baby’s biological father, but I was a romantic at heart who didn’t believe family lines were drawn at blood.

When they put my baby in Easton’s arms for the first time, I saw the love in his eyes and just knew he was the best choice I’d ever made for myself or my child. Because I’d been through enough heartache and loss to know when something’s worth fighting for. Because he made me feel beautiful and believe in fairytales again. Because I loved this man with the light brown hair and blue-green eyes who looked at our child like I’d just given him the best gift in the world. And, later, when our hospital room was full of happy, celebrating Jacksons, when Franklin Jackson Connor was sleeping in my arms, I smiled with the knowledge that someday I would marry Easton Connor.

It was my secret. One I vowed to keep to myself until the time was right. Easton didn’t know my plans.

And I had no idea he had a ring in his pocket and was about to propose in front of my entire family.