Holding You Close (Ex-Con Duet 4)

“Only if Katie says it’s okay.”

He comes over to me and smiles. “Ms. Katie, can Owen pretty, pretty please stay over?”

I laugh. “Sure. That’ll be fine.” The boys give me a handful of thank-yous. Owen gives me a hug goodbye, and I thank Loretta for everything.

As they walk away, Noah pulls me in close. “You ready to get outta here, fiancée?”

I lift my brow at him. “I like the sound of that, but I think I’ll like being called wife better. Also, does that mean what I think it means?”

He bites the corner of his lip and smirks.

“Hell yes,” I say. We stop and pick up my gigantic wreath that may or may not fit in the trunk of my car, then leave. When we get home, we make love until nightfall, then fall asleep naked.

I can’t believe I’ve been calling Noah my fiancé for two weeks. It feels like a dream, all of it. Having the house finished, the proposal, and now the baby shower for the twins. How’s this my life? If someone would’ve told me at the beginning of the year I’d be engaged and pregnant before Christmas, I would’ve asked them if they had fallen and hit their head.

When I roll over in the morning and feel his strong arm wrapped across me, I almost pinch myself. It’s a dream come true, and I don’t dare take a damn day for granted.

“Babe, almost ready?” I hear Noah call from the other room.

I chuckle because I’ve changed clothes at least ten times, and now I’m exhausted. “No!” I yell back.

Moments later, I hear footsteps padding down the hallway, and the door to our room swings open. Noah grins from ear to ear. “What you’re wearing looks hot,” he tells me.

I lie back on the bed, not able to see over my stomach. “You’d be fine with me going naked! You’re very biased!”

He laughs. “That’s true, but honestly, that dress is adorable on you.”

I glare at him even though I know he’s being sweet. “Nothing is adorable on me. I feel and look like I’ve stuffed two beach balls under this dress. Do I absolutely have to go?”

“Yes,” he gently says. “If you didn’t, I’m not sure your mother, Gemma, or Everleigh would forgive you. Belinda would, though. I don’t think you can do any wrong in her eyes.”

I sigh, and he helps me up. “You’re sure I look fine?”

He pulls out his phone and snaps a picture of me, then turns it around. “Cute as fuck.”

A blush hits my cheek. “Maybe you’re right.”

Noah glances at the stack of clothes on the foot of the bed. “Done with these?”

“I guess,” I say, slipping on some slides because wearing any sort of real shoe right now is torture. My body wants to burst out of whatever I put on it—shoes, bras, shirts, you name it.

Eventually, he coaxes me out the door so I’m not late to my own party, and I’m happy he did. When I show up, Noah escorts me inside, gives me a kiss, then leaves. The decorations are gorgeous, and I’m in awe at what they did. Beautiful flower displays adorn every table, along with powder blue balloons.

Gemma and Everleigh rush up to me, wearing huge smiles. Belinda gives me a nod, but she’s so enamored with Scarlett that she brings all of her attention back to her. She’s an adorable baby, though, so I don’t blame her one tiny bit.

“Are you ready for all the games we have planned?” Everleigh asks, and I groan.

“No games,” Gemma adds. “I planned activities instead because I know how much you hate them.”

“Thank you.” I sigh. “At least one of my friends listens.”

Everleigh snorts. “I listen, but that’s about as far as it goes.”

Gemma laughs.

Everleigh continues. “We got onesies to decorate and set up a photo booth and a cupcake table. Oh there’s also one small game. Guess the number of penises, I mean M&M’s in a jar,” she says, moving her arm like she’s giving me a tour. “And Belinda made your favorite sandwiches!”

“Oh my goodness,” I say, covering my mouth. “Y’all didn’t have to do all this for me. Not at all. I feel so…”

“Special?” Gemma suggests with a side hug. “’Cause you are!”

Mom comes over and offers me a bottle of water, and I laugh because she knows me so well. “If at any point you need a break, let me know,” she says with a wink. She has a way of distracting people so I can escape to the bathroom. Loretta says hello, and so does Missy, who hasn’t stopped giving me shit about being pregnant and getting the D since she found out.

The baby shower is actually more fun than I thought it would be. We do the activities that Gemma had planned and open gifts for what feels like hours. I’m overwhelmed by the kindness all the ladies have shown me and by how much stuff I’ve gotten. When it comes to celebrating having babies in Lawton Ridge, these women are all in. After that, we eat the yummy club sandwiches and chocolate cupcakes Belinda made for the event.