Expecting the Billionaire's Baby (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 4)

He hadn’t given it a lot of thought, but yes, if that was what she wanted. “I’d live on the moon if that’s where you were. I’ll have to travel quite a bit to my various hotels, but if you want Royal to be home, that’s fine with me.”

“Can we spend the summers in France?”

Deacon grinned. “You bet. I can’t say no to you. If you want to live here, we’ll live here. If you want a big church wedding with four hundred guests, let’s do it. I happen to know the guy who owns the big new hotel in town, if you want to have a reception there. Anything you want, you’ll have it. The white dress, the church, the flowers, the whole thing. Go buck wild, baby.”

“I won’t go too crazy,” she said, although he could already see the wheels turning in her head with wedding plans. “I still want to marry you as soon as possible. Maybe not tonight, but soon.”

That was fine by him. All he wanted was to be married. Cake, flowers and all the other trappings of the ceremony were unnecessary distractions to him, but he understood their importance to her. “Okay. We’ll get the engagement announcement in the Sunday paper. Or shall we go post the good news online before Maverick can beat us to the punch?” Deacon asked in a joking tone.

Cecelia shook her head. “Not yet. I want to keep this just between us for a day or two. And besides that, Maverick doesn’t know everything. I’ve got another little secret of my own.”

Deacon’s brow raised in curiosity. What other big news could she possibly have to share? “What’s that?”

She untangled her fingers from his and placed his hand across her stomach. “I’m having Deacon Chase’s baby.”

Deacon didn’t think that he could be stunned speechless, but she’d just done it. His baby? She was pregnant with his baby? He looked down at his hand and the still-flat belly beneath it. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yes. You’re happy, aren’t you? Please say you’re happy.”

He pinned her with his gaze so there were no doubts in her mind about how he felt. “I’m thrilled beyond belief. I’m just not sure how it happened. We were careful, weren’t we? How far along are you?”

“Four weeks. I think it happened that first night we were together, when I threw myself at you.”

Deacon arched an eyebrow. “The day you sneaked out on me?”

“Yes,” she admitted with a sheepish grin. “I guess I would’ve been back no matter what.”

Deacon couldn’t even imagine how he w

ould’ve taken the news if she had shown up after her disappearing act and announced she was having his baby. He was nearly blown off his feet as it was. “How long have you known?” he asked.

“I started feeling poorly on the flight back from Cannes. I thought I was just airsick, but when it persisted a few days, I realized there might be more to it. I bought a pregnancy test the night of The Bellamy’s grand opening. That’s why I was late to the party. When I did arrive, I was looking all over for you to tell you the news, but you’d already left after arguing with Chip. When I realized what had happened, I was heartbroken, but I couldn’t find you to tell you the truth.”

Deacon squeezed his eyes shut to keep from getting angry. Not at her, but with himself. He’d ruined that moment they would’ve shared together because he thought so little of himself that he let Chip scare him off. There she’d been, searching the crowd to tell him they were having a baby, and he was licking his wounds in the penthouse.

“I am so sorry,” he said. “I let Chip ruin that night for us. We should’ve spent this week together picking out baby names and planning our future together.”

“I don’t care about that,” Cecelia insisted. “It’s just a few days in the scheme of things, and it gave us both some time to figure out what we really wanted, baby or no baby. What matters is that you and I love each other, we’re getting married and we’re having a baby. I’ve always wanted a family of my own, and now I’m going to have it. With you.”

Deacon pulled Cecelia close again, this time tugging her all the way into his lap. He cradled her in his arms, capturing her lips in the kind of kiss he’d fantasized about since they got back to Texas. She melted into him, reminding him just how much he’d missed her touch these last few days.

“If you’re having my baby, maybe we should reconsider the Vegas option and get married tonight.”

Cecelia shook her head. “This isn’t a shotgun wedding, Deacon, and I don’t want anyone to think so. Besides, I think a baby is the perfect wedding gift, don’t you?”

It sounded good to him. “If that’s what you want, I’m glad to be the one to give it to you.”

Cecelia laid her head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly. Deacon could feel her warm breath against his skin, and it sent a shiver through his body. He was tired of talking about plans and exes and blackmailers. He wanted to lay claim to the mother of his child. He stood without warning, making Cecelia squeal and cling to his neck.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m making good use of the king-size bed in the penthouse suite to make love to my fiancée.”

She didn’t complain. She just held on until he placed her gently on the bed. “After everything that’s happened, do you think everyone will be surprised to find out that you’ve won me back?”

Deacon hovered over her and planted a soft kiss on her lips. His fingers sought out the buttons of her blouse and started working them open. He slipped one hand inside to cup her breast through the lacy fabric she liked. She gasped, arching up off the bed.

“I didn’t win you back, Cecelia. You’ve always been mine.”