Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

No other woman had ever made me feel the things I felt with Paige. As a matter of fact, I could only remember being with her before and now. Every other woman in between faded into the darkness.

I moved my fingertip softly down her arm, watching her breathe. Her body was facing me, and she looked like an angel sleeping. I was about to lean down and kiss her, push her onto her back and make love to her again, when my phone buzzed on the side table.

When I rolled over, I saw that my mother was calling. I thought about not answering but decided I’d better.

“Hey, Mom.”

“When were you going to tell us you’re engaged!”

I sat up quickly, causing Paige to stir.

“What?”

“I had to find out from someone else that you and Paige are engaged.”

“Who told you?”

“Lucy, the checker down at Super S. Do you want to know how shocked I was? So, it’s true?”

I frowned, then rubbed my hand over my face.

How in the hell did people find out I had asked Paige to marry me? She had taken off the ring after our night out. We’d agreed she wouldn’t wear it until we told our parents.

“Is it true, Lucas? You’ve only been back in each other’s lives for a few weeks. Tell me you didn’t do something so insane. Good Lord, it must be in your blood. Your father asked after dating me for two weeks. Look at William and May, they rushed to the altar, too.”

Smiling, I kissed Paige on the forehead, eliciting a soft moan from her.

“What was that?”

“Oreo the cat,” I replied as I slipped out of bed. “You haven’t said anything to Dad yet, have you?”

“Oh my goodness, it’s true!”

Walking into the bathroom, I grabbed a pair of shorts and slipped them on. Something about being naked and talking to my mother on the phone felt wrong.

“Yes, I asked her to marry me. We wanted to tell you, Dad, and Phillip together. I was going to call about inviting Paige’s dad, Tom, and Katy over for dinner this week.”

“Married. Are you sure you both want to rush into this?”

With a sigh, I made my way quietly out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. “Let’s see, we own a house and live together. We dated for years before the big fuck up.”

“Language, Lucas Foster.”

“Sorry. It may seem like we are rushing, but we are taking our time, Mom. We’re in love and have never stopped loving one another.”

She let out one of those girly sighs that women do when they’re watching romantic movies or reading romance novels. “You two always did love each other. Are you sleeping together?”

I groaned. “Mom, I’m really not going to answer that.”

“That’s a yes. Now, don’t think I’m not happy. I’m overjoyed! Thrilled beyond belief. Everyone knew the two of you belonged together, and that horrible Bianca was nothing but a mistake.”

“Thanks for that.”

“Don’t act like you’re surprised I couldn’t stand the girl.”

“More like loathed her, but okay.”

“Those were your words just now, not mine. No one knew what you were thinking when you started dating her. You were out of your damn mind, that’s for sure.”

“Gee, Mom, language. And don’t hold back. Can we please stop talking about her? She’s in the past.”

“Amen to that. Are you using protection? A baby right now would only add stress to the situation.”

“Again, I’m not going to answer that question.”

“I’m just saying, the two of you have made some serious life changes in the last month. Both of you leaving your jobs, starting new ones, living together.”

“I’m working for Dad. I hardly think it will be stressful.”

“You must not remember how your dad does things. And what about Paige? She’s opening a flower shop! If she got pregnant now…”

“Mom! Paige is not going to get pregnant. Please stop saying that.”

“Well, the two of you aren’t getting any younger, you know. I wouldn’t hold off too long on having kids.”

I pulled the phone away from me and dropped my hand to my side. Looking up, I prayed to the heavens for strength and patience.

“What’s going on?” Paige asked, walking into the kitchen.

I held up the phone. “My mom. Talking about us having a baby.”

Her eyes went wide. “A baby? Does she know something we don’t?”

Chuckling, I walked over and kissed her then brought the phone back up to my ear.

“…She was thirty-six when she had her baby, and Lord, the complications.”

“Mom, you literally just said we shouldn’t have a baby, now you’re saying we shouldn’t wait.”

“That was not what I said, clearly you were not listening to me, Lucas.”

“You’re right. I wasn’t.”

Paige shook her head and made her way to the oven and turned it on.

With a deep, calming breath, I said, “Mom, call Phillip. Invite him, Tom, and the girls to dinner this week. We’ll announce the engagement then.”