Page 149 of The Rebel

“But as I’ve been processing those thoughts, I can’t help but wonder if you want to go into that delivery room with an engagement ring on your finger. Or a wedding band there instead.” His stare deepened, and I swore I could feel it penetrate my chest. “I tried to put myself in your shoes. To consider what I would want if I were you.” He shook his head. “I can’t even attempt to go there and take a stab at what those hormones would make me want or feel.”

I kissed the back of his thumb. “I’m relieved there’s only one of us experiencing those hormones. Having both of us be this emotional and achy and needy would be over the top.”

When we both stopped laughing, he said, “I want to give you what you want, Rowan.”

“What I want …” I said in my softest voice, pondering that question as my words hit the air. “Here’s the thing: a ring isn’t going to change the way I feel about you or what’s going to happen between us. We’re still so new, Cooper, and we’ve created something that’s about to rock our worlds. There’s no reason to rush an engagement or marriage just because I’m pregnant. Besides, taking your name isn’t going to make me love you more. You have me.” My hand went to his. “I know I have you. That’s enough.” I leaned across the front seat to get closer to him. “But you know what I love? That you just asked that, that you would do anything to make me happy. That you left the decision up to me rather than proposing because you felt like it was the right thing or you felt obligated.”

“When I put a ring on your finger, Rowan, it won’t be because you’re carrying my baby or out of an obligation. But because I want you to be my wife. And I would ask you that question right now and have zero regrets.”

He’d shown a level of commitment that had taken me by storm.

But for what we were facing, for the times we had ahead of us, I wanted to soak in the now.

I wanted to get to know our relationship more.

I wanted to fall in love with him again after he became a father.

“Our baby is so lucky to have you as their dad.” I relished in his gaze. “You’re going to put that peanut’s needs first, just like you put mine. It takes an incredible man to do that, and that’s another thing I love about you.”

“You can keep the compliments coming.”

I kissed him, needing to taste that cuteness and charm, and when I pulled back, I took a look at the stunning house that was in front of us.

Two stories. The prettiest white-and-sage exterior. Pristine landscaping.

“Why are we here?” I asked.

“We have a showing.”

My neck whipped to the left to stare at him. “A …what?”

“It goes back to your birthday and what I thought about getting you. Jewelry? That’s too simple. A car? You can buy fifty of those yourself. What you don’t have is a home that belongs to us.” He held my chin. “A house where we’re going to raise our family. Where we’ll sleep every night under a roof that we call home. Where I’ll get to watch our child grow inside you. Where our baby will spend their first night when we bring them home from the hospital. You told me you have everything, but, Rowan, we don’t have this.”

The tears were present, and the first one dripped. “Cooper …”

“I called my realtor and had him pull a handful of houses that would meet our criteria. Things I knew you’d want, mixed in with my requirements. Once we view this house, he’ll take us to the four others he picked. If none meet our needs, then we’ll keep looking until we find one we love.”

“A home.” I could barely get the words out.

A place that was a piece of the three of us.

Where our baby would grow up.

We would never have to decide if we were staying at his house or mine.

We were meeting in the middle.

And that was exactly where I wanted to be.

I slipped my fingers across his cheek, holding a part of him that was as handsome and sexy as his eyes. “Both of these gifts”—I nodded toward the house and then glanced down at my stomach before meeting his stare again—“are the best things you could ever give me.”

“I want to give you and our baby the world, Rowan.”

THIRTY-THREE

Cooper

Rowan

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