Page 74 of Daddy's Unexpected Gift

I loved that he wanted to help me out, loved it so much. “This isn’t the job. And I should probably tell you before I get there and go marching in there and quit.”

“Sounds serious. Let’s get you back in the car.” He helped me climb in, and he pulled the belt over me, leaning in to buckle me in.

I grazed my hand through his hair and held onto his arm, not letting him move away. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m pregnant, Sterling. You’re going to be a father.”

He didn’t move, didn’t say anything. He stared at me for a moment. Just as I expected him to get angry with me, a slow smile spread across his lips. He started laughing. “Are you serious?”

I bit my lip and nodded.

“I thought you were on birth control?” A dozen emotions crossed his face in the flicker of seconds. His brows scrunched together, then they separated and lifted. His eyes narrowed before opening wide and then narrowing again. And he couldn’t stop smiling.

“I was. Clearly, it’s not perfect. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away, but I…”

“You’re pregnant? I’m going to be a father?” He stepped back from the car and ran his hand through his hair. “Georgie’s gonna be a big sister?”

I nodded. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I was still getting used to the idea that I was going to help raise her. “Of course, we’ll raise them as sisters.”

Sterling rushed back to me and tried to wrap his arms around me. The stupid seat belt was in the way.

I managed to get unbuckled, and he pulled me out of the car and into his arms. His hands kept running over my hair and my face.

“You’re going to have my baby?”

I nodded.

He dropped to his knees and put his hands on my hips, carefully pressing his face into my stomach. He looked up at me, and tears were in his eyes.

I reached out to brush his cheek, but he captured my hand and pressed his lips to my knuckles.

My heart was so full of love for him. This reaction was so much better than I could have imagined.

“This is amazing. We’ll have to up the timeline on the wedding,” he said.

“Wedding?” My mouth went dry. “Wedding? Sterling, what wedding?”

“Ours. You, me, we’re getting married. What did you think I meant when I said Georgie needs a mother?”

“I… I…” I shrugged.

Sterling was on his feet, cupping my face. “I love you, Cecelia. I want you to be my wife, and we’re going to have a family.”

“I… I… Yes, Sterling, yes.” I started to laugh, and then he was kissing me.

“I love you,” I said. I finally was able to tell him, and I felt like I could fly. It was such an amazing feeling. “I love you.” I didn’t want to stop saying it.

“I love you,” he said. The sound of his voice rumbling over those words made my toes curl.

We stood there laughing and holding each other for I don’t know how long before Georgie started howling.

We broke apart, and Sterling stepped over and opened the back door. She didn’t stop crying until he pulled her out of her car seat. He bounced as he walked and carried her over to me. “Mama’s gonna have a baby. You’re going to be a big sister.”

He handed her to me, and she settled.

“She was mad that she was stuck in the car,” he said.

“She’s gonna be madder to be stuck in the car all day,” I pointed out.

Sterling nodded. “She did pretty good on the drive up here. She’ll fall asleep soon enough. Come on, let's get those keys back, and we can get on with the rest of our lives.”

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