Page 12 of Capturing Hearts

He whistles between his teeth. “I’ll be the only one who knows what you’re wearing under it.”

“That’s right. You’re that lucky.”

His eyes go thoughtful. “You might want to wear different shoes.”

“Oh?”

He nods.

“Okay then. You’re probably right. It’s hard to walk up the hills in these puppies.”

I come out in a black 1940’s style dress which works well with the fishnets, only now I’ve got on a very low pump with a round toe. “What do you think?”

He grins and kisses me as I walk to the door to meet him. “You might want to grab a thicker coat.”

I glance to him, my hands on a light jacket. Shrugging, I shift and pick up a heavier one. “This better?”

“Yeah, I don’t want you to get cold.”

“Thank you, handsome.” I rise on my toes and kiss him again. He touches his tongue gently to mine.

“You’re welcome, Freckles.”

After awhile in the car, I notice we’re driving pretty far. I’ve been planning how I’m going to break the news to him so I wasn’t paying attention to where we were going. My hand is subconsciously on my womb as I sit looking out the passenger seat window at San Francisco passing by. Seeing a sign for the walking path to The Golden Gate Bridge, I’m a little surprised, and I glance over to him, but he’s navigating the car, his posture comfortable and focused. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, men’s minds focus on one thing at a time. Let them finish that thing, and they’re all ears. Plus, I like that he’s taking us somewhere unusual. This will be perfect for the baby news. Now if only my nerves will let me stop tapping my feet so I don’t give away I’ve got something on my mind.

I’ve never been pregnant before. This is a conversation I’ve never had to have. But having Brendan’s child will make me the happiest, proudest woman I’d ever imagined I could be. I just hope he wants to be a dad. Oh, please don’t freak out, Brendan! My heart beats faster, anxious about what he’ll say when he hears.

He parks the car and holds his hand up for me to stay put. I watch him get out, cross around the front of the car, and open my door. He holds out his hand and I take it, rising up and smiling at him, the father of my child. “Hi.”

“Hi, Beautiful. We haven’t taken a walk on the bridge yet. I thought we’d do something new. Sound good?”

“Sounds great.”

His eyes narrow. “Have you ever done this with anyone?”

I shake my head, smiling. “Never.”

“Good. Come on.” With a chirp, he locks the car and we walk easily and naturally together in silence for awhile. “See why I had you bring your thicker coat?”

“Mmmhmm. That was very thoughtful of you,” I reply, smiling up at his proud face as he glances down to me.

“You make me feel like a man, Annie. You really do.” He looks away, those brows of his pushing up on his forehead the way I love so much. The breeze over the bay picks up to a steady wind as we get closer to the center of the bridge. There’s a light fog out tonight and only a few people. There could be a million and I wouldn’t see them anyway.

Beside the base of an enormous red-painted beam, Brendan stops and brings my hand to his lips and kisses it, his eyes bright. He kneels down and pulls a ring out of his pocket.

“Oh my God!” I yelp, my hands flying up to my face.

He holds up a graceful, yet simple, diamond ring. It’s perfect. It’s absolutely perfect. “This belonged to my grandmother,” he tells me, his eyes filled with love. “Annabelle O’Brien, I can’t imagine a day on this Earth where I don’t call you mine forever. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He pauses, a smile tugging at his lips. “Will you marry me, Freckles?”

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out.

His eyebrows fall and his eyes numb with surprise. “What?”

My heart is pounding, hurting with suspense. “I’m pregnant, and I was going to tell you tonight, but I can’t say yes without telling you, because I don’t want you to ever think I’m hiding something again! I was just going to tell you! I’ve been planning it! I promise!”

He’s incredulous and he says on surprised grin, “Well, are you going to say yes, or are you just going to leave me hanging!?”

I burst into happy laughter. “Yes!! Yes, of course I will!” I kneel on the ground in front of him and take his face in my hands. “Brendan Michael Clark, I want nothing more in the whole world than to be with you until the day I die. I could live with you in sin, or I could marry you, or…”

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