Page 58 of Stone

He was happy. Damn happy.

Back in California, he’d been unsettled for so long. He’d felt like he was wearing a shoe that didn’t fit.

Now, he liked New York, loved his job, and adored Magnolia Newhouse. He’d finally found his right fit.

They’d had some other news a few months back—Zolotov had been killed in prison. A rival had attacked him in the prison yard. Knox hadn’t felt a speck of sympathy.

Nola still hadn’t appeared, so he wandered toward the main bedroom.

He found her inside. She’d obviously changed since she’d come home from work and was wearing leggings, a tank top, and her feet were bare.

She turned, her face tense and her eyes worried.

His gut tightened. “Nola? What’s wrong?” He crossed to her and cupped her shoulders.

“Knox…” She shook her head. “I want you to know that I love you.”

His chest swelled. Even though they’d been together these last few months, they hadn’t said the words before. They’d been too busy getting to know each other, enjoying each other.

“I’ve been looking for my person for a really long time.” She pulled in a breath. “And it’s you. You make me happy. You make me feel safe.”

“Nola—”

She held up a hand. “I know you’re against marriage and kids. I was okay with that, as long as I had you.”

“Nola—”

“It was an accident.” The words spilled out of her.

Frowning, he cocked his head. He was getting worried now. “What was an accident?”

“Oh, God.” She held up a strip of white plastic. “I’m so sorry. I have no idea how it happened.”

Knox took the stick and moved it so he could read the word on it.

Pregnant.

It was a pregnancy test. A positive one.

He felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. All sound turned muffled.

Nola spun away, pacing, her hands clasped against her chest.

Nola was pregnant.

With his baby.

Nola swallowed, her throat tight and her pulse fluttering.

She’d screwed up, and somehow, she’d ended up pregnant.

A secret part of her was elated. She loved her niece, Amelia. Nick and Lainie had the most gorgeous, chubby-cheeked little girl. Nola spent as much time with her niece as she could.

Lainie was an amazing mom, and Nick was exactly as she’d expected. A doting, overprotective dad. It was so cute when he was with his daughter.

So the idea of having a baby—hers and Knox’s baby—left her giddy. But she knew it meant she’d lose him. He’d been honest with her from the start.

She turned back to him.

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