Page 59 of Stone

He was still standing frozen by the bed.

“I’m sorry, Knox.”

Her voice seemed to kick him back into action. He walked over to her. “You’re pregnant?”

She nodded, biting her bottom lip.

“Nola. God.” He spread a large palm over her flat belly.

And wonder filled his rugged face.

“A baby,” he breathed.

She blinked. “You’re…okay about it?”

He pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Nola, when I first met you, I was sure I didn’t want marriage or children. Then you strode into my life, and you made it better. You breathed life into everything.”

Warmth and love filled her.

He took her hands in his. “I love you, Nola Newhouse. I love being with you. I always want to be with you.”

“Knox.”

“There was something I was going to give you tonight, over spaghetti carbonara and a glass of wine.” A wry smile crossed his lips. “The wine is definitely out now.”

She lifted her head. “Carbonara from Pepe Giallo?”

“Yes.”

“I really love you.”

Then he pulled something from his pocket. A small box. Nola’s chest hitched. He flicked it open, and she saw the ring and gasped.

It was a square-cut teal sapphire, flanked by two triangular diamonds. It had a vintage-meets-modern design she loved.

“Knox…” Flutters took off in her belly.

He shifted off the bed and knelt in front of her. “Magnolia Newhouse, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

She threw her arms around his shoulders and their mouths collided. She kissed him, or he kissed her, she wasn’t sure, and she didn’t care.

Then he pressed his forehead to hers. “We’re going to have a baby.”

“Yes.” She rubbed her nose against his. “You’re going to be a sexy silver daddy.”

“I’ll do everything to make you happy and take care of you. And our kiddo.”

“I know what I want right now.” She nibbled his lips.

Knox let out a low chuckle. “I know you well enough by now, Sprite. You want spaghetti carbonara.”

She laughed. This man really did know her well. “I do. Then I want my silver fox to take me to bed.”

He scooped her up into his arms. “Whatever my sprite wants, she gets. And I’ll keep doing that for the rest of our lives.”

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