Page 36 of The Boss's Triplet Surprise

“Well, I appreciate you. My parents spoke very highly about my new girlfriend and are thrilled at the thought of a grandchild. I hope you won’t mind bringing our daughter to their house every once in a while.”

“Not at all.” Leah liked the idea of both her and Dan’s families being involved. Growing up, it had been mostly her and her parents, which had been wonderful, but she liked the thought that her baby would have a bigger family. “I’m sure our son will be very excited to spend time with his grandmother and grandfather.”

“They’re hoping to claim dibs on Grammy and Grandpa.”

“That works,” Leah said. “My parents are hoping to be Oma and Opa. My great-grandparents on my mother’s side came from Germany and they want to keep the tradition.”

“That’s sweet.”

In that moment, Leah felt like they were just a normal couple, talking with excitement about the arrival of their baby. It was easy to forget that this wasn’t real. Too easy. Especially when Dan handed her the toy rabbit Leah had spotted when he’d come in. The rabbit was made of an incredibly soft material and had baby-safe embroidered eyes. Its fur was white and brown, and it wore a gentle embroidered smile.

“I know we have a little while to wait before the baby will be ready for stuffed animals, but I saw this in the window of a toy store and I just had to get it. When I was a baby, I had a stuffed bear that I slept with for years. I thought our child would enjoy a toy too.”

Leah smiled. “I had a stuffed toy as a child, too. It was a penguin with a little bow tie. I think my parents still have it somewhere.”

“We should find the bear and the penguin and give them to the baby, too.”

“A bear, a penguin, and a rabbit. His hands will be full.”

“We can get her a backpack.”

They grinned at each other. Leah knew that she should be putting up her defenses to avoid being heartbroken when Dan inevitably created distance between them — because he might. He might become focused on his work again, or simply be less enamored with parenthood when he saw how many poopy diapers and burp cloths were involved.

But Leah was tired and hormonal from early pregnancy. She didn’t have the energy to defend herself against a man who was so considerate, so sweet, and so thoughtful. So, she just let herself enjoy this moment.

Surely, the deep connection she felt with him was mostly due to intense pregnancy hormones and all the time they’d been spending together. She would feel differently later, when the baby was here. Or perhaps Dan really was as ready to be with her as he seemed. Perhaps he would be an involved father for the baby and a partner for Leah… Maybe, in time, they could even be together…

Leah was trying not to get her hopes up, but the looks Dan gave her, and his affectionate manner made her hopeful that a future as a real family could be possible. Surely, he wouldn’t be so thoughtful if he didn’t care about her at all. Right?

CHAPTER 14

DAN

Dan waited for Leah in the lobby of RMA Pharmaceuticals. He felt a mixture of nerves and excitement that he couldn’t quite quench. Today was the twelve-week scan, and they would see their baby on an ultrasound for the first time. Hopefully, the scan would offer reassurance that everything was going smoothly.

Leah appeared a moment later. She was wearing a skirt and a blouse today, and as she hurried towards him, Dan saw that the blouse dimpled out over a tiny baby bump. Leah was starting to show. The sight made Dan’s heart stir.

“Sorry I’m late!” She came to a stop in front of him. “I got caught up finishing a peer review.”

“You’re like thirty seconds late. Don’t worry about it. And anyway, you’re the star of the show. We won’t start without you.” Dan winked, and she laughed.

“I don’t think I’m the star. The star is in here.” She pointed to her stomach.

“Will we find out the sex today?” Dan asked. “I’ve been doing some research, and it seems like they can tell sometimes.”

“Sometimes, yes, but I think there’s a good chance they won’t know yet. Do you want to know the sex?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not sure I do. I kind of want it to be a surprise.”

“You’re just worried you’re going to lose our bet.”

The week before, during an evening out at a diner (Leah had been craving pancakes after a day of barely being able to keep food down, and Dan had been only too happy to oblige), they’d decided to make a bet about whether they’d be having a daughter or a son. Dan was certain they’d be having a daughter, a little carbon copy of Leah. Leah, on the other hand, seemed sure it would be a son. Finally, they’d agreed: if it was a girl, Leah would have to buy Dan his favorite dessert. If it was a boy, Dan would buy Leah hers.

“Oh, I’m not worried at all. I have a good feeling. Little Miles is on the way.”

“You mean Lydia?”

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