Page 103 of Wanted

It would be good for our baby to be a boy and balance the equation with some testosterone, but something tells me a girl is on the way.

That makes me smile. A girl. What am I going to know about raising a daughter? I trust that some books will help because she will be in our arms in a few months.

Also, I will have to ask Jackson to introduce me to some of his suppliers, I’m going to have to buy a couple of weapons. The man has two beautiful daughters, I’m confident he knows what I’m talking about. Simple precaution, I don’t want any stupid, hormonal teen hanging around my daughter.

“What made you frown?” Stella asks me, smoothing the lines on my forehead with her fingers. “I promise you that my aunt won’t stab you while you sleep, she just wanted to make sure that what you feel for me is real and not a desire for revenge.”

I take my hands to her still flat belly, to where she’s growing—or he.

“Do you think it’s a girl?” My eyes don’t stray from the place where my hand rests.

“Do you want a boy to turn him into your mini-me?”

A quick smile appears on my lips, I look into her eyes. “What I want is to be able to live in peace, and if she turns out to be half as pretty as her mother is, I think I’m going to be in serious trouble. Do you think June will accept her at her convent?”

Stella laughs again, I love that sound, it’s hoarse and seductive. I know there’s a room in the back of the plane. But it’s better to have free rein once we are in our own space.

I can hardly wait for it.

“Lionel,” Stella whispers, her tone serious, as are her gorgeous blue eyes.

“Yes, love?”

“There are no more secrets between us, are there?”

This is serious business, there are many things I want to do to her. Celebrate that we’re back together after so many days, but I also know that we need to talk, to be serious.

“No,” I reply sincerely. “I have a couple of surprises in store for you, but no more secrets.”

That makes her eyes roll, my smile widens. “I don’t even want to imagine what you did with my hive, tell me that my queens are alive.”

“Your bees and their queens are perfect. In this last month, I’ve become a master beekeeper.”

I puff up my chest, I’m an arrogant idiot, I know. Sue me.

“What are you up to?” she insists, looking me in the eyes, but not a word will come out of my mouth. A surprise is a surprise.

“We’ll be in Louisville in a little while and then Carrollton, you know that.”

I hear her let out an exasperated snort. This day began full of uncertainty, our future was about to be resolved. Now the sun shines for us and I’ll do everything in my power to keep it that way.

* * *

“What are we doing here?” Stella asks as soon as she sees Sanders park the SUV in front of a chain hotel entrance on the outskirts of town. “Why don’t we go home?”

Where should I start?

“Because that house is a disaster in terms of keeping us safe. There is no fenced yard or a way to secure the windows. And don’t even think I’m going to sleep in the bed you shared with him. And I’m sick of trying to do it on the living room sofa.” It’s too small for a man of my size.

Thunders and sparks come out of her blue eyes.

“God, you have become Othello, a madman of jealousy.”

“It’s not jealousy,” I say in my defense. Of course it is. But there is also something more, something bigger than my ego. “That idiot hurt you, used you as part of his diabolical plan. You can’t expect me to want to share the same space.”

The air between us is electric. I can’t wait to have her alone in the room I’ve reserved.

“My God, you’re infuriating,” she grumbles raising her hands, but she moves to get out of the car and before she turns around, I swear I see her smile.

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