Page 61 of Recaptured by the Crime Lord

A muscle ticked in his jaw and the arm wrapped around her waist flexed. “Nothing can happen to you.”

She softened. “Nothing will.”

His hand went to her chest and unerringly found the stab wound inches from her heart. “I’ve had too many close calls. I want to chain you to the bed with a twenty-four hour guard, but you won’t let me and you need to live your life. I get that and I’m trying and...” He turned her so she straddled his lap and lay his head on her chest. “You’re making this damn hard.”

Lyla ran her hands through his hair. “I’m fine.”

“You have to be.”

“We’re gonna make it.”

He tipped his head back. When Lyla brushed kisses over his face, he closed his eyes, clearly reveling in her love. Lyla wondered if this was how Manny had been with his wife. They stayed like that for long minutes, just holding one another. Slowly, his tension eased. Their meal was forgotten as they took comfort in one another. Lyla stared into his relaxed face and knew it was time.

“I have something for you,” Lyla said.

“What?” he asked without opening his eyes.

“Keep your eyes closed. Let me get it.”

Gavin’s arms loosened and she scooted off his lap. Her heartbeat began to speed up as she stared at Gavin cast in candlelight. He was devilishly handsome. He hadn’t lost an ounce of the muscle he gained in jail. He was completely relaxed right now. She loved him—always had and always would. He owned her, heart and soul. It went both ways. His need and vulnerability where she was concerned was obvious not only to her, but everyone else.

Carmen wanted Lyla to announce her pregnancy with rose petals, balloons or a new lingerie set. That wasn’t them. The big society wedding never happened and that was fine with Lyla. So much of Gavin’s life was in the spotlight. These moments were special and poignant. In Lyla’s eyes, the simper the better. Carmen conceded reluctantly. Lyla took a deep breath and placed the gift bag on his lap. He opened his eyes and looked at the bag and then her.

“What’s this?”

She could feel the tears crawling up her throat. She waved a hand. “Just look inside.”

Gavin sat up, peered into the bag and pulled out the small outfit. He frowned and when he held it up with both hands the onesie unfolded, showing the message on the front. Gavin didn’t react for a moment and then he erupted from his seat. Any semblance of relaxation vanished. The air crackled around him with manic energy.

“Are you pregnant?”

Lyla nodded and pulled the positive pregnancy test from her pocket and held it out to him. “I took two. They’re both positive.”

Gavin took the pregnancy test and looked from the white stick to the onesie and back again. The ecstatic look on his face was too much for her. Tears trickled down her cheeks. He tossed everything on the table and hauled her into his arms.

“Thank God. Thank you, thank you,” he said into her hair.

“You’re happy?” she mumbled into his chest.

“This is the best day of my life.” Gavin tilted her chin up and raked her face with assessing eyes. “Are you happy?”

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

“And happy?”

“Yes.”

He closed his eyes, but not before she saw a glimmer of wet. He kissed her, his tongue caressing and claiming before he released her. Lyla stared as he backed up and punched his fist in the air.

“I’m going to be a dad!”

He rushed towards the front door and opened it. Lyla caught a glimpse of Blade’s alarmed expression before Gavin shouted the news for his whole security team to hear. Blade smiled and clapped Gavin on the back. There was a round of congratulations before Gavin came back inside and rushed towards her. He unbuttoned her shirt and splayed his hands over her slightly rounded stomach.

“Okay, tell me everything,” Gavin ordered.

Lyla told him about her sensitive stomach and how Carmen tricked her into taking the pregnancy test. Gavin laughed uproariously.

“Thank God for Carmen,” he said. “So you don’t know how far along, nothing?”

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