Page 9 of Coveting Catherine

"No. I don't have any feelings for him." Catherine said emphatically. "I don't think we need to get married because I’m pregnant. We barely know each other."

As nodded as if considering her statement. "We haven't spent much time together. Leo liked to keep you to himself. I don't take my responsibilities lightly. This might have started out as one night in a bar. Maybe Olaf pushed us together after what Leo did. I don't think of this baby as an accident; I see it as a blessing which brought us together. We can get married, and you’ll get all my benefits to help with the baby. I probably won't be here for the birth, as we'll have to bug out before then. I’d like to know you and my kid are provided for. Let's consider it as an adventure, Cat. We can go to the courthouse tomorrow, make it legal. I can add you to my insurance. It’ll provide me with peace of mind while I’m away. When I return, we can get to know each other, and I can help you with the baby."

Catherine leaned against the back of the couch. "I wasn't expecting this. I barely have my mind wrapped around it. How can you accept it and have a plan?"

Ash smiled, "I’m a SEAL. We're used to making plans on the fly." A slight chuckle escaped from him. "Okay, maybe not everything." His head gestured toward her stomach.

"I think I need to think about it. Marriage is a huge undertaking," Catherine hedged.

"Listen, I know you must be freaking out. I am, too. We're both adults and want what's best for our kid. If it's a boy, we can name it after your brother. In fact, I insist on it." Ash gave Catherine a relaxed smile.

Catherine's hand slid to her stomach. Everything Ash said made sense. Then why did her heart plunge to her belly at the thought of marriage to anyone else besides Leo? She shook the thought away. Ash confirmed Leo’s inactions caused her brother’s death. Life forever changed the moment Olaf died. Why shouldn't she marry Ash? She no longer held hope for a future with Leo.

"Let's do it."

"Really?" Ash grinned from ear to ear. "We're going to have a baby, Cat." He sounded like a proud father already.

"How about we get the license this afternoon? I'll meet you at the courthouse tomorrow. We'll find out what times they have available to perform the ceremony then," she suggested.

"I can be there at thirteen hundred hours. Did you want to invite your family? I don't really have anyone." Ash gave her a sad smile.

"No. My parents would insist for us to wait. I think it's best if we go ourselves," Catherine stated.

Getting up from the couch, Catherine made her way to the door. "I've got a few things to do. I'll meet you this afternoon."

Ash stood and crossed the room to stand in front of her. He gently wrapped his arms around her. "It will work out, Cat. We will make great parents, and Eric “Olaf” Junior will know how much he's loved.”

Catherine forced herself to smile as he opened the door for her to leave.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Leo took the offered shot of whiskey and downed it. Holding his glass out for another pour, he waited for Saint to oblige him.

“Are we talkin' about it, or drinking?” Saint's deep southern drawl came out when he worried.

“Ash is determined to pack his shit and stay with Catherine in Seattle. He's talking about getting them a house. Claire has reservations, but ultimately, it’s Catherine's decision.”

Saint nodded his head. “Do ya think Miss Cat would tell you if something was wrong?” His forehead wrinkled into a V as he concentrated on his drink.

“I don't know. Something feels off. Catherine and Samantha received the shock of their lives. Samantha’s hurting. Catherine seemed downright pissed. Matthew tracked her down. They’ve stayed at a cheap hotel the last three days. Shadow’s parked outside. I’d prefer Ash stayed here at the mountain where we can keep an eye on him.” Leo sipped the shot this time and checked his watch.

“Did you talk to her?” Saint quietly asked.

“She deserves a chance to make things right with her husband. I removed myself from the equation,” he answered.

Saint rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, “The way I see it. You didn't talk to her. You made up your damn mind on what you think she needed. Leo, when are you gonna learn? You know her like the back of your hand. Out of all the people she knows through the hospital, she called you. Social services, cops, security personnel, and the only person she thought of to help Kassie was you after three long years?”

Leo rubbed his forehead. The impending migraine he sometimes suffered, throbbed from the stress. “She said I owed her.”

Saint sat straight up and wrinkled his brows while shooting Leo a what the hell look. “Owed her for what exactly? For going on the same mission as the rest of us and risking your life to bring back a burnt corpse to give her family peace of mind? Or the fact you got wind of someone fitting Olaf’s description being held prisoner in one of Rahimi’s villages and risking your life for the last couple of years searching for every clue? Oh, I know, when you got your ass shot down into the Caspian Sea after looking for her dead brother. Good times, Leo.”

“What do you want me to say?” Leo stood and pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the cabin window. He closed his eyes as Catherine’s face swam before him.

“Ash thinks you haven’t found her, and you think I’m stupid enough to believe this isn’t killing you? You need to discuss this with Miss Catherine. Good or bad. You love her and never got over her.”

“You didn't see her the day I told her Ash died. She was devastated. She might have given us a chance if Ash wasn't alive. She deserves to get a second chance at happiness,” he argued. His mind raced back to the day he informed her of Ash’s death.

Leo stood before the house Ash and Catherine purchased shortly after the wedding. He rang the doorbell and waited for Catherine to answer the door. He heard their baby girl crying and Catherine hushing her as she opened the door.

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