Page 59 of Don't You Want Me, Baby?

‘Just a guess. It’s too soon to know yet. We should be able to find out at the next scan.’

‘I don’t care,’ he breathed, his smouldering eyes locking on hers. ‘I don’t care either way. I loved this baby before it was here. Before it was mine. I don’t care if a baby octopus shoots out of there; I’m going to love the hell out of it. Of both of you.’

One hand on her bump, linked with his, she raised the other to cup his stubbly cheek. ‘You look awful,’ she told him, brushing her thumb along his stubble.

‘I needed my best friend, to tell me to shave.’

He turned his head to kiss her thumb. The thrill of his touch sent flutters through her body.

‘Woah,’ Tyler exclaimed, when their child bumped against their joined hands. ‘Did you feel that?’

‘Yeah,’ she chuckled. ‘I think it’s a tentacle.’

He laughed, his eyes bright as he dipped his head to kiss the spot above their hands. ‘Hey little octopus,’ he breathed, his voice so happy and tender, Amber’s heart swelled. ‘It’s your dad.’ He kissed the same spot. ‘You might want to get used to hearing my voice, because I am going to be around from now on.’

A hiccupy sob burst from her then, and his head snapped up tohers. ‘Hey,’ he murmured, touching his forehead to hers, leaning into her body as he shifted to pull her closer. ‘No more tears, Cherry. Tears are not part of the plan.’

‘I love you,’ she declared, so happy that her stressful day had turned out like this. The bundle of nerves and hormones that set out that morning was unrecognisable now even to herself. ‘I really do, Ty. I’m so sorry I cut you out.’

‘Shh,’ he chided. ‘We’re here, now, right? Everything finally worked out. I love you; you love me. We’re having a baby.’ He spoke as if he were saying the words out loud to confirm it to himself as much as her.

‘And a pub of our own, with a bit of luck,’ she added, grinning as his face registered shock yet again. ‘I put an offer in on The Bingley Arms before I left the bank.’

He gazed at her in wonder, and before she could say another word, his lips crashed down onto hers. The second their mouths met, she melted into his embrace. They only broke apart when they heard a loud honk. Turning to look, they saw the people on the bus all cheering through the windows, making them laugh. Even the driver had been filled in, it seemed. He was clapping from the front seat.

‘This village.’ Tyler chuckled as he pulled her in for another kiss. When he finally broke his lips from hers, he tilted his head questioningly. ‘So,’ he said, a cheeky grin on his happy face. ‘What do you say, boss? Need a chef? I have good references.’

EPILOGUE

Relationships were an odd thing. A man she once felt like the sun and the moon rose from his butt crack was now no more than a footnote in the margin of Amber’s story. A catalyst that led her to the future she now inhabited. The one she once thought she’d never have. Reconciled to having a child on her own, and chasing her dreams solo, she’d been steadfast in her wavering. Now, she rested on the shoulders of a man who would bring her the stars. A man whose muscular forearms would grapple the sky, climb the clouds and drag the moon down on his broad back. Just to make her smile. That was Tyler. Her best friend, her lover. Her everything. God, she was sappy nowadays.

‘What’s up with you?’ Tyler smirked down at her. ‘You’re looking at me like you want to nibble me.’

His big arms came around her, his stubble nuzzling that sweet spot on her neck he knew she loved.

‘I was just looking; you were in my line of vision,’ she lied, a matching smile across her face as she breathed him in. ‘And you need a shave.’

He huffed out a laugh. ‘You love my stubble, and you know it.’

‘True.’ She grinned. She had been looking out of the window, marvelling at how good it was to be home. Even now, the thought took her breath away. Even as their child Samuel slept in his room, even with her name above the door on that little plaque she never thought would exist.

‘Bar all set up?’ he asked, sensing as always just what she was thinking about.

‘Yep, Ben got the kitchen covered?’

He moved to her collarbone, dipping his head lower and pulling her tighter against his hard chest. His arms came up her sides, fingers bumping up her ribs until he reached the underside of her chest.

‘Uh-huh,’ he murmured back, distracted in his pursuit of her nipple under the neckline of the tight, black dress she was wearing. He drew across the curtain, shielding her from the street.

‘Always the protector,’ she breathed as his fingers pinched one, making it bud harder against the lace of her strapless bra. ‘Sharon will be up in a minute.’

His fingers paused, and she felt his groan. ‘Spoilsport. Do me a favour: never talk about Sharon again while I’m trying to feel you up.’

‘Deal,’ she laughed, checking the baby monitor on the coffee table for the tenth time. ‘Do you think…’

He hooked her around the waist, taking her jaw in a huge hand and lifting her to look into his gorgeous eyes. ‘Nope. Not a chance, Cherry. We have not had a date night in so long. Auntie Sharon is babysitting; the bar and kitchen are both covered. We,’ his eyes dropped to her lips, ‘are going out. Out out. To a place without menus that you colour in, or ball pools filled with child pee and skittles.’

‘Oooh. You had me at child pee.’

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