Page 58 of Don't You Want Me, Baby?

His face fell, and she stopped him before he spiralled into worry.

‘I’m fine. I mean, the baby… the sperm donor.’

‘I don’t care about how you got your baby, Amber.’

‘It didn’t work.’

His brow creased. ‘What? What do you mean… Sharon said you were pregnant. I don’t?—’

She saw something like recognition spark his face, and he pulled her into his arms. ‘Oh God, Amber. I didn’t know, I’m so sorry. Do you need to sit down? When did it?—’

The baby in her belly chose that moment to give her a little kick, the flutter in her stomach letting her know that the little one was still here. And maybe didn’t appreciate being smushed against Tyler’s hard body. Its mother sure did.

‘No.’ She almost laughed, pushing herself out of his arms and undoing the button on her coat. Tyler let her go, his eyes droppingto the neat bump. ‘I’m still pregnant. The sperm donation, it didn’t work.’

His face was a picture. ‘You might have to explain this one to me, Cherry.’

She shot him a watery smile. ‘You might be the one who needs to sit down. Tyler, it didn’t work because I didn’t do it. I was in too much of a mess, and I told you I did it because I wanted to push you away. And then I was a bigger mess when you left. I was sick, and I thought it was just because of everything with you. So I decided I would get the Arms, and then come and beg you to try again.’ She smiled then, a tear spilling down her cheek. ‘The thing was, I was already pregnant. I didn’t know it, but the dates fit when I looked. I went to the doctor, and she confirmed it. When I had my scan, I knew it was really happening. I wanted to call you the second I got out of there.’ She brushed the salty water from her cheeks, hands sliding to her pregnant belly. ‘I wanted to call you before I knew, if I’m honest. I haven’t told anyone. Not even Sharon. I wanted you there, but I had to make myself whole and show you I am here to take care of you now. I missed you so much, then when they told me I was pregnant, and it was yours. Ours. I just didn’t know how to tell you, but…’

‘It’s mine?’ he whispered.

Tears slid down her face and all she could do was nod.

‘It’s… the baby’s… we’re having a baby?’ His big, brown eyes were wide with shock, and then he broke into a huge, soppy grin. The same one he’d had on his face when he’d made her breakfast in bed.

She drew in a shuddery breath. ‘Yes. We’re having a baby, Ty. And I love you too.’

‘We’re really…’ His grin was bright enough to crack the pavements with its brilliance. ‘We’re having a baby!’ He lifted her into his arms, spinning her around on the pavement. The small gathering of people waiting at the bus stop opposite the bank all turned to look. One bobble-hat-wearing woman with a tartan shopping trolley started to clap. ‘Congratulations,’ another one shouted.

Tyler didn’t even see them; he was too busy twirling her around whooping. ‘We’re having a baby!’

‘Yeah, I know,’ Amber laughed, ‘but I’m also going to vomit if you don’t stop spinning me!’

‘Oh shit,’ Ty stopped immediately, lowering her to the floor and gripping her to him like she was a delicate, bone-china doll. ‘Sorry!’ He walked her over to the benches in front of the sandwich shop a few doors down. When she went to sit down, he came to her side, grabbing her butt cheeks.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Lowering you to the seat,’ he replied, his face taut. Amber was pretty sure she could hear a cackle coming from the direction of the bus shelter.

‘Tyler, I can sit down without breaking!’

He waited until she was seated and took his place next to her. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered, his face still flushed with shock. And probably exertion from carrying her around. She had noticed her maternity trousers were needed this morning when she’d got dressed for her meeting. ‘I think I’m in shock.’

‘I know.’ She gripped his hand when he reached for hers. ‘I would have told you; I just needed to get the meeting out of the way, and?—’

‘I know you would. Tell me, I mean. I get why you waited. How did the meeting go?’ He added the question as if he’d just remembered the reason she’d been there in the first place.

‘I got the loan,’ she said, feeling the elation all over again. ‘They loved the new business plan. In fact, they said the ideas for the food would be a very welcome addition to the community against all the newer, “hoity toity” places that had sprung up in the area.’

Their eyes met, and Tyler beamed. Which made her break out in peals of laughter. A minute later, they were both laughing their heads off on the bench.

When they’d finally stopped setting each other off, he slid his arm around her.

‘Can I?’ he asked softly, his eyes on her tummy.

She nodded, taking the hand wrapped around hers and placing his calloused palm on the spot where the flutters had just been coming from. ‘He’s been kicking since you got here.’

‘He?’ His brows shot up, his gravelly voice full of wonder and emotion as he focused on her bump.

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