Page 66 of Last Minute Fiancé

It was pretty damn amazing.

“Well, I’m proud of you. I knew you were going to kick ass. Are you excited to take some time off though?”

“Yes and no. I mean, we are going to have a baby.” I did my jazz hands routine, and Luca laughed.

“Okay, that was stupid to say, but once you’re done with maternity leave, are you going to continue to work remote?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so, but I’ll have the option. And there’s a full daycare center now within the company; Paisley works fast.”

“Damn straight. I’m just glad I didn’t have to add a daycare next to the puppy kennel.”

He winked as he said it and I rolled my eyes. “I’m just shocked that we don’t have a litter of kittens here right now. You got them all homes?” I asked.

It was kitten season, which meant that we constantly had newborn kittens in the house that we were bottle feeding. It was good practice for the baby, but I knew that was going to have to stop once the baby came.

“Colt and our new team members that we hired are all handling it. We are on break from at-home visits with animals for a while until we find our routine. Everybody needs to be vaccinated and ready emotionally before I bring more animals home.”

“You’re a good person, Luca.”

“I try. Although I will say, even though I haven’t done it in a while, maybe an actual family member on four legs would be nice.” He smiled at me brightly, and I narrowed my gaze. “You know, one that we don’t have to give back to its owners or find a new family for. An old dog or cat that needs a home. A little kitten that can grow up with his brother or sister.”

He dipped a piece of cucumber in ranch and stuffed it in my mouth before I could say no, and I chewed, annoyed that he knew exactly what I had been craving without me even saying it.

Damn that man.

“I know, I know, a vet without an animal at home does seem a little weird.”

“It really does. The only reason I hadn’t done it before was because I was constantly having animals at home, but now that we have the new center and our new team members, I don’t know, I’d like to have a pet. However, baby comes first.”

“That is very true.”

My phone buzzed and I looked down at it, seeing my mom’s name on the screen.

Mom:I found the cutest outfit. This one has bumblebees on it which fits your motif.

She sent a picture of a bumblebee onesie, and I shook my head before showing it to Luca.

“How many bumblebee outfits will this child have?” Luca asked with a laugh.

“I have no idea. But it makes my mom happy. And at least she’s stopped trying to learn to knit.”

Luca shook his head and looked over at the half-finished blanket behind me on the armchair. “It could be worse.”

“Yes, it could have caught on fire,” I said, before texting my mom back that it looked cute, and setting my phone down.

“That was really nice of Ashleigh’s parents, you know. Sending that blanket that she made?”

It had come two days prior, and I hadn’t brought it up, nor had Luca, but as I looked over at the couch, at the beautifully knitted yellow-and-cream blanket, I reached out and gripped Luca’s hands.

For some reason I was nervous, but then again I knew exactly why I should be.

Because Ashleigh’s parents had sent a baby blanket. Meaning Ashleigh’s parents knew I was pregnant.

I hated that I was jealous of a dead woman.

“Ashleigh’s parents are good people. They’re grandparents themselves from Ashleigh’s two older siblings. And, I don’t know, I guess they wanted to do something to show that they’re happy for me.” He shrugged, before leaning forward to kiss me gently on the lips.

“I know you didn’t read the note, but she made sure to say that she started this when she heard about the pregnancy, rather than finishing something that she started for her.”

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