Page 19 of Curvy Girl and the Ex-Military Firefighter

My girlfriend. The mother of my child. My future.

Not bad for a Sunday afternoon.

Chapter 9 - Emma

My heart's still racing from Max's impromptu girlfriend proposal. His arms feel like home wrapped around me, but doubt creeps in like smoke under a door.

"Max?" I pull back slightly. "Can we talk?"

He settles on the couch beside me, concern clouding those green eyes I fell for.

"What's wrong?"

"I need to know something." My fingers twist in my lap. "Did you ask me to be your girlfriend because of the baby?"

"Emma—"

"Because I've wanted this since our lake picnic." The words tumble out before I can stop them. "Remember? When you packed those fancy sandwiches and that ridiculous red checkered blanket?"

His hand finds mine, stilling my fidgeting fingers. "The one where you taught me about cloud shapes?"

"Yes." I swallow hard. "That's when I knew I wanted more than just casual dating. But then we never talked about it, and now there's a baby, and I'm afraid—"

"That I'm only stepping up because of the pregnancy?"

I nod, not trusting my voice.

"Emma, look at me." He tilts my chin up with his free hand. "I've had the girlfriend question sitting on my tongue since that damn picnic too. You wore that yellow sundress that made you look like sunshine, and all I could think was 'I want this forever.'"

"Then why didn't you ask?"

He runs a hand through his hair, messing it up even more.

"Because I'm an idiot? Because I was scared of rushing things? Because every time I tried, some emergency call would interrupt us?"

"And now?"

"Now I realize life's too short for maybes." His thumb traces circles on my palm. "The baby isn't why I want to be with you. It's just made me brave enough to finally say it out loud."

I study his face, looking for any sign of doubt. But all I see is Max – my firefighter, who runs into burning buildings without hesitation but needed a pregnancy test to finally admit his feelings.

"Besides," he adds with a slight smirk, "I'm pretty sure Sadie would kill me if I didn't ask you to be my girlfriend as soon as possible. Ever since she made grumpy Kane fall for her, she believes we all deserve and need to find love."

"Who's still single in your crew?" I ask, trying to keep track of all the firefighters' love lives.

"Just Danny now." Max settles back against the couch. "It's complicated. His family consists of all doctors, very traditional. They have... expectations."

I nod, understanding. "He'll find someone when he least expects it. Like we did."

"Speaking of us..." Max's voice drops lower as he leans forward.

His lips find that spot on my neck that makes my knees weak. Thank god I'm sitting down.

I tilt my head, giving him better access. My lower lip catches between my teeth as he trails kisses up my throat.

"What are you doing?"

"Celebrating," he murmurs against my skin. "The baby. Us being official. Everything."

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