Page 25 of My Reluctant Valentine

"You bet on us having kids?" I shouldn't be surprised.The club bets on everything.

"Honey, we've been betting on you two since that first parent-teacher conference." She winks."Why do you think I kept sending Bobby to your class with art supplies?"

My jaw drops. "You planned that?"

"The glitter was his idea." She nods toward Tank."But yeah, we might have engineered a few meetings.Someone had to save Ranch from himself."

"I did just fine on my own," Ace grumbles, but his arm slides around my waist.

"Sure, you did, boss." Tank rolls his eyes."That's why you spent three months stalking her before making a move."

"You did what?" I turn to Ace, who suddenly finds the ceiling fascinating.

"I might have had Reaper keep an eye on you before we officially met." He shrugs."For Emma's safety."

"Bullshit." Tank coughs into his hand."And after you met her and got all whipped?"

He shrugs again. "That, was for Leslie's safety."

"That true?" I poke Ace's chest."You were stalking me?"

"Protecting you." But his lips twitch."Though the view wasn't bad."

"You're impossible."

"You love it."

"God help me, I do." I rise on tiptoes to kiss him, ignoring the gagging sounds from our audience.

"Mom!" Emma tugs my hand. "Can we do presents now?Please?"

I check my watch. "As soon as everyone gets here, baby.Why don't you help Maria finish setting up?"

She runs off, leaving a trail of glitter in her wake.Some of Ace's guys are starting to arrive with their families, the kids immediately gravitating toward the craft table Maria set up.

"Well?" Ace's voice is low in my ear."You never answered my question."

"Which one?" But I know exactly what he means.

"About giving Emma that sister she wants."

I turn in his arms, playing with the collar of his cut."I threw out my birth control last week."

His whole body goes still. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." I bite my lip. "That okay?"

His answer is a kiss that curls my toes and draws whistles from around the room.When he finally pulls back, his eyes shine with something that looks suspiciously like tears.

"I love you," he says roughly."You know that?"

"I love you too." I straighten his cut, brushing off some stray glitter."Even if you are a stalker."

He laughs, the sound pure joy."Protective, baby. The word is protective."

"Possessive is more like it."

"Damn straight." He pulls me closer."You're mine. Always will be."

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