Page 120 of Everlasting Promises

Feel her like this.

Be with her like this.

I return her kiss with vigor, pouring every ounce of love and gratitude into it.

When we finish in the shower and dry off, Hope grabs my first aid kit and applies antiseptic ointment along my graze, then covers it with a dressing. I feel like she’s fussing too much, but when I look at the pain still shadowing her eyes, I keep my mouth shut. She needs to do this for herself as much as she’s taking care of me.

I rub my hands up the back of her thighs while she works, offering her a semblance of comfort. I can’t take away her pain—her fears—but I can do my best to limit them.

I’m still floating on a cloud. Hope ispregnant. I’m going to be a dad. The news is so unexpected, but so welcome. I captureher hand in mine to press a kiss to her palm when I notice something missing. I glance up at her to find her watching me.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to take them off for me.” I don’t ever want her to feel she has to give him up. He was everything to her.

She tilts her head to the side. “It was time. I never thought I’d take them off, but it felt like the time was right. I’m ready to put the past behind me and concentrate on our future. Wyatt would understand.”

I kiss her bare finger, knowing it won’t be bare for long. Emotion wells in my throat, and pride for her strength overwhelms me. “I love you. I hope you know how much.”

She smiles down at me. “I know and I love you, too,” she tells me as she slides her fingers lovingly through my damp hair.

“I can’t believe I’m gonna be a dad,” I whisper, leaning forward to kiss her still-flat stomach.

She smiles down at me, and some of the pain recedes from her gaze as it fills with warmth and tenderness. She slides her fingers through the longer lengths of my hair. “You’re gonna be a great dad.”

I hope so.

I didn’t have a great role model, but I’ll do my best to be the father Evan and this baby deserves. Leaning down, she presses a kiss to my lips, and I quickly bury my fingers in her hair to hold her to me.

“Thank you,” I murmur against her lips, which spread in a gentle smile. “This is the greatest gift.”

She pulls back a little, her eyes skipping between mine. “Do you mind if we tell Evan when we all get up?”

“Of course not. You didn’t tell him already?”

She shakes her head. “Nope. I thought you should be the first to know.” She glances away, then back to me, and if I’m not mistaken, her eyes carry a little guilt, and her shoulders are moretense than they were a moment ago. “Well … not technically first. Savannah figured out that my symptoms pointed to a possible pregnancy, and Sophie bought the test. They were both with me when I found out. Sorry.” The words rush out of her, and her shoulders sag when she finally takes a breath.

Shaking my head, I chuckle. “That’s okay.” I tap her ass lightly. “Let’s get some sleep, and we’ll tell Evan in the morning.”

56

HOPE

Queasiness is once againmy companion when I wander into the kitchen the next morning and find Ben leaning against the cabinet, eating toast. He holds out his arm, silently inviting me in for a cuddle—which I’ll never refuse—then offers me a bite of his breakfast.

I hold up my hand and shake my head. “Not yet. Maybe later.” I rub my stomach. “Morning sickness,” I murmur in explanation.

His brows drop, and his hand covers mine. “Anything I can do to make it better? Is there anything I can get for you?” He drops to his knees, pressing a kiss to my stomach. “You’re not giving your mom a hard time, are you?”

My lips spread at how cute he’s being, and I shake my head again, hopefully dismissing his concern. “Give me a couple of hours and I usually feel better. I’ll eat then.” Creases form between his eyebrows like he doesn’t believe me as he climbs to his feet. “Promise.”

Wrapping his arms around me, he holds me close, and I drop my head to his chest, enjoying the quiet moment together. Feeling the strong thump of his heart against my cheek and the heat of his body beneath my touch is exactly what I need after yesterday’s scare.

Evan shuffles through the kitchen door—hair a mess—and rolls his eyes, but I can’t miss him fighting a smile. He didn’t make a big deal out of Ben and me being together, and I’m hoping he’ll react similarly to this morning’s news.

“Hey, big guy. How’d you sleep?” I ask as I pull away from Ben to snuggle with my boy.

He returns my embrace with a tight squeeze. “I’m still worried about Rex.”

I pull away slightly and smooth back his hair. “I know, Ev. We all are. We’ll see him soon.”

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