Page 97 of Love and Memories

“No. I thought it was a girl, but… I guess it just seems more real now. Not that it wasn’t before. It’s just…” She covered her mouth with a hand and stared at the screen where images of her baby had just been.

Travis stood and wrapped one arm around Bella and pressed the other hand against the side of her belly. The baby between them was growing bigger by the day, and it wouldn’t be long until they’d get to meet her face-to-face.

“She’s going to be the luckiest girl in the world,” Travis whispered. “And she’s going to have the best mom.”

Bella lifted her head from his chest. “I don’t know anything about being a mom. What am I going to do?”

Travis chuckled. “You actually know a lot. I know you do. I think anyone would be scared to have their first child.”

“First child,” she whispered.

“Well, if you want more kids.” Travis wiped a stray tear that slid down her cheek. “I don’t think we’ve ever talked about that. It was kind of a given that we’d have at least one.”

The breath he’d been inhaling seized in his chest. They were just stepping into their relationship at a hectic time in her life. How much of this had she chosen?

“It’s all happening so fast.” Bella wiped her face.

Travis bent his knees to look her in the eyes. “Hey, there’s no rush. We’re in this together. It’s not just me. You have a whole town standing behind you. They say it takes a village to raise a kid, right?”

She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his chest. “I’ve never had anyone before.”

Travis brushed a hand over her hair. “You’ll always have me. Always.”

36

ISABELLA

Bella wrapped her coat tighter around her as Travis parked in front of the dining hall at Wolf Creek Ranch. Energy zinged through her body, leaving her elated one second and tired the next.

Bright lights shone through the windows into the dark night. The full moon lit up the hills and valleys surrounding the buildings at the center of the ranch. She’d been to Wolf Creek Ranch once before with Hadley, and the place was always bustling with wranglers and guests. Even now, well after dark, the parking lot was filled with vehicles.

Travis shut off the diesel engine and turned to her. His wide smile was visible even in the dim light. “Are you ready to tell everyone?”

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

He reached out and grabbed her hand. It was sweaty, but he didn’t mention it as he wrapped it in his. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

“I do. I mean, we would be meeting with them for Bible study tonight anyway.”

“Yeah, but ten people is a little different from thirty. We can tell Hadley you’re tired if you want to just go home.”

“No, no. I’m fine. I just… I just can’t believe she was able to round up so many people to come to our gender reveal party.”

“More people wanted to come, but they’re still working,” Travis reminded her.

“I still can’t believe I have this many friends,” she whispered.

Her life in Omaha had screeched to a stop when she entered the world of the Iron Fist. No family, no friends, no community. She was alone, except the people the club allowed her to see. Having control of her own life still conjured that old fear that she would be punished for stepping outside of the club’s clearly defined lines.

“Why? Everybody loves you,” Travis reminded her.

She stared at the glow through the windows of the dining hall. She had real friends and a home now, but it was still difficult to accept.

“I haven’t earned this. I don’t deserve it,” she whispered.

Travis cradled her cheek in his hand, and the touch sparked against her skin like dry kindling. When she looked up at him, fire burned in his eyes.

“You deserve to be happy, and I’m going to make sure you always know it. I love you, Bella. I love you so much.”

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