Page 29 of The Nicolaides Baby

She searched his expectant face and waited for those three little words from him, but they didn’t come.

His brow furrowed slightly. “I thought we could make it official by adopting Lukas when the time is right, and then I could make Mara mine as well.” Her stuttering heart almost stopped when he continued. “I’d like to be a father to her.”

What am I going to do?

“Well?” He tilted his head. “I expected you to be surprised but not speechless.”

“I… I… I wasn’t expecting—”

“I know,” he said lifting her hand and kissing the ring. “But don’t you think it would be the best thing for both children to have two parents who love them?”

“I do. And I’ve been torn about leaving Lukas.”And you. “But this is a big decision. There’s my teaching job and my house and—”

“Morereasons?” His jaw tightened.

“No,” she took her hand from his, the ring weighing heavily not just on her finger but also on her heart, and then traced her fingers over his scowling brow. “But you need to understand I have a lot to consider.”

He blew out a harsh breath and nodded “You’re right. And I’m sorry.” He scooted closer and gathered her against his chest. “It’s just been so perfect between us lately and I guess I don’t want to let that go.”

Her mind tried to wrap around the last few moments as she burrowed into him. It wasn’t the declaration she was looking for, but she latched on to it anyway. Something could grow from this. And then maybe once their lives were settled, she could tell him there would be no need for him to adopt her daughter.

Mara was already his. So…

“Yes.”

* * *

“A week doesn’t give me much time to plan,” Charlotte said as she jumped up from her seat again and paced beside the table. Her future mother-in-law had focused in on the ring as soon as she, Leo, and Mara had stepped onto the terrace the next morning for breakfast. Since then, she hadn’t been able to sit still for longer than a few minutes at a time.

“Mother,” Leo said with a grin as he shook his head. “There’s not much to plan. We want something small…simple.”

“It’s so romantic,” Libby said on a deep sigh as she leaned her cheek on her palm. “Just like in one of those Harlequin books.”

Rowan gave her an indulgent smile but didn’t want to burst her bubble with the truth.

“Well, we at least have to have a party to celebrate.”

Rowan could almost see the calculations going on in Charlotte’s head as she once more sat down and stared at the ceiling, her pursed lips twitching back and forth.

Leo’s smiling glance met hers. And in that moment, Rowan could almost convince herself this was the romance book-type engagement that Libby imagined it to be.

Rowan had the same sense of surrealism as she spent the day shopping with Charlotte and Libby for a dress for both the party and the wedding. She stared absentmindedly at her reflection in what had to be the tenth dress she’d tried on. She missed visiting Lukas and felt guilty for not being with him. But Leo had insisted he would enjoy having the baby all to himself, so she supposed it was okay.

She’d checked in frequently with both him and Gregorios, who was taking care of Mara, throughout the day, and it seemed like the Nicolaides men had things well in hand.

“Oh, Rowan,” Charlotte whispered, bringing her out of her reverie. “This dress is absolutely lovely on you.”

“You think so,” she said, glancing down her body and smoothing her hand over her torso and the delicate lace and beading of the pale, dove gray dress that flowed seamlessly into a multitude of scalloped, almost sheer layers of fabric down to her mid-calf.

“I love it,” Libby chimed in. “And Leo is going to flip when he sees you in it.”

Rowan chuckled. “Well, I don’t know about that, but I think you’re right at this being the one.” She glanced at her image again.

My wedding dress.

They’d already found an emerald green dress for the engagement party Charlotte had insisted they have the next night and had had it sent to the villa. Rowan had no idea how she had pulled it off, but the woman had managed to plan the party in a little over two hours and already had workers at the villa putting the whole thing together. She grinned. Charlotte might actually be more organized thanshewas.

“Now for some lingerie.”

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