Page 102 of Playboy

Warmth spreads through my limbs. Not just because of his words, but because of the way he says them. Because of the way he’s holding me and our child. His mere presence has the abilityto settle the chaos in my head. He knocks down my walls before I have a chance to erect them. I’ve never been so comfortable with a person in my life.

Tears clog my throat, but I force the words out. “That we’ll figure it all out together.”

“Yes. Of course we will.” He nuzzles my stomach. “Right, peanut? It’s not all on your pretty mama. We’ve got this.”

That’s what does it. That’s what sends the tears cresting over my lashes and rolling down my cheeks. It’s so natural, the way he loves on us both. In this moment, I know I’ve fallen in love with the father of my child. The feeling hits me smack in the chest, the overwhelming tidal wave washing away every insecurity.

Thehows, thewhat-ifs, thecan we reallys?

In their place is this certainty.

An overwhelming knowledge that, no matter what happens, I’ll be okay.We’ll be okay.And it’s all because of him. Because of the way he looks at me. The way he holds me. The way hehasme.

“You’re going to be an amazing dad,” I rasp.

Daniel peers up at me, his throat bobbing. “Yeah?”

With a swipe at my cheek, I nod. “You were so incredible with Nash and Vivi today. I couldn’t stop thinking about how you’ll be with our baby. How, in a matter of days, we’ll know what we’re having and…you’re just going to be so good, Daniel. I’m so happy you’re the father of my child.”

I have so much more to say. There are so many words beating wildly against my breastbone. But they remain lodged there. I’m too overcome to let them out.

Daniel kisses my belly, whispers something to our little peanut, then climbs up my body. “Can I ask you a favor?”

“Anything.” I ease back, rapt by him.

He hovers over me, his elbows planted on either side of my head. “I feel like we missed out on the excitement of announcing our pregnancy because?—”

“Because it was moreoh shit, we got pregnant.” I laugh.

He nods. “But now it’s more likeoh shit, we’re pregnant.” The words are the same, but his tone is full of wonder. He strokes the hair from my face and cradles my cheek in his warm palm. “And I want to celebrate that we’re having a baby with all our friends.”

My heart trips over itself. “What do you have in mind?”

“Do you trust me?”

My response is immediate. “Always.”

“Then let me take care of everything, dream girl. I want to do a big gender reveal. Is that okay?”

“So we’ll find out with all our friends there?”

He nods and presses a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I promise I’ll make it fun. You’ll be happy.”

I pull him to my chest and hug him tight. “I already am. But yeah, we can do it your way, Playboy.”

THIRTY-FOUR

DANIEL

“So I’mthe only person in the whole wide world who knows?” Lennox wears the biggest grin as she peeks inside the white envelope again.

“Well, you and the ultrasound tech, likely a nurse or two, and the doctor.” Eyes narrowed, I study her expression, looking for any hint about what’s printed on that piece of paper.

Fuck, it’s hard to be patient. I want to know whether Hannah and I are right. More than that, I can’t wait to find out what we’re having so we can pick a name and I can stop talking to my child like it’s a snack. But I refuse to peek. I want Hannah at my side when I find out. I promised one epic reveal, and I intend to give it to her.

Tonight.

I wrangled Lennox, the queen of event-planning, into helping me.

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