Page 86 of Glitz & Goals

“Final guess?” I prompt.

Grady wrinkles his nose. “Hmm… I’m guessing it’s a candid one. Probably a photo you’ve never shown me before. Hopefully, you’re not wearing much. Or maybe even nothing at all.”

I cover my smile with one hand.

“Ha! I’m right.” Grady flips the frame over. He stares at it. Lifts the frame. Tilts it to one side. Tilts it to the other. “What exactly am I looking at?”

I tap my toe against his shin. “Seriously? Have you never seen a sonogram before?”

“A sonogram?” he repeats. “Whose?”

I click my tongue and rest my shoulder against his so that I can point to the name and date. “Whose do you think, you goose? You think I’m out here printing and framing random sonograms?”

Grady swallows. He follows the line of my finger. “This is…”

“This is our baby.” I kiss his cheek. “Surprise.”

“But… I…” He exhales sharply. He lowers the frame, but his eyes stay locked on the image. “How?”

“So, when a man and a woman love each other very much—” I tease.

“Vivian.” Grady turns his head to meet my gaze. “I haven’t had my appointment yet. Not until after the honeymoon.”

“And we’ve been having unprotected sex. A lot of it.” I gently pry his fingers from the frame and guide his palm to my stomach. “I don’t know if Larisse lied about your results or if she had fertility issues, too. Maybe we just got lucky. Trial and error. Either way…” I tip my chin toward my stomach.

“We’re having a baby,” Grady says. I can tell from his bewildered tone that this hasn’t quite sunk in yet.

“And it looks just like you,” I add.

His lips twitch, and he glances down at the sonogram again. “You think so? I’m not seeing it.”

“Squint. And think back on how your head looked when you were hit with that puck last season.”

He lets out a snort of laughter. “You’re right. There it is. I didn’t think I could love you more, but now… you’re making me a dad. Viv, I’m so looking forward to forever with you.”

This time, when he takes my face between his hands, I let him. His kiss is deep but gentle, and I wonder if he’s going to insist that we take a break from our more vigorous sexual activities for a while. I hope not. One of the side effects of pregnancy has been a crazy surge in hormones, and I’m not even showing yet. On our way back from the appointment, Momwarned me that my hormones will go even more bonkers over the coming months.

That I’m going to want it morning, noon, and night.

My watch buzzes, and I jump, breaking off a perfectly good kiss. “Ugh, dammit, we’re getting married,” I grumble. “I have to go get ready.”

Grady laughs at my sarcastic tone. “Which means the next time I kiss you, you’re going to be my wife.”

“You’ll be my husband,” I correct.

He clings to my hand for a few more seconds. “I will.”

“I’ll see you at the altar in a few hours. I’ll be the one in the mermaid gown.”

Grady’s eyes bulge. “You’re wearing the mermaid costume?”

“That would turn some heads,” I admit. “But no, I won’t be wearing our special costume. A mermaid cut has a longer fitted bodice. It hugs the hips. I’ve been told that particular style accentuates my curves. I once turned a man’s head that way.”

Grady dips his head. “Oh, yeah. Mermaid cut. I knew that.”

“No, you didn’t.” I ruffle his hair. “Love you. See you soon.”

As I turn to leave, Grady gently tugs my hand, pulling me back. His eyes are soft, his expression unguarded in a way that makes my chest ache. “Wait,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

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