Page 108 of Brands

I’m frozen, staring at what rests in my palm.

“Is that…?” I can’t form the words. My head is spinning so fast it feels like the floor is tipping.

“Yep,” she squeaks.

The mattress dips as she sits next to me.

Letting the test tumble from my fingers, I wrap her with my arms, dragging her onto my lap to lie back with her on the blanket.

A lump forms in my throat. All I can do is bury my lips against her neck and squeeze her to me.

Everything has changed.

My biggest fear has transformed into my biggest dream.

Mason explained it to me once, that children are a way that the earth can see our love.

That a piece of us lives on in them. It never felt real to me until now.

I want Libby to live forever.

The ache in my chest swells into a wave of heat. “You and me, made a baby?”

Clay is gonna kill me. I think he keeps hoping Libby and I will get tired of each other.

I don’t see that happening in this lifetime.

Moving a strand of her golden hair away from her face, I let the thoughts tumble through me.

“We’re gonna have to decide pretty soon what we’re doing about housing. We can sell the other place, build here if you want?”

She smiles, rolling her lips to kiss the inside of my wrist. “Exactly how many kids are you expecting? We’ll be fine in here for a year or two if we have to.”

“More. The world deserves to have as many pieces of you in it as possible.” I pull her close.

Her laugh shakes against me. “Let’s start with one, cowboy.” She pauses, looking up at me. “I guess this is why I’ve been so dang teary lately.”

“No morning sickness though? I thought everyone got that.” My thumb works circles down her spine.

This is so surreal.

“Char never did. But she’s a rockstar. Poor Lori pukes like everyday.” Her eyes widen. “Shit, I hope that doesn’t happen. She’s so miserable.”

A fierce sense of protectiveness courses through me. “I think I’m gonna take some vacation time. Stick around.”

“Why? I’ll just wear gloves. There’s too many people around here all hours for anything too wild to happen.” She snuggles closer. “I mean, all I’ve been thinking about every time you’re gone is how soon you get home. But we can’t live in fear. I have a gun,” she giggles.

Fuck, I’m the one that’s going to be sick.

“Okay. But lots of cameras. And promise me you’ll always keep someone close to you?” I don’t want anything to happen to her…or our baby.

Shit, amIgoing to cry?

Her finger crosses over my heart. “I promise.”

Chapter Forty

Libby

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