Page 108 of Best Man
“What?”
She slapped her forehead. “Sasha, I wished for something to remember you by.”
He laughed out loud. “Nailed it!”
She buried her face in his chest. “Yeah. I nailed it, alright.”
“You asked me earlier if I thought this pregnancy was a good thing,” he said. “So, to answer your question: yes, I think this pregnancy is a good thing. Very much so.”
“You’re amazing, Sasha.” She squeezed her arms around him even tighter. “I swear, I was so,soworried when I saw that pregnancy test. I was so afraid you wouldn’t believe it was yours. And so scared you’d want me to get rid of it.”
He huffed. “Don’t even speak like that. I hate it so much.”
“I hate it, too, Sasha! And I would’ve had the baby regardless, but until I explained it to you, I had this awful fear that you’d reject the baby, reject me, that you wouldn’t want anything to do with us … that things would get really ugly between us …”
He shook his head, full of conviction. “Never. Never would I do something like that.”
“I can see that now, but I didn’t know that earlier. That’s why I was acting so strangely at dinner. I’m so sorry about how I acted tonight, by the way.Ugh, I hated myself for being all weird and quiet, but until I had this talk with you, I just didn’t know what to think. I was a nervous wreck.”
Suddenly, his belly began shaking with silent laughter.
“What? What is it?” she asked.
“I just realized—that’swhy you were acting so weird about my motorcycle! Because you’repregnant!”
“Yes, Sasha!” she said, and she laughed, too. “I truly am excited to ride with you—someday.But I’m not comfortable riding while I’m pregnant. I’ll ride with you afterward, but I meant what I said about you needing another helmet. You’re going to be a daddy soon and we can’t have anything happen to you.”
Whoa,he thought, dumbstruck and smiling. He was going to be adaddy. That little word was packed with so much responsibility and love—and while he might have seen that responsibility as a burden just a few weeks ago, now it excited him. It was an honor and a duty to be a daddy, and he looked forward to it.
“And that’s also why Piper and I wouldn’t touch the charcuterie board at dinner, even though everyone else was raving about it.”
He tilted his head. “Why not?”
“You’re not supposed to eat cold cuts when you’re pregnant. And I probably shouldn’t do thebanyawith you, either.”
The banya …he thought.
He looked around at his hotel bedroom. He’d lived like a king here for years, ever since he moved out of Derek’s place. Forget bachelor pad—this was his bachelorpalace. Now, though, it suddenly occurred to him how childish and wasteful it was to live in a hotel. Even with the generous discount the hotel offered him, this suite cost an arm and a leg. Now he understood what his sister had been trying to tell him all along; it just required a different perspective to see it.
“We are going to have to start looking for a house,” he said soberly.
“Wha’? Really?” Paulina squinted at him. “But you love living here. You just said you never wanted to leave.”
“I know,” he mumbled. “But we can’t raise a baby in a hotel. That’s crazy.”
“I’m glad you agree. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a yurt, but I think raising a child in the Ritz is a recipe for raising a spoiled brat.” Regardless, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I have to admit, though, I really thought getting you out of this hotel was going to be more of a battle.”
“Hey, if you want me to be more unreasonable, I can,” he said with a grin. “How about this: ourhouse must have abanya. And an outdoor pool. And a giant garage for my sports cars.”
She giggled. “A pool sounds great—you won’t get any arguments from me. Thebanya,though?It’ll probably be easier to find a house you like and then build abanya, rather than look for a house with one already in it.”
“You’re probably right,” he said. “Sounds like you know what you’re talking about. Will you help me look for houses?”
“I’d love to, Sasha.” She slithered onto his chest and kissed him deeply on the mouth. “You sure knowthe way to a girl’s heart.”
He didn’t see why she was so happy. “It’s going to be ourhome, Paulina. I want you to love it, too.” He paused. “You aregoing to move in with me, aren’t you?”
She hesitated. “Eventually, yeah.”
