Page 101 of Finally Forever
I pull her closer and deepen the kiss, loving the feel of her tongue tangling with mine. She sighs into my mouth and relaxes completely in my arms. Forgiven.
“I love you,” I whisper after breaking the kiss, but keeping her secure in my arms. “I love our baby, too.”
More tears slip down her cheeks. “I wanted you to.”
“I do, and I will protect and provide for you both until the day I die and long after. As you said so yourself, death is no match for me.”
She giggles, the sound wet and sniffly, and her eyes catch on something. She stiffens. “Lowell?”
Shit. I’d forgotten the guy was here.
He stands frozen, not far from the couch, a coffee mug in each hand, tears in his eyes. “You’re forgiven.”
Ainsley laughs again and moves to sit up. I let her, knowing I will have her in my arms again as soon as she’s done doing whatever it is she feels like doing. She stands and takes the coffee mugs from Lowell, setting them on the table near the couch.
“You two haven’t properly been introduced. Lowell”—she gestures to me—“this is the love of my life and my fiancée, Sebastian Gianni.”
“Sebastian.” She gestures to Lowell. “This is my best friend from high school. He’s a talented fashion designer and the most accepting person I’ve ever met. He helped me work through my feelings when I was stuck about going into protective custody with you.”
Sebastian’s brow arches. “He did?”
“Yes,” they say in unison, and I get it.
I get what she sees in him. How close they still are. Why she needs him. How much it hurt her when I denied her his friendship back in Cassis, even if my reasons were valid.
“I’m glad she has you. I hope what you know about me won’t hinder your friendship.”
Ainsley sits next to me.
I draw her onto my lap, her back to my chest, needing her as close to me as possible. I kiss her hair.
“I’ll be honest.” Lowell gets his coffee from the nearby dinette and sits on the chair near the couch. “I wasn’t sure about you at first. You come with a lot of baggage. But it’s more than obvious that you love her, deeply. She deserves that kind of love.” He sips his coffee. “Did I hear correctly that there’s a bun in the oven?”
Ainsley’s cheeks redden. “I didn’t want to tell you after everything I laid on you last night. I thought it’d be too much.”
“It was a lot.” He nods, then his features turn serious. “How do you feel about being pregnant?”
I haven’t even asked her that question.
She inhales and exhales, her body still soft in my arms. “I was scared at first. But I wanted it. I wanted it with you.” She turns her head to look at me but can’t connect with my gaze because of how I’m holding her. I loosen my grip so she can turn more, and finally, her eyes connect with mine. “Is that selfish?”
I cup her cheek. “No. It’s human. As soon as I learned you were pregnant, I wanted this baby.”
“You did?” Tears pool in her eyes.
“Yes.” I kiss her, wishing we were alone so I could show her how much I want this baby and her.
Lowell stands. “I feel like you two need privacy.”
“Lowell, no.” Ainsley jumps up.
I keep my hands close to her in case she loses her balance.
“This is your place. We’re intruding. We can go.”
“But you just got here.” He frowns.
“He has a hotel a block away. I’ll be back. I promise.”
