Page 129 of Lavender Lake
“Hallelujah.”
“I want to be here,” I admitted. “Close to family. I can’t believe I’m even saying that. God, I can’t believe I’m pregnant. And Hadley’s pregnant. They’ll be cousins so close in age. I kind of like that.”
“Can I say something?”
“Always.”
“You don’t seem at all fazed by this turn of events.”
“What in my life has ever gone according to plan?” I asked with a wry chuckle. “This is just par for the course. Plus, I crave adventure. Clearly.”
“But it’s a baby.”
“Yes.”
“That’s a pretty big curveball.”
I peered at him. “You’re having doubts.”
“What? Not at all.”
“No?” I pulled my legs away from him and sat up. “I’m not expecting you to change your entire life because of this. I know you’re not a family man. You can be as involved as you want. Youcan come and go as you please. When you’re on a break from the circuit you can come back and?—”
“Woman, are you fucking delusional?” he snapped.
“Delusional is in the eye of the beholder.”
“Don’t be cute and quippy, Salem. Not right now.”
I smiled. “You called me cute.”
He scooted closer and grasped my upper arms gently and stared into my eyes. “What do you meanI’m not a family man?”
“Well, Declan said that. I don’t want to try to change who you are.”
“You’re telling me that you expect me to go about my life as if nothing’s changed? Christ, woman, we made a baby together. You and I. You think I’m not going to be there every step of the way? You don’t think I’m going to love you and care for you and rub your feet and catch everything you throw at my head when you’re in a hormonal rage? You don’t think I’m going to watch your body change and go to doctor appointments? You don’t think I’m going to plan a life with you and our child? Jesus, woman, do you know me at all?”
I blinked, tears coating my eyes. “Do I know you at all? Yes, I know you, Cas. But I also don’t, not really. Because we haven’t been together long at all. You’re at the height of your career. Kids ask for your autograph at airports. You’re talking like you’re willing to give all that up.”
“Of course I’d give all that up! It’s not even a question.”
“But—”
“Salem,” he said, his tone harsh. “I’m going to tell you how this is going to be. We’re going to build a house like Hadley and Declan. We’re going to raise our baby in the mountains of Idaho and he or she will grow up with family and friends and want for nothing. And if this life isn’t enough for you, then you can start your own marketing firm and travel wherever you need to for clients. You don’t need New York. And when you’re ready, we’llhave another baby. Or if you just want one, we can do that too. Not a family man . . . Tater tot, you just made me one.”
“Cas,” I whispered.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine and mumbled close to my mouth. “I’ll give you whatever you want in this life. I’ll give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”
My hands slid to the back of his neck and into the blond hair at his nape. “Is it that simple?”
“It’s that fucking simple.”
“You’ll have regrets.”
“No, I won’t.”
“What if you do, though?”
