Page 52 of The Billionaire's One-Night Baby

Dodi tipped her head to the side, not fooled by his small smile, the cockiness on his face. His eyes reflected his worry that she didn’t love him back. The muscle in his jaw told her how tense he was. He was uncertain, feeling vulnerable, scared of her answer. Seeing this big, bold, tough-as-leather man vulnerable brought home the reality of his words. He did love her, he did want to be with her. He would stand beside her, next to her, he wanted to do life with her.

All he needed was her trust and her assurance that she loved him too.

‘I trust you, Jago.’

She saw hope jump into his eyes. ‘You do?’

‘I do. With my heart and my feelings, with my opinions and my life. Lily was my rock, the one person I trusted implicitly, no questions asked, with every fibre of my being. But I’ve realised that you show your love through actions. You’ve shown me that you love me, in so many different ways. I do trust you, Jago, just as I did her.’ She saw his Adam’s apple bob, saw the hint of moisture in his eyes and, feeling brave, and powerful, and oh-so-feminine, she placed a hand on his heart.

There were more words she needed to say. Good words, strong words. Important words. ‘I love your body. I love making love with you. I’m already crazy about our child. But you, Jago,youmake my heart sing. I look at you and I feel both excited and content, jittery and calm. And I feel love, so much of it. You own my heart, Jago, and I love you.’

Jago’s big hand covered her cheek. ‘Sweetheart...those words... I didn’t think I needed them, and I didn’t, not from anyone else but you.’

Dodi’s bottom lip wobbled. ‘Did you...did you mean it?’

Jago lifted his eyebrows. ‘Mean what?’ he asked, his eyes dancing with happiness and amusement.

‘What you said about wanting to marry me?’ Dodi asked in a small voice. Was she pushing too hard again? Asking for too much too quickly?

‘Did you want me to mean it?’ Jago asked her, his voice suddenly serious.

She looked up at him, doubts swirling. Then she realised that she couldn’t keep hiding her feelings, she needed to tell Jago exactly how she felt—he couldn’t read her mind. Honesty was always cleaner and led to fewer misunderstandings.

‘Yes, I want you to mean it,’ she replied. ‘Did you?’

He sent her a tender smile. ‘Very much so.’

Relief washed over her. ‘Good,’ she told him, with a huge smile. ‘Because I still want a decent proposal—nothing too over-the-top—and a kick-ass ring. And we are getting married in a church, by a priest, Le Roux, and I sure as hell want a honeymoon.’

Jago cupped his hand behind her head and bridged the gap between them. ‘Proposal, ring, church wedding, honeymoon... I’m taking mental notes. Anything else, my darling?’

Dodi’s hand snuck up and under his shirt, revelling in the feel of his hot skin, his hard muscles. ‘Just for you to love me, Jago, every day and in every way.’

‘I do, I will, Elodie Kate. That’s a promise.’

Jago dropped his head to kiss her, but before he could, Dodi took his hand and placed it on her small bump. ‘We’re a family, Jago.Finally.’

He kissed the corner of her mouth. ‘That we are. And you are, and always will be, the centre of our world.’

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