Page 47 of A Baby to Make Her His Bride

“Vi,” Jasper asked in a hushed voice, caressing her wet cheek. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong and that makes me really, really happy.”

“Me, too.” He pressed his smile to hers.

Jasper had rushed back to his office for the afternoon, but he came home early, surprising Vienna where she was cooling off in the pool, still metaphorically floating after seeing the evidence of their growing baby. It was real!

“Oh. Hello,” she said when he appeared in his swimsuit. It was a low-waist, snug black band that underlined his six-pack abs and stretched across his flat hips, barely containing his gear. He didn’t say anything, only dove straight in, not surfacing until he was beside her in the shallow end where she sat on the stairs.

“Honey, I’m home,” he said when he popped up. He kissed her, beard and lips wet as he lingered with his greeting. When he drew back, she was as breathless as if she had swum the length of the pool underwater.

“So you are.” She was insubstantial as he gathered her in his arms and stole her seat on the stairs, guiding her into his lap. “How was the rest of your day?” she asked.

“Good. We passed muster and can move to next steps.”

“That’s good news!”

“It is.”

“Not least of which is that we get to continue spending winters here, where it’s summer. I’m officially a snowbird,” she said, referring to the Canadians who flew south in October. “Why do they even call them that when they’re trying to escape the snow?”

“Right? Team sunfish. The more time I get to see you in a bikini, the better.”

“This is probably my last day in a bikini for a while,” she said ruefully, patting the distinct roundness that was starting to show in her middle.

“Don’t get self-conscious on my account.” His hand was on her hip and his thumb stroked toward her navel. “I think you’re cute as hell.” He shifted her so her bottom was more firmly in the cradle of his thighs. “Did you talk to anyone at home?”

“I wanted to wait for you.” She played her fingers over his ear and the back of his neck. “I kind of want to do it in person, but also, I can’t wait until spring. What do you think of going home for Christmas?”

“Amelia asked me the other day what our plans were. I said I’d check with you. I think we should go home. When we do, we could...” He tipped her slightly and his hand worked under her thigh.

“You’re usually better at this,” she said blithely, while hanging on around his neck so she didn’t fall into the water.

“I have something in my trunks.”

“I’m familiar with the contents of your trunks. I’m pretty sure you’re off the mark there, too.”

“You think you’re so funny.” Amusement was glinting in his eyes. “There’s a pocket in them.”

“Where? And forwhat? If you have your phone in there, I will be very impressed.” She wiggled, trying to see, but whatever he wanted was in his fist.

“When we go home, let’s make this official.” He opened his hand to show her a ring with a vivid blue stone that flashed purple in the light. The platinum setting was elegant in its simplicity.

“Jasper! That’s beautiful. Sapphire?”

“Blue diamond. They’re very rare. This one is ethically sourced. I checked. I thought it suited a woman who is the diamond of diamonds.”

“Flatterer,” she accused, but she was genuinely moved by his words. “You’ve already given me the most precious thing I could ever want, though.” She meant their baby.

“I’m being sincere.” He cupped her cheek, waiting for her eyes to meet his. “You are very special, Vienna Waverly. Remarkable. Not just for this beautiful miracle you’re creating, but for the very specific sparkle you bring to my life. I’m in awe of you every day—as an artist and as a woman who is starting a new life on her own terms. I already know you’ll be an amazing mother to our child. Will you marry me?”

How could she say no? It wasn’t a declaration of love, but he was making a point of telling her this wasn’t just about their baby. For the first time in her life, she felt as though someone really saw her and valued her andwantedher. That meant everything.

Her throat closed up with emotion so she could only whisper, “Yes.” She held out her hand for him to thread the ring onto her finger.

As he did, an old wives’ tale came to her, something her grandmother had told her as a child. She had said the wedding ring went on the left ring finger because there was a direct vein from that finger up her arm and into her heart.

It certainly felt that way as Jasper slid the ring into place. A sweet sensation arrowed into her chest and, even though she had never felt anything like it, she knew what it was: love. True love. The kind she had always wished for.

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