Page 166 of Begin Again, Part 2

"She said you could be right." Eden reminded him. "Would you be disappointed if it's another boy?"

"No," he shook his head. "As long as it's healthy, I don't care. But I know it's a girl."

"Right, you and your sixth sense!"

Liam pulled her in his embrace and kissed her nose. "Thank you for bringing me along."

"Did you think I'll want to do this on my own again?" Eden frowned. "The first one was free. This one isn't. You are not getting out of it this time. The diaper changes, the vomit, and sleepless nights are all yours."

"Are you trying to scare me?"

"No. But buckle up, Princess!" she smirked, echoing his words from weeks earlier. "It won't get any easier."

"That sass!" he smacked her ass and squeezed it as they made their way to the car.

Chapter

Forty-Eight

SOMETHING ABOUT ALMOST DYING

On a good day, it took ten minutes to get to the botanical gardens north of Rock Castle from Van Holt Industries. But, today, it took them almost twice as long. By the time they left the doctor's rooms, every man and his dog was out and about, running their morning errands, and the park was almost packed to capacity when they arrived. Everywhere they turned, there were swarms of people sitting on picnic blankets with their wicker baskets. Others were already on camping chairs under big umbrellas, sipping beers even though it wasn't 10:00 AM, and turning sausages and steaks on their braai stands.

"Look at this place," Eden said, her eyes roaming everywhere. "We can't let Aiden out of our sight. I don't want a repeat of the aquarium. What if Aleksei is here?"

"He's in prison, remember?" Liam lifted her chin and kissed her slowly. "He can't hurt us."

"But his brother is around."

"Listen to me." He shook her gently as Aiden squirmed in her arms. "Andrei won't try anything stupid. You and Aiden are safe here."

Eden nodded, but the worry in her eyes didn't vanish with his assurances, and it broke his heart that even with Aleksei behind bars, she was still terrified something would happen.

Liam was also terrified, so he'd beefed up their security detail today. But he should be the only one worrying about their safety. Not Eden.

"Edie!" Her friends screamed and waved at her from the refreshments stall.

"Go on." He took Aiden from her and pushed her towards her squad.

"But you're not well."

"I'll be fine," he lied. He wouldn't. The short walk from the parking lot had done a number on him, and he felt weak and exhausted.

"Okay, call me if you need anything," she said as she quickly kissed him and Aiden before sprinting off.

"Just you and me, Kool-Aid?" Liam bounced his son in his arms as they watched Eden's friends scream over her engagement ring. She hadn't seen them since the proposal because she'd spent every waking moment at the hospital with him.

"You think Mommy's happy Kool-Aid?"

"No!" Aiden shook his head and pointed at his nanny chatting with Stephen and James. "I want Brenda!"

"Okay, let's go say hello."

But they'd barely made it across the grounds when they were accosted by a pack of office support ladies from the 23rd floor. They all fawned over Aiden, raving about his hair.

"I didn't know you have a baby Dragon—I meant a baby—sir. He's so cute," the dark-haired girl with buck teeth said, finishing off feebly when he gave her an icy glare.

Liam was okay with them gushing over his son from two metres away, but when they tried to touch him and give him shit to eat, his Mr Nice Guy mask fell off, and he nicely asked them to move along.

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