Page 64 of One Hot Deal

So much has changed in my life since the day I asked Derek to become my baby donor.These days, I can't believe I ever came up with such an idiotic plan.But if I hadn't, I might never have realized what an incredible man Derek is and how much I could love him.

I'm sitting on a chaise in the backyard of our new home, a cozy little cottage in a cozy little village.No more hustle and bustle.We like our quiet life, though we sometimes go into London for business—or pleasure.Derek and I have discovered we both love museums, though Pippa still thinks that sort of entertainment is boring.She stays overnight at Rupert's house whenever we take a trip to a museum.Pippa and Sally have become best friends.

When Hugh and Avery returned from their tropical honeymoon, they shared some news with us first.They're going to have a baby in slightly less than seven months.Derek and I were both thrilled by their announcement, and I know Derek especially looks forward to becoming an uncle.

Today, I have news of my own.

I wait until Pippa goes into the house to use the loo, then I walk over to the barbecue grill where Derek is flipping hamburgers."Could you take a break for a moment?"

"Sure.These burgers need a few more minutes."He steps away from the grill."What's up?"

I've never been one to procrastinate, so I blurt out, "The stick turned blue."

"What stick?"

"The one I'm going to shove up your arse.What do you think?I took a home pregnancy test."

"Ohhh, that kind of stick."His expression goes blank."Are you saying…"

"I'm pregnant.I'll need to see a doctor to confirm it, just to be sure."

He sweeps me up in his arms and twirls us round and round while grinning and whooping.

"What's going on?"Pippa asks.

I can just barely see her standing on the patio.The world has become a blur.I start laughing too, even while I say, "Set me down, please, Derek."

He sets me on the ground."Did you tell Pippa yet?"

"No, of course not."

"What didn't you tell me?"Pippa asks, as she approaches us.

"Diana is pregnant," Derek says, while still grinning."You're about to have a cousin."

Pippa shrieks and jumps up and down, clapping furiously."That's brilliant, Mum!I can't wait."

I can't help smiling."Technically, our child will be Pippa's brother or sister, since I adopted her."

"Who cares about the technicalities?"Derek says."We've got everything we ever wanted."

He's spot on, of course.Just a few months ago, I would have never thought I'd find this kind of happiness.Pippa brought me so much joy, but deep down, I'd always wanted more.I wanted a family, and now I have one.Hugh and Avery are part of our family too, and vice versa.

Derek clears his throat."I, uh, was going to wait until dessert before I did this.But now seems like the perfect time."He drops to one knee in front of me.After digging about in his trouser pocket for a moment, he pulls out a small satin box and holds it up to me.Derek flips the lid open."Diana, will you marry me?"

"Yes, love, of course I will."

He slips the ring onto my finger, then leaps up to pull me into his arms and kiss me.

And Pippa shrieks again.

When Derek relinquishes my lips, he wears a sheepish expression."I should've done this a lot sooner.I wanted to ask you the day after Avery and Hugh's wedding, but it didn't seem right to horn in on their big moment.Then we started house hunting, and after that we needed to furnish the place…"

I seal his lips with my fingers."You don't need to apologize.I know how hectic these past few months have been.This was the perfect time to pop that question."

Pippa is grinning at us."How should we celebrate?"

Derek's lips curve into a sly smile."How else?With a big, huge, gigantic party.We'll invite everybody—Brits, Scots, Americans, and whoever else.That might mean we'll need to commandeer Sommerleigh House for the occasion."

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