Page 80 of Secret Baby with my Brother's Best Friend

“All right, well, you guys are good here,” he said in a hurried tone, snatching Mandy’s hand and hurrying toward the door with her in tow. “We’ll check in with you later. Bye!”

Ryan and I stared after them in a bit of shock. After several moments, we turned toward each other, our gazes locking.

I burst out laughing. “What do you think she said to him?”

Ryan grimaced and shook his head. “I don’t want to know, but at least she got him to leave. It was getting too crowded in here.”

He leaned down, placing his hands on the mattress next to me. I smiled up at him and offered my lips to his. He took them in a soft and slow kiss. I slid my hand up his chest and gripped the lapel of his jacket as we gently explored each other through our kiss.

After a bit of time, I pulled back and smiled up at him. “Say it again.”

He looked confused. “Say what?”

I chuckled lightly. “You know what. I want to hear those three little words from you again.”

Realization dawned on his face and his lips curled into a slow smile.

“Ah, I gotcha,” he said, his voice rumbling deep in his chest. “I love you, Sam. So, so much.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled in return. “I love you, too.”

Our lips met again, and I let myself grow lost in the kiss. My heart racing and my stomach fluttering. I was so happy in that moment. I was almost afraid it was a dream.

It wasn’t, though. It wasn’t a dream. It was a new beginning, and it was very real.

That was the moment when the past fully melted away, and our lives together truly began.

Chapter twenty-nine

Ryan

Myheartwasbeatinglike a drum in my chest as I made my way up the walkway toward Sam’s front porch. I had to remind myself not to crush the wrapped gift I was carrying in my hand because my fingers were flexing and unflexing as a result of my nerves. Truth be told, I wasn’t just nervous. I was terrified.

Sam and I had agreed to tell Henry that I was his father.

It was several days after the wedding and Bill’s arrest. Sam had spent the night in the hospital, but she had been released the next day. I’d driven her home myself since I’d been unwilling to let her out of my sight. We’d had the conversation then. Sam was the one to initially bring it up.

As I’d pulled up to her house, she’d looked at me from the passenger’s seat and said, “I don’t think we should waste any more time. Henry should know who you are.”

I’d been stunned, but excited. I’d eagerly agreed and we’d worked out a plan. We’d give it a few days, and then, I’d come over and we’d sit down with him. Sam had wanted to give Henry a few days to bounce back from the Bill incident. He’d been spared most of it, but knowing his momma had been in the hospital had been distressing enough for the little guy.

Reaching Sam’s front door, I stopped and took a few deep breaths to try and steady my racing heartbeat. I wanted to be calm and collected for this conversation, but I was so nervous that I was practically shaking. When I felt like I was steady enough, I raised my hand and knocked on the door.

Within just a few moments, the door opened, and Sam was standing in front of me. She gazed up at me with a tender smile. God, she was gorgeous. Even in a simple T-shirt and jeans, she was a knockout.

“Hey, you,” she said in a soft voice. “How’re you feeling?”

I swallowed. “I’m good, I think. Nervous, obviously.”

She reached forward and took my free hand in hers.

“Don’t worry,” she insisted gently. “This is going to be great. Henry will be thrilled. He’s always wanted to know who his daddy is.”

“What if he’s disappointed?” I blurted, the words slipping out of my mouth before I realized what I was saying.

Her lips parted, and she looked at me in surprise. "Oh, Ryan, that's not going to happen. I promise you that Henry will not be disappointed in the least. He’s already so fond of you. He talks about you, you know.”

My brows shot up, and I stared at her in stunned silence for several moments.

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