“I go to the doctor and get a blood test. She already changed my multi-vitamins after we got married.”
“Why?”
“She wanted me to have more folic acid, just in case. She asked what we were doing for contraception and I said nothing. She wanted to know what would happen if I got pregnant and I said we’d have a baby. We laughed a little about that. I mostly laughed because I thought it would never happen.” She tipped back her head to meet his gaze. “Is it what you want?”
“I want to be with you,” Ty reminded her. “Maybe there are going to be babies in our adventure together and maybe there won’t be. Either way is okay by me. We’ll take it as it comes.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“You can’t. You won’t.” He reached out and touched his laptop. “I was checking the numbers again, and you’ve totally done it. Your idea for the club has taken its revenue to the next level. I’ll talk to the team at our next meeting, to ensure that everyone is good with me going full-time at F5F, then I’ll start my exit process from Fleming Financial.” He tightened his grip on Shannyn a little. “You did it. You found a way for me to work a little bit less.”
She laughed at him. “Maybe I just found a way to fill your spare time.”
Ty smiled back at her. “Maybe you did.” He kissed her then, loving how she softened against him and wrapped herself around him. A baby! He could hardly believe it. Thrilling and terrifying was the perfect summary. When he lifted his head, Shannyn leaned against his shoulder, her eyes shining.
“Your mom is going to be over the moon. She might have to decide to like me after all.”
“She likes you!”
Shannyn laughed. “She’s getting used to me. That’s not quite the same thing.”
“Did you tell your mom yet?”
“I was going to wait until the blood test is done. I’d like it to be our secret for a while.”
Ty understood what she wasn’t saying and the realization made his heart squeeze in memory of the babies she’d once lost. “How about we wait until you’re showing, until we can’t not tell people?”
“I’d like that,” she admitted. “You really do understand me better than anyone.”
“I try.”
She touched his mouth. “And I think I understand you. If you need to tell your partners, that’s okay by me. I know you’re all really close.”
“What about Kirsten?” he asked, referring to her best friend.
“I might tell her soon, too.” She replaced her fingertip with her lips and Ty kissed her more deeply, feeling that familiar heat rise between them. He stood up, lifting her in his arms without breaking their kiss, planning to retreat to the new master bedroom suite for a little celebration, but he heard a car in the driveway.
His car. He’d recognize the sound of the engine anywhere. It flashed silver in the sunlight as the driver pulled up to the garage and parked.
“Damon;s back,” Shannyn said.
Ty watched his partner open the passenger door. A petite woman with dark blonde hair got out and stretched, then looked around. “And he has company. Looks like his mission was a success.”
“Then I’ll take a raincheck on that celebration,” Shannyn said with a smile.
Ty had no intention of letting her forget that.
Haley and Damon drove straight through from Illinois to Brooklyn. The roads were clear after the storm and the fields were covered with fresh snow. Haley felt light and happy. Everything had come together smoothly, as if it was meant to be. She’d talked to her former supervisor at the hospital in Queens and that new position had been created for her so quickly that she knew they really wanted her back. The other hospital regretted her choice, but as she hadn’t started to work yet, they just continued with their selection process to find another candidate. Her mom was disappointed, but less so after she met Damon. Brad was reconciled to the reality of blending Katie’s stuff with their mom’s hoard. Tiff had been giddy and promised—or threatened—to come and visit. It was possible that she and Stefan would stop in New York on the way to their honeymoon.
And through all the questions of her family, Damon sat with Haley, easygoing and confident. She felt as if her own Rock of Gibraltar had arrived and knew he wasn’t going anywhere ever again. That suited her just fine.
They waited for the roads to be clear and her job to be settled before heading back east. Ninja rode in the back seat of the Porsche in his cat carrier, glowering the entire way.
Haley could feel the difference in Damon since his intense treatment with his therapist. He was more serene and confident. He hadn’t had a nightmare since arriving in Illinois and she often awakened to find him sleeping deeply beside her. They’d decided to sell his mom’s house and start over with a place of their own, and Haley was excited about that.
“I’m going to miss this car,” he said as they drove through Brooklyn that Sunday afternoon.
“I didn’t know you liked cars.”
“Neither did I. I’ve never had one, but this, this is a fine machine.” He stroked the steering wheel. “I understand now why Ty likes it so much.”
“Maybe you can just borrow it sometimes.”
“Maybe it wouldn’t be a lot of fun to drive in the city.” He slowed down, then turned into the driveway beside an old house. He turned off the engine while Haley looked at the house.
“What a beautiful place.”
“It was Shannyn’s. They’ve done a lot of renovations since getting together.”
“And he’s the money guy, right?” Haley hoped she got the details right.
“Right. Tyler McKay. Shannyn Hawke works at the club, too. She’s a photographer.” Damon smiled at her. “Let’s go say hi and thanks.”
He got out, then came around to open her door. Ninja sat up, his expression indignant when his cat carrier was lifted out of the car and put on the ground. The gift basket they’d assembled was heavy and Damon lifted it out of the trunk. Haley took Ninja, not wanting to leave him alone, and he growled as the carrier swung a bit.
A couple stepped out of the kitchen onto the back porch and the man waved a greeting. It was the pair who were in the ad for the club that Haley had seen on the way to the airport with Tiffany and she smiled at the realization they really were a couple.
Get lucky at F5F.
“How was the drive?” Tyler called.
“Awesome!” Damon said. “This is one hot car, Tyler.” He crossed the yard with the huge basket and shook hands with him, then surrendered the basket.
“You didn’t have to get us anything,” Ty protested as he took it.
“Haley wanted to. And I booked a detailing with Marcus for you, whenever you’re ready. I really appreciate the use of the car.”
“All this and an Italian tune-up, too,” Ty teased and the men embraced. When Haley reached the porch, Shannyn smiled and crouched down to talk to Ninja, who was clearly unimpressed.
“This is Haley,” Damon said, turning one of those smoldering smiles on her. “We’re going to get married.”
“Congratulations!” Shannyn said and greeted Haley with enthusiasm. “I’m Shannyn. Will you come in and have a coffee or something to eat? You must have been driving all day.”