“Yes,” I say, throwing my arms around his neck and letting my emotion run free. “Of course I want you, Wyatt. We want you.”
After a long, passion-filled kiss, he sets me to my feet.
“Then, it’s settled?” he asks, reaching into his pocket.
I nod unable to wipe the smile from my face. “We’re officially shacking up.”
He places the object he retrieved from his coat into the palm of my hand: a gold key dangling from a keychain that says “Home is where the heart is.”
“Panties for your thoughts?” I’m sitting at the foot of the bed about ready to go crazy with anticipation when she comes out of the bathroom to find her black lace thong dangling from my finger, just like it was the day I taunted her with them in her office.
It seems like a lifetime ago when in reality it hasn’t been but four months.
“You’re ridiculous,” she says, a grin fracturing her severe tone as she walks toward me.
“But you’re smiling…” I pat the mattress beside me, urging her to sit. “So, it had the desired effect.”
As soon as Whitney stretches to grab them from my hand, I move them out of reach. “Ah-ah,” I chide. “Thoughts first.”
“Can I just tell you why they were in my pocket?” She plops on the bed beside me.
I tap a finger to her pout. “No can do. That ship has sailed, love. I’ve upped the ante.” Plus, after seeing how easily her pussy weeps for me, I’ve pretty much sorted that one out on my own.
“Fine.” Bringing one knee onto the bed, she rotates her body toward me. With a deep inhale, she pulls her hair to one side, nervously fingering the edges. “You want to know what I’m thinking?”
I nod.
“I’ll tell you…I’m thinking this has all moved so fast and a baby is the last thing either of us wanted right now.” Her throat bobs with a hard swallow as she moves to fiddle with a frayed string on the comforter. “I’m thinking,” she says, her voice breaking, “I’ve spent years trying to fix my tarnished reputation in this stupid little town, and this is not going to do me any favors.”
“Whitney—” I start, and she cuts me off.
“You asked—let me finish.” She rests a gentle hand on my thigh, offering me a little reassurance. “But I’m also thinking I’ve been a fool for caring more about what others might say about the choices I make for my life than myself and the people I love. And, I. Love. You.” With tear-filled eyes she cups my cheek, stroking gently. “While our relationship has been brief by most people’s standards, you’ve come to mean more to me than I ever dared to dream possible. And I know that no matter what happens when we check that test in another minute, I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have been chosen by you. To be loved by you.”
The heaviness that began forming in the pit of my chest with the start of her monologue begins to lighten, and my heart flutters in my throat. “Fine,” I grumble, biting back emotion. “Take the damn panties.” I hook them around one finger and pull back, slingshotting them at her chest.
With a snort she seizes them before punching me in the shoulder. “That’s it?”
“Not even close.” My God, I have so much to say, but I can’t focus, so instead I grab her face, pull her toward me, and smash my lips to hers. Kissing her is my immediate answer to everything.
She stares at me expectantly, wiping the back of a hand over her swollen lips. “Now would be the perfect time for some grand declaration about how awesome I am.” She folds her hands in her lap, all demure, while nudging me with her shoulder and fanning her lashes.
“I know,” I say as the timer on her phone starts to buzz, “but can we check that first? I don’t care how politically incorrect it is…I’m really fucking excited.”
She takes a deep inhale before blowing it out slowly and accepting my outstretched hand. “I’m shaking,” she whispers.
I bring her fingers to my lips and kiss each one in turn. “Breathe,” I repeat my earlier sentiment. “One moment—one breath—at a time, we’ve got this.”
Her grip tightens and she nods. “Ready?” Whitney asks, clutching the upside-down stick in between her thumb and forefinger.
“Plus or minus, right?” My pulse surges and my palms begin to sweat. I’m not even certain why I want this so badly. But if my body’s reactions mean anything, I do.
“Yep.”
“Okay…” I cross my fingers behind my back, sending up positive vibes and nod, giving her the go ahead.
With her lids pulled tight, she flips it over. “Well?”
I blink a few times to be sure my eyes aren’t playing tricks on me before shouting my excitement through the roof. “Fuck, yeah!” I grab Whitney at the back of her thighs and lift, wrapping her legs around my waist. Sprinkles is going crazy beating on the door, trying to get in on the action.
She giggles through a torrent of tears while I bounce up and down, spinning in place.
“You’re really happy?” She grips my hair on either side, turning my face so she can stare into my eyes.
“Am I not being clear enough?” I ask, carrying her to the bed and dropping her in the center. “Tell me those are happy tears,” I beg, laying on my side to face her. I brush a thumb over her cheeks, wiping the wetness away.
“They are…confused tears.” She dips her head in a sort of apology while fingering the buttons on my shirt. “I’m not sad,” she assures me. “Overwhelmed, maybe?”
I nod, the gravity of what this means setting in. “That’s fair.” I can appreciate what she’s going through, but at the same time, I can’t stop smiling. “Feel my heart,” I say shifting her hand to my chest. “That’s for you, for us, for Prissy, and our baby.” I clear my throat. “You want a grand declaration, this is it, love. It doesn’t get more genuine.”
She pulls in her lips and nods while emotion drips down her cheeks. “We’re going to be okay?” Her voice is so unsteady. That she’s unsure guts me. I wish she could share in my excitement, to know without doubt that things will be different this go-round. I’m positive that’ll come with time. So I’ll be patient, reassuring her every step of the way until she truly believes it.
“We’re going to be more than okay,” I say, tipping her chin to kiss her tear-soaked lips. “We’re going to be a family.”
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted,” she says, sniffling. “For Prissy… for myself.”
“I know.” Tenderly, I stroke my knuckles along her arm. “We want the same things, Whit. And I feel like I’ve finally found a family, in you and in Prissy, and hell, even your kooky parents. And now…this.” I shake my head in disbelief. “No, it wasn’t planned…but neither was showing up on your doorstep a few months ago.” I shrug, and she smiles. “So, yeah,” I say, beaming. “I’m happy. How could I not be? When I’m staring at everything I’ve ever wanted—when it’s finally right here, within my grasp.” I grip the back of her head, pulling her close to kiss her again, because I can’t get enough of those salty lips.