“What’s the point of calling it morning sickness if it lasts all day?”
“Because false advertising works wonders on naïve women like me.”
Declan chuckles. My heart beats harder against my chest as he grabs the paper bag.
He halts right before opening it, and I nearly groan.
Calm down before he gets suspicious.
Planning a surprise around Declan’s back is hard work. He has made it a point to come to every doctor’s appointment, so I had to work my magic with his assistant to book his schedule solid. Poor Jeff had to deal with his anger all morning.
I’ll make sure he gets a nice bonus for his sacrifice.
“Did anything else come up?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Everything is all good, although I gained ten pounds already.”
His grin widens. My eyes narrow, which only makes him laugh.
“Good to know I’ve been feeding you well.”
“Feeding me? More like spoiling me.” Declan comes home by dinnertime every night just to cook me a balanced meal. At first, I thought it was a one-time thing, but he has made it a point to be home by 7 p.m. every day.
“Get used to it.”
“For how long?” Once he becomes CEO, I doubt he will have time for small traditions like that.
“Indefinitely.”
I blink. “Even when you’re CEO?”
“Especially when I am. You keep me sane.”
“That’s a terrifying notion, seeing as I cried during a grocery store commercial just last week.”
He shrugs. “To be fair, it was a really good advertisement.”
My head drops back as I laugh. When I come back up for air, Declan’s gaze is zoned in on me like a spotlight.
“What?”
His bright eyes match the smile on his face. “I miss having you around here.”
My chest tightens, and I’m hit with an overwhelming wave of affection. “Jeff is good at his job.”
“Jeff isn’t you.”
I stand and walk around his desk. He rolls his chair back and tugs me onto his lap. His hands wrap around me, with one landing on my bump.
The content look on his face does something crazy to my heart rate. He leans forward to kiss me, but my growling stomach makes him pause.
His brows tug together. “Did you eat yet?”
I wince. “No.”
He extracts me from his lap before helping me back in my seat. Instead of returning to his chair, he grabs the takeout bag and rips it open.
“This isn’t healthy.”
I roll my eyes. “Excuse me for being in the mood to celebrate.”
“Celebrate wha—” His voice trails off as he pulls out a mini succulent from the bag. The black I’m a succa for my little girl stands out against the white pot.
“I thought you could keep it on your nightstand next to the other one.”
He turns toward me with wide eyes. “We’re having a girl?”
I nod with a smile. “I found out today.”
Declan hauls me into his arms and kisses me hard. His arms lock around my body, holding me up while he ravages my mouth. My chest feels close to combusting with the love he showers me in. He doesn’t stop kissing me until my growling stomach reminds us of the third little person in the room who is hungry.
He pulls away. I open my mouth to protest, but stop myself as Declan gets down on his knees in front of me.
He kisses my stomach, and I nearly melt from the sweetness of it all. My eyes fill with tears. One leaks out and makes a trail down my face.
“I know I’m going to have my hands full with you, baby Kane, but you’ll be worth every gray hair on my head. I can guarantee it.”
THE END
Want to read more about Mr. and Mrs. Kane? Don’t miss out on Declan and Iris’s extended epilogue. Click here to download.
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Redeemed
If you like fake relationship romances with a grumpy hero, check out Redeemed.
The Fine Print
A grumpy-sunshine office romance featuring a fairy tale theme park.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Like Declan with Iris, I’m fortunate to have the best team supporting me with the release of Terms and Conditions. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To my readers—Thank you. Without your love for The Fine Print, this sequel would have never happened. I appreciate each one of you that read, review, and rave about my books to your friends, family, and followers. Your love for my characters and my way of telling stories has changed my life in the best way possible. Feel free to send me an email or a DM whenever. I read every single one.
Mom—Thanks for always reminding me to water my plants while writing this book. They appreciate your dedication to helping them survive while I was deep in the writing cave.
Mr. Smith—You might not be a billionaire, but I love you anyway.
DP—You might be wondering what the hell is happening as you read this acknowledgment in the middle of a bookstore. Surprise! I write romance books. Don’t feel obligated to buy this copy though.
Erica—Solely thanking you for editing this book would be an extreme understatement. Your friendship, pep talks, and support during one of the hardest years of my life means the world to me. Thank you for making my days brighter.
Becca—Thank you for believing in me and my story even when I forget to do the same. You push me to be the best author version of myself, and I can’t wait to continue growing with you.
Mary—To one of my very first book friends and the person I text most in the world (Sorry Mr. Smith), thank you. Your talent speaks for itself, and I can gush about your kickass graphic design skills for hours, but I’ll save it for a voice note.
Kendra—Thank you for helping me bring this book to the next level. You truly are a gem in this book community and I’m grateful to have your support. From sending me song choices to spreading the word about my books, I can’t express enough gratitude for everything you’ve done for me.
Elizabeth T—Thank you for being a part of this project as my sensitivity reader. Your feedback and brainstorming with me really helped bring Iris and her family to life.
My beta readers (Amy, Mary, Nura, Mia, Elizabeth, Kendra)—I appreciate each of you helping me make this story come to life. Thank you for putting up with my tight deadlines, imposter syndrome, and constant questions and revisions.
Jos—Your text messages and voice notes always make me smile, and I’m so grateful to have you in my life. Thanks for putting up with my terrible texting habits.