Page 180 of Unexpected Redemption

Spreading my arms wide, I grin when I locate him behind a shrub about forty feet away. “Oh, I’m as cool as a cucumber, bud.”

The click of the door sends excitement skittering up my spine. I crick my neck and shake out my shoulders, anxious for my first glimpse of her.

I don’t have to wait long.

Big Al opens the door to usher her in from the corridor.

And there she is.

Glowing with the life developing inside her and the love she’s always exuded.

She shines.

My heart clenches, and my breath hitches.Exactly as predicted, everything else falls away but Lettie.

Her mouth rounds as she trails her gaze around to study the space. But I only see her.

The moment she notices me standing in the center of the garden, a bouquet of violets in my hands, she freezes in place. A handful of seconds tick by before she gathers her composure. A smile spans her face, stretching her cheeks as far as they can go. She lights up at the mere sight of me, exactly like she did the night at Bask when I first saw her sing,

She’s happy.

Because of me.

Me.

Big Al gently nudges her with one hand, gesturing toward me with the other. She throws her arms around him in a giant embrace. My throat grows tight, knowing how far they’ve come.Once she releases him, she bounds over to me, her eyes already welling with tears. At this point, the cat is out of the bag. She knows why we’re here.

It’s been a few hours since I’ve seen her, but that might as well be a lifetime. Desperate for her touch, I remove the space between us, meeting her halfway. She greets me with her chin tipped up, beckoning me to kiss her. Wrapping her arms around my shoulders, she pulls me close. Her growing belly reaches my front before the rest of her, setting loose a flutter of powerful emotions inside me.

I cannot fucking wait to have a family with her.

I’m tempted to deny her request for a kiss, insisting we wait for the right moment. However, I’m powerless to resist.

Claiming her lips, I indulge in her sweetness for a few blissful moments.She smells as heavenly as the fragrant blooms around us.

Gently, I end the kiss and pull back, studying her beauty under the sparkling lights. Mesmerizing.

When she finally opens her eyes, she coyly says, “You look handsome. Special occasion?”

Glancing down my frame, I study the tux, remembering how she told me she wanted me dressed up when we said our vows. Figured it couldn’t hurt since I was going full romance hero with the proposal. With Big Al promising her a dinner out, I knew she’d dress up. Although, even in baggy sweats and a T-shirt, she’s stunning.

Joking, I toss back, “It was supposed to be penguin night, but they booked us in the butterfly room instead.”

Her laugh pierces into my chest, swaddling my soul with warmth.

I take her hand, lead her to the area I’d picked out, and then offer her the violet bouquet. “For you, my love.”

“Thank you, babe.” She takes them, immediately bringing them to her nose and inhaling. “They smell lovely.”

“Just like their namesake,” I say, admittedly laying it on thick.I lose track of the seconds while I hold her free hand and stare into her eyes.

Her impatience doesn’t cut me slack for long, though. “Aren’t you gonna ask me something?” Lowering her brows, she bats her long, black lashes at me expectantly.

After a quick peck, I lower to my knee without an ounce of trepidation.

Playfully, she cricks her head to the side and warns, “If this is another Dom thing or some tease, I can’t be held responsible for my overreactions.”

Rather than responding with words, I wink and slip my free hand into my pocket to remove the ring.

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