Page 208 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

He dropped his gaze back to the item in the box. Then it slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground as he grabbed her in a bear hug and swung her around.

Her laughter was thick with tears as he did so.

He couldn’t speak for a few minutes because if he did, it might just come out in a blubber. And he knew better than to show any kind of weakness under Magnum’s roof.

Instead, he blinked back the tears, swiping at the stray one threatening to spill over, and focused on the woman in front of him, even though she was a little blurry.

“I’ll take it that you’re happy about this?” Liyah asked.

“After finding out he was going to be a father, how long did it take Jason to pack his bags?”

Her mouth dropped open for a second, then she shoved him playfully. “That is so not funny!”

He took her into his arms again, put his mouth to her ear, and said, “I won’t be running for the hills. In fact, good luck getting rid of me.”

“Remember you said that when you’re changing poopy diapers in the middle of the night. Or pacing for hours, trying to get the baby back to sleep.”

“Can I borrow a suitcase?”

She tried to glare at him but failed and laughed, instead. “You got jokes.”

He leaned over and scooped up the positive pregnancy test. When he did, his attention caught on his now bare left ring finger. That would have to change. And soon.

“Should we keep this and frame it?”

Liyah wrinkled her nose. “No. Ick.”

“Nothingickabout it.” He held up the white and pink stick. “This is our future.”

“We’ll have much better things to frame.”

“Like our marriage certificate?”

She pulled away and stared wide-eyed at him. “Are you proposing?”

He shrugged. “I was planning on it, anyway. I guess there’s no time like the present.”

“Well, this is highly romantic,” she said dryly.

“Do you need it to be romantic?”

She tipped her head as she considered him. “Truthfully, I only need you.”

He pressed a kiss to her soft lips, murmuring, “You have me. For now and always. Ring or no ring on my finger. So, if you don’t want to get marri?—”

She took his mouth, smothering the rest of his teasing. When they finally broke the kiss, she locked eyes with him and said, “Yes.”

He pressed a finger behind his ear to bend it forward. “I didn’t quite catch that.”

“Then it’s your loss. Okay, I’m going to go share the good news!” She pressed another kiss to his lips before practically running out of the room.

He continued to stare at the doorway she disappeared through, wondering what the hell just happened. Wondering how he deserved any of this.

Thankful for it all.

Then it hit him that the room was too quiet.

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