Page 210 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

When she pressed herself against him, his arms automatically pulled her closer. “How did your father know before me?”

“I figured it was best to prep him and not just spring the news on him. I didn’t want him charging you like a raging bull in the middle of celebrating Christmas. Plus, I figured the fact having another grandbaby on the way would soften him up a little today.”

“He shook my hand.”

“At least he didn’t break it. Soon you’ll be best buds,” she quipped.

“How did this happen?” he asked.

Her eyes widened. “I figured by this stage in life, you’d know all about the birds and the bees. Do you need a step-by-step explanation?”

“No, you can do a step-by-step demonstration later tonight after we get home.” He cupped her cheek. “I thought you were still taking your birth control. I didn’t know you wanted another baby.”

“I figured if we were going to do this, it needed to be soon. I mean, I’m forty now. Having a baby at this age comes with some risks.”

Fuck.His heart began to pound in his chest.

“Nothing is going to happen, Nox,” she assured him softly.

“You don’t know that.”

“I can’t make promises, but I can tell you that we’ll stay on top of this pregnancy every step of the way.”

“It wasn’t the pregnancy that killed Jackie,” he reminded her.

“I know. But the fall would’ve killed her whether she was pregnant or not. Life isn’t without risks. You know that. You take a risk every day at your job. We take risks driving our vehicles. You can’t not live life because you’re worried something might happen.”

He wondered how much she worried about him dying in the line of duty. Like her first husband. She never talked about it. She never insisted he get another job. She lived with that daily risk.

If she could deal with that, then he could live with the risk she was taking by giving them a child together.

A child together.

He was going to be a father.

Holy shit.

“Liyah…”

“Hmm?”

“Will Cait think it’s rude if we leave now?”

Confusion filled her face. “You’re ready to go?”

“I’m ready to get naked with you.”

“Let’s go say our goodbyes and inform them the boys will be spending the night.” She wiggled her eyebrows, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the hallway.

“Hold on…” He dug in his heels, stopping her forward motion, then tugged hard enough that she crashed back into him. “I need to tell you something important first.”

Her eyebrows rose as she waited.

“I love you.”

Her face softened and her lips tipped upward. “Right back at you, baby. Now let’s go home so you can tell me that again while we’re naked.”

“Sounds like a plan I can get on board with.”

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