Page 138 of Heartbeats & Highways

“And you want these babies, and any future ones we might produce to have the same last name.”

“Yes. So, what do you think?”

“About marriage or more babies?”

“Both.”

“You’re kind of clobbering me with a lot right now.”

“I know. Sorry about that. I just—can’t hold it in.”

“Yeah, I gathered as much,” I murmured.

“So, what do you think?”

“I think you’re getting way too ahead of yourself,” I said quietly.

“Ahead of myself? Really? You’re already my Old Lady, Evie. What’s the difference if I add a ring to your finger and my last name to yours.”

“I never want to get married again,” I blurted out.

He fell silent.

“I love the idea of a big family, too,” I went on. “I never had that.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“The idea of having more babies with me doesn’t terrify you, but marriage to me does? That makes no sense.”

“Maybe not,” I allowed. “But right now it’s how I feel. Please, Savage. Don’t talk about marriage, and don’t talk about more babies. Let’s just enjoy this time right now. Okay?”

He cradled my cheeks in his hands and gave me a smile. “Whatever you want, Evie. I just want you to be happy.”

I swallowed, tears threatening to spill out my eyes. “Savage . . .”

“I won’t talk about it anymore,” he promised. “Doesn’t mean I can’t try and change your mind, though. In fact, I’m gonna do everything in my power to do just that.”

“How are you going to change my mind?” I asked.

He grasped my legs and hauled me to the edge of the bed. “Lay back and I’ll show you.”

With a sigh, I picked up Savage’s boots and set them by the door. I tidied up the living room. In the last few days, it felt like Savage’s belongings had exploded through the small apartment.

I put the dishes in the dishwasher and started the coffee maker.

Yes, I could go downstairs and get us coffee, now that we lived over a bakery, but I was still in my nightgown, and I had no interest in getting dressed.

It was just past six in the morning and Savage had come to bed a little after three. He’d been out doing something for the club—he hadn’t shared anything else with me—but when he’d climbed into bed, he’d gently woken me up and then made love to me.

I hadn’t complained, but it was wreaking havoc on my sleep schedule. I was exhausted from being in my first trimester, not to mention the early hours I was waking up for the bakery. And even though I went back to bed for a few hours before going to Three Kings, it felt like I was giving my life away to work.

“Morning,” Savage said, yawning as he padded out into the living room.

“Sorry,” I said. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s okay.” He ran a hand across his face. He had a few days of scruff, and I’d thoroughly enjoyed the rough feel of it between my thighs when Savage made me come with his tongue.

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