Page 104 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

I pull her face to me and kiss her hard. “Baby, there are no buts, I love you with all my heart. We got this.”

“I want the baby, Cade. When I found out I was shocked at first, but once the idea sank in, it made me happy. I want to be a mom, but I have my reservations,” she admits.

“We aren’t your parents, Annie. I’ve got a solid job. We’re older and I think we can handle this. Am I a little scared right now? Yes, I am, but I’m excited as hell too.”

“Cade,” she sighs and reaches up, burying her face in my neck.

“Is this why you wanted to break up with me? Because you weren’t making any sense,” I ask.

“I was feeling so emotional and off. Now I know it was my hormones. I don’t want to be away from you, but this fear inside me. This idea of me forcing you into this life doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Annie, I promise you with everything in me that I want this. You know I wanted to propose back in the spring, but I didn’t because I knew you needed more time,” I assure while holding her in my arms.

“What am I going to do about veterinary school?” she asks.

“You aren’t the first student in grad school to have a baby. You can be in school until you have the baby, and then I’m sure they will give you time off.”

“You have an answer for everything.” She tilts her head up to look at me and the smallest smile spreads her lips, but it is a start.

“I just have faith in us. I know how I feel and I bet my mom will be big on helping us when the baby is born.”

“That sounds really nice,” she says and starts to cry again. “I’m sorry, I’ve just been so emotional.”

“It’s okay,” I assure, holding her close. She begins kissing my neck and moving down to my chest.

“I’ve been so horny,” she informs me. “These pregnancy hormones are no joke.”

I laugh. “I got you, baby.” I flip her onto her back and bury my head between her thighs until she grips the sheets and writhes beneath me. When she comes screaming my name, I know everything is going to be okay because Annie Caufield has my heart.

Annie

I didn’t want a big wedding. Especially since we had to wait for Christmas for Cade to get a few days off, and my belly was showing. Daddy offered to have the wedding on the farm since it was my favorite place on earth and Cade loved the idea too.

What I wasn’t expecting was for my future husband and father to go crazy with planning the perfect wedding. Cade wanted to have the pond out front as a backdrop to our ceremony. Originally, he wanted us to get married on the pond, but Daddy pointed out the hazard of having too many guests andfurniture weighing on the ice. The alternative had become that Daddy ordered a large size tent and enough outdoor heaters to ensure none of our guests would feel the cold. The reception was going to be in the house, but we were going with the outdoor ceremony.

When I first told Mom I was pregnant. She was bitter and projecting her life on me. I politely explained to her that Cade, and I weren’t her and Daddy. Cade and I were head over heels in love and excited about the little bundle of joy in my belly, and we weren’t going to allow anyone to bring us down.

Now I have my girls with me. Charlie, Ruby, and Briar are helping me get ready. My hair is done in soft waves. I have light makeup on my face and my dress is a long-sleeve mermaid dress in a satin and lace fabric. It shows off my round belly and couldn’t be more perfect.

“Now for the final touch,” Mom says as she helps secure my veil to my head.

The girls gasp and sigh and tears prick my eyes. This is happening. Cade managed to break through all the self-deprecating thoughts in my mind. He showed me so much love that I don’t have any doubts today. I am heading to the aisle with a perma-smile and a feeling in my heart that tells me everything is going to be okay because Cade is my soulmate. We will deal with whatever hurtles life throws our way.

There is a light knock on my bedroom door and Lily walks in. “Oh my, Cade, did well. You look beautiful, Annie. I brought you a little something to eat so you have energy for the ceremony.”

Cade’s mom is the sweetest. She is also so caring and loving, offering to come help when the baby is born, since Cade may be in the playoffs at that point. Being married to a professional hockey player isn’t going to be easy. Cade has a busy schedule but it makes him happy and we will work through the rest.

“Thanks, Lily, but I don’t feel hungry,” I say to her.

“You need to feed my grandbaby,” she reminds.

“She isn’t wrong,” Mom agrees from off to the side. My parents filed for a legal separation and are on their way to getting divorced.

I eat the cheese sandwich she made me and it hits the spot.

Lily looks at her watch. “We should head down to the venue. I brought you this little bolero to keep you warm until the ceremony.” She unzips a bag with a pure white fur bolero.

“Oh my gosh, Lily, it’s gorgeous, thank you.”

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