Page 261 of His Virgin Romance Series

“That was yesterday.”

Sometimes I had to remind myself that she was only three… well, three and three quarters. She would be four in a matter of months, and I could hardly believe it. I was about to argue further with my almost-four-year-old when we heard the sound of a motorbike riding up to the house.

“Daddy’s home!” Alice all but screamed, as she jumped off her chair and ran to the front door.

Shaking my head, I followed behind her and saw Ryder get off his Harley and turn to Alice just as she jumped into his arms. He spun her around and then placed her gently on the ground before kissing her forehead. They put their heads together… and whispered their little secrets to one another. I watched from afar, not wanting to intrude.

Then Ryder took Alice’s hand, and they walked towards the house together. “Hey, you,” I said, leaning in to kiss him as he walked through the door.

“Hey, beautiful,” he replied.

“Daddy,” Alice interrupted. “I want a cookie… I’m hungry.”

Ryder turned to me. “Did she eat all her veggies?”

“She did not,” I said, and Alice hung her head down.

“I don’t like veggies,” she said in a small voice.

“Alice… we’ve talked about this,” Ryder said. “Will you be a good girl and just eat whatever snack your Mom has given you, please?”

“Ok,” Alice nodded without so much as a pout.

Ryder gave her a wink, and Alice flew off to the kitchen to do as her father said. I turned to him and shook my head in amazement. “That’s really annoying, you know.”

Ryder laughed. “At least something works.”

“Because she loves you more than me.”

“Not true,” Ryder assured me as he pulled me to his chest and hugged me close. “She’s just a daddy’s girl.”

“I feel left out,” I said, pretending to pout.

Ryder kissed the top of my head. “Isn’t the whole point of family that no one is left out?”

I rolled my eyes. “I have a plan though,” I revealed.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yup,” I nodded. “I’ll just have another baby… that way I’ll have some company while you and Alice are off playing your secret games.”

Ryder laughed and shook his head at me. He didn’t suspect a thing obviously, but I was having fun. “That’s the plan, huh?” he asked. “You’re just going to have another baby.”

“I think it’s a great plan, don’t you?”

Ryder looked thoughtful. “Are we having a serious conversation about the possibility of a second child?” he asked.

I paused. “I don’t really think we can have a conversation about it at this point,” I said, ironing out my expression into seriousness. “The decision’s been taken out of our hands.”

I saw Ryder’s forehead wrinkle as he tried to figure out what I had just said. Then I saw realization dawn. “Wait… are you pregnant?” he asked.

I bit my lip and smiled. “Sort of.”

“Sort of?” Ryder repeated incredulously.

I laughed. “I went to the doctor’s this morning,” I revealed. “I left Alice with Devon and went in to see Doctor Samson. He confirmed what I already suspected… I’m pregnant.”

Ryder stared at me for a moment and then he shook his head in disbelief. “We seem to be good at making babies without really planning to.”

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