Page 81 of His to Save

Grabbing my green leggings, I sit on the closed toilet seat and tug them on, followed by his sweater, and then assess myself in the mirror once again.

Even with my growing baby bump, the thick cable knit material is still oversized. And the creamy-white color pairs really well with my leggings.

Apparently, Ellis knows his stuff—never would have guessed it.

I may not be a supermodel, but I look nice… and that’s good enough.

“Well?” he asks expectantly.

I swing the door open. “You were right.”

He swivels the desk chair around to face me. “Of course, I was.” He pretends to dust his shoulder off. “I always am.”

“Oh, God,” I groan. “You sound like Atlas.”

“I think you mean Atlas sounds like me.” He lifts his brows and smirks as he heads for the bedroom door. “Now, I won’t be home until tomorrow afternoon, so you kids be good and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Ellis!” Embarrassment stains my cheeks, but he just grins.

“I’d say don’t get pregnant…” He lowers his eyes to my belly. “But, you know…”

“You’re… you’re…” My words fail me. Ellis sort of reminds me of Maria fromThe Sound of Music, when all of the nuns are singing about her.How do you solve a problem like Ellis?

“The best? I know.”

“Yeah.” I smile, because he really is a good guy… one of the absolute best. “You are.”

He closes the door behind him, leaving me to finish getting ready on my own.

I keep my hair simple, letting it hang around my shoulders before slipping on my boots. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s the best I can do; I just hope it’s enough…

That I’m enough…

Twenty minutes later,another knock sounds on the bedroom door. “You ready, Pip?”

I force myself out of the bed, take one last glance in the mirror, and then open the door. “As ready as I’m going to be.”

I’m not sure what kind of reaction I was expecting from him, but the look of pure desire wasn’t it.

“Nora, you look…” His words taper off as he drags his teeth over his lower lip.

I’ve never felt more alive, or more desirable than I do now as he eats me up with a hungry gaze.

“I look what?” I rasp, fighting tooth and nail against the negative thoughts trying to weasel their way in.

“Perfect.” He steps into me, wrapping an arm around my waist. “You look fucking perfect.”

“Thank you.” I rest my head on his chest, listening to the sound of his heart beating strong and true beneath his ribs.

“Got something for you,” he murmurs.

“You do?”

“Of course.” As he steps back from me, I notice the small bouquet of sunflowers in his other hand. “For you.”

I take the bouquet from his outstretched hand and clutch it to my chest. No one’s ever given me flowers before and I… I think I love it. “Thank you.” I bury my nose in the blooms and inhale deeply. “They’re beautiful. I… do you have a vase?”

He ducks his head. “I’ve got a cup. Will that work?”