Page 178 of Fielder's Choice

“You always do, baby.”

He walks over and kisses me sweetly before pulling the apron over his head. “I actually just finished, so you have great timing, Ballerina.”

“Where’s Sage?” I ask, sliding onto the island as Lane stands in front of me, handing me a mug of hot coffee.

“Playing in her room,” he shrugs. “I’ll call her out here in a few minutes.”

I take note of the way he rubs the back of his neck, almost like he’s nervous. And Lane isnevernervous.

“What are you up to?” I ask, looking at him curiously.

“What makes you think I’m up to something?” he smirks, trying to downplay his nerves.

“Because you look all uncomfortable right now,” I tease before a thought hits me. “You’re not getting ready to propose, are you?”

Lane cocks his eyebrow at me. “Do youwantme to propose?”

“No!” I say emphatically.

“Wow, thanks,” he laughs heartily.

I groan and rest my head against his chest. “You know that’s not what I meant. I don’t want you to proposeyet.”

“I know, baby,” he says softly before bringing my lips to his. “No, I’mnotproposing, Liv.”

“Then why are you so nervous?”

“Why do I have to be nervous at all?” he asks.

“I don’t know!” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “I don’t know why you’d be nervous!”

Lane chuckles before kissing my forehead. “Take a breath, Olive.”

I just sigh and throw my head back while Lane calls Sage out to eat breakfast. My favorite toddler comes bounding in in a purple T-shirt and jeans with a glittery purple bow in her hair.

“Good morning, sweet girl!” I chime as Sage comes into the kitchen.

“Like my shirt, Mommy?” she asks excitedly, and I finally take note of the words across the front of it.

Mommy’s Bestie.

Oh, my heart.

I slide off the island and wrap her up in a tight hug. “I love it so much, Sagie! Youaremy bestie.”

“Sage,” Lane says, looking at his daughter as he gestures to the other side of the kitchen with his eyes.

She looks at him in confusion before she realizes what he’s trying to tell her. She runs to the other side of the kitchen now and comes back with an envelope that’s hiding under a basket of fruit.

Sage stands in front of me and hands the envelope over.

“What is this?” I ask.

Lane looks down at me with the sweetest smile. “Open it. You’ll see.”

I quickly open the envelope and pull a set of papers out. I look them over quickly, but I’m left breathless when I spot the heading.

“Lane…” I say it so softly I’m not even sure he heard me until he bends down next to Sage and me.

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