Page 132 of Nails
“I love you, too.”
They lay in silence for a few minutes until Nails spoke up.
“So, wedding planning.I think Amira was serious about the no roses thing?
“Oh, definitely,” Riley laughed.“She already told us that she ‘don’t do roses because they stab.’”
Nails chuckled.“Okay.So, roses are a no-go.What about the dress?”
“What about the dress?”
“Do you want something lacey?”He then shook his head, as if that was a bad idea.“No.No lace.You are not the lacy kind.I see you more in something tactical.”His eyebrows shot upward.“Ooh!How about camo?”
Riley looked at Nails as if he were crazy.Was he serious?“Do you want our little flower girl staging a fashion intervention?I mean, within ten minutes of announcing our engagement, Amira had her mom’s phone out and was already dress shopping for me.”
They both cracked up, but the laughter soon turned into a warm stillness as they snuggled together.
Nails started rubbing her belly.“I can’t believe we’re having a baby,” he whispered.“I keep thinking about tiny fingers and toes.Our baby’s first steps.Teaching them how to swim.How to throw a punch and how to grill steaks the right way.”
Riley laughed softly.“You already sound like a dad,” she said.
“I feel like one.I already love the little bean more than anything.”
Riley suddenly thought about something else she wanted to tell him last night when they got home, but she got a little sidetracked when Nails carried her from the car straight to his bed.
She hesitated for a second, then looked up at him.“I have another surprise for you.”
He blinked.“What?Another surprise?Babe, I already proposed, and found out I’m gonna be a dad.Nothing can top those two things.I’m already the happiest man.”
“I bet I can make you even happier,” she teased.
He arched his eyebrow.“I love bets,” he said as he rolled her beneath him with a low growl and kissed her slowly and deeply.
“You win,” he murmured against her lips.“I’m already happier.”
She grinned as she ran her fingers through his hair.
“I’m resigning from the agency.”
He froze above her.“You’re what?”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.“Well, I’m assuming that you’ll be stationed here for a while, and with me being pregnant, and us getting married, I figured that I could find something here or in Norfolk.”
His expression turned serious.All playfulness from just seconds ago was gone.
“Shit, Riley.I hadn’t even considered your job or where we’d live.I don’t want you to be the one in this relationship who has to sacrifice everything for me.”
She smiled.“I didn’t.I chose this forus.And to tell you the truth, I’d follow you anywhere.”
Emotion flickered in his expression.He leaned down and kissed her softly.
“I love you so damn much,” he whispered.
“I know,” she smiled.“And I love you too.”
He stared at her like she was his entire universe and then smirked.
“Okay.I’ll admit you made me happier.”
