Page 72 of Legends: Easton
“I love you, you know.”
She blinked, struck dumb by his admission. Then she realized what she saw in his eyes supported what he said. They’d been skirting around their feelings for each other for the last month, hiding behind their lighthearted catchphrase “I think I love you.” She’d known the truth of her feelings for a while. Easton was easy to love, so she wasn’t surprised she’d fallen for him. To know he returned her feelings didn’t shock her as much as him being the first to admit it.
“No think?” she asked hesitantly.
He shook his head, that one lock of hair falling to his forehead again. “No think this time. I know I love you, Bailee. No doubt about it.”
Her hand rested against his cheek. His five-o’clock shadow tickled her palm. Her heart swelled, and the tears she’d holding back all day started to leak from her eyes.
“We love you too.”
He wiped away her tears before her words registered with him. “We?”
Her smile was serene as she nodded. “We.”
This wasn’t the way she pictured sharing the news with him, but the moment felt right. She didn’t, however, want to steal the limelight from Luke and Melody, so when she saw Easton’s eyes widened and his mouth open, she clamped a hand over his lips to stop what she assumed would be a shout.
“Wrong time. Wrong place. Remember?”
His brow furrowed, and she grinned at his obvious frustration. “I know. But let’s have our own celebration later, just the two of us, before we tell the rest of the family. I rather like the idea of having a secret that belongs to just us.”
He nodded, and she removed her hand from his mouth.
“You mean, a celebration for the three of us, don’t you?”
She giggled. “Okay. Yes, for the three of us.”
Easton stared at her in wonder. “When? How long?”
“Well, I’m not sure exactly, but I have a theory. Remember when you surprised me in Louisville, after you were discharged from the hospital? I think one of those times when we had hot monkey sex probably knocked me up. I started suspectinga couple of days ago and took a home pregnancy test. I have a doctor’s appointment to confirm next week.”
He grinned. “Hot monkey sex? Really?”
She shrugged. “Adequate description, don’t you think?”
He kissed her again, this time keeping the contact brief. “I can’t believe how happy I am right now. You realize you’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted, right?”
“Then we’re even, because you’ve given me everything I never knew I wanted. I love you.”
“I love you. How are you feeling? Everything okay?”
“I’m tired. My feet hurt, but other than that, everything’s good.”
“Damn,” Easton drawled. “I didn’t think I could be much happier than I already was, but you managed to top it. How do you do it?”
She smirked, her eyes raking over his body from head to toe and back. “I think I had a little help.”
His eyes smoldered with desire, and she laughed. “Down, boy. Come on. Let’s go sit with your family and give my feet a rest. Remember, don’t say a word. This is Luke and Melody’s day.”
Easton winked. “It’ll be hard, but I think I can manage.”
They made it over to a table where Jackson and Reagan sat with English. They welcomed Easton and Bailee to join them in watching the couples dance. Ben had changed partners and was now swinging Becky around the grassy dance floor. Lyric was showing a few moves to Davis, the son of Whitman’s owner Annilee.
Bailee laughed to see Darby Anne walk up to Ben and Becky and become their third partner for the dance. It was awkward and made everyone laugh, but no one minded. Everything was as it should be.
“Word is you’re about to be employed again,” Jackson said, drawing Bailee’s attention.
Bailee nodded. “You heard right. I’ll be the newest member of Atlas Security. The best part is that I’ll be close to Gran and Easton since I’ll work remotely from here in Fire Creek.”
