Page 67 of The Bratva's Innocent Pregnant Bride
My hands felt like they weren’t my own as I reached for her. I wasn’t going to sit back and accept this. Whatever it was, I would find a way to eradicate it, make her better, so we could live together until we were old and gray.
“Don’t you remember how rich I am?” I said, trying to keep my tone light even though it felt like I had been filled with lead. “We’ll go to the best specialists. Whatever it is, we’ll get through this.”
She was silent for a moment, then looked up at me, puzzlement replacing the sorrow in her eyes from a moment before. “What?”
“Whatever you have, we’ll find a cure,” I said.
Then she laughed for real, but bit it back, her face turning stony again. “You think I'm sick? With a disease?” She shook her head. “Dan, I’m pregnant.”
The lead feeling holding me down evaporated and I breathed out a huge gust, leaning over to grab my knees in my relief. Pregnant. Not dying. The relief turned to joy as soon as it really hit me. A baby. My baby.Ourbaby.
“I don’t expect anything from you,” she said stiffly when I remained silent, lost in happy visions of the future.
“What the hell?” I asked, gripping her shoulders. Her words pissed me off but it couldn’t outweigh my happiness. I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her and lifting her off her feet. “Oh my God, Paisley, this is so damn great.”
“It is?” she asked, muffled against my shoulder.
I put her down, picked her up again and whirled her around. “It is.”
I had never been more delighted in my life. Nothing could compare to what I was feeling. Like I had been given the whole world but even better. Being around my family the last few weeks made me realize I was growing bored with constant partying and an endless stream of one night stands. Paisleyruined me for any other woman because no one could compare. I was more than ready to settle down.
I laughed, kissing her startled mouth. “Now we don’t have to wait,” I said, laughing with utter joy.
“Wait for what?” she asked. “Are you really saying you’re okay with this?”
“Did you honestly think I wouldn’t be?” When she shrugged, I gave her a tiny shake, then kissed her again. “This is the best news anyone’s ever given me. Well, you can give me even better news right now.”
She sank back onto the bench, looking at me like I was crazy. Only crazy for her. I dropped down to one knee in front of her. “You just gave me an amazing excuse to not wait to do this. Paisley, I love you so damn much. Say you’ll marry me, little girl.” I held out my empty hands, promising to buy her whatever ring she wanted.
“I don’t care about that,” she said, sniffling and searching my eyes.
“You know you’re going to say yes,” I told her, taking her hand and pressing it to my lips. “Just like you’re going to have a ring. You’re already mine, so tell me you know it.”
A smile lit up her face, all the worry and sadness gone. She finally believed me. “I love you, too,” she said. “So much. Yes, of course I’m yours.”
The fire crackled behind me, not nearly as warm as the love that radiated from Paisley’s eyes as she flung herself at me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I held on tight, keeping her close, right where she belonged.
Epilogue - Paisley
Christmas day
The next few days went by in a swirl of emotions, all of them good. I didn’t think I could ever be so shocked as when Dan proposed to me, but the happiness I saw written all over his face couldn’t have been feigned. He had no reason to lie to me, and the moment I truly believed he wanted both me and the baby, I gleefully accepted, without a single reservation.
He refused to keep it a secret that we were together, not wanting me to go back to my own room, but I insisted we keep the pregnancy quiet for a couple of months at least. I wanted to fulfill my duties as nanny until the actual job was finished, but Katie insisted I was one of the family now and wouldn’t hear of it. The kids still wanted snowboarding lessons and trips down the hill in their sled, so I did as much as my morning sickness, which refused to be confined to the mornings, would allow. Dan always tagged along, everyone’s favorite boisterous cousin.
Now it was Christmas day and we were being hustled out of bed by the shouts of impatient children, raring to open their presents. All of the adults had solemnly gathered together the night before and Mila had handed around gift bags that contained matching pajamas. She and Nat told everyone this was a new tradition and dared anyone to complain about it.
We untangled ourselves from each other and pulled on the striped longjohns. Mine had a screenprint of an elf with alarmingly huge ears on the top, and Dan’s had a reindeer with a red satin nose. He looked at me and laughed, then looked at himself in the mirror and scowled.
“It’s for the kids,” I reminded him. “Even Aleks will be wearing a pair.”
That perked him up and we headed downstairs. In the huge entry hall, with the overstuffed leather furniture pushed out of the way, the entire family was packed in around the tree. The kids saw us and cheered that they could finally get started, and I blushed to realize we were the last ones down. It was a sea of stripes and cartoonish holiday characters, but everyone remained as dignified as possible.
As soon as we found a spot to sit, mayhem ensued. I watched in awe as presents flew to their proper recipients, paper was shredded and tossed aside. Squeals of laughter rang out. Everything was merry and bright, as if everything was normal and no international crime group was after them.
I felt cozy, warm, and completely at ease, safe and accepted and loved. Sappy tears filled my eyes and I blinked them away before anyone noticed. I wasn’t used to this kind of family where everyone accepted each other and fought for each other.
I had talked to my parents a couple days before when they called to tell me they were going on a last minute cruise and wouldn’t be available on Christmast day. That would have made me sad if I weren’t surrounded by this loud and raucous bunch. I shared almost everything with Marlowe, leaving out the crime stuff of course, and she couldn’t wait to meet Dan when we returned to LA.
