Page 63 of Pulled By the Tail
“I never wanted to be a single parent, but I will.” She put a hand on her stomach. “I didn’t even know about this kid three hours ago and I already love it more than anything. How is that possible?”
He felt the same.
“But that’s not what I’m trying to say. You might not want to be a dad, so I understand if you don’t want any part of this.”
“Georgia—”
She continued to speak, at the rapid-fire pace that indicated nervousness. “But I’ll stay on Corra if you want to be involved. If we could stay here until the baby is born, that’d be good. I’m sure I’ll need the help, but I can move out if you want. I don’t want you to feel like I trapped you. I didn’t have much of a father and it sucks not having one, but I’d rather the kid’s dad be fully invested rather than disappearing—”
“Georgia.” He sank to the floor in front of her and took her hands. “You carry my heart and now you carry my kit. There is nowhere you could go where I wouldn’t follow. I will be by your side until the light leaves me.”
“This was supposed to be temporary. No strings attached.”
“No one said that but you.” He placed a kiss on her forehead, the only part of her face not covered in the pale green lotion. “This has never been temporary for me and not for you, either. Not for some time, I think.”
She blinked, her eyes glossy. He suspected she might cry but she took a deep breath and looked away. “I can stay?”
“If you leave, I will follow.” With a finger under her chin, he guided her gaze back toward him. “I hope you find my face pleasing, because you will see it every morning and every evening until the end of our days.”
“I suppose the house is big enough for all of us.”
She did not understand him, either purposely or he failed to express his intentions.
“Georgia, I want you for my mate,” he said.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“I do not know how to make it plainer. You are my mate, Georgia Phillips.”
“I’m not—”
“You are.” He kissed her lips, softly just to quiet her reflexive denial. “You have been since the moment you walked off that shuttle. I do not care what brought you here. I am sorry for the pain it caused you, but I am not sorry that it has led you to me. There is no one else who fills me with joy. There is no one else I want to spend my days with and no one else I want to pull my leg.”
She snorted, the laugh thick, and her eyes watered. “Jesus Christ, Talen. Go easy on a girl.” She pressed her index fingers to the corners of her eyes. “I’m naked, covered in green goop and a rash.”
“You are lovely.”
“You’re such a liar.” Her lips twitched at the corner.
“We’ve already established I’m a terrible actor,” he said. “The green goop complements your eyes. They are like the buds of spring.”
That earned him a proper smile. His chest swelled with happiness to the point he felt he would burst.
“Someone promised me breakfast and didn’t produce. Feed me,” she said.
He set the tray between them and they had a picnic in front of the fire.
“When do you want to tell the rest of the family?” he asked. Honestly, he did not trust himself to keep the kit a secret for long. Excitement fizzed and bubbled inside him. He wanted to tell his brother. He wanted to witness Bright’s shrewd, all-knowing gaze soften for a moment at the news of a kit. Even Charl would lower his defenses for a moment and clap Talen on the back.
“I think Bright already suspects,” Georgia said. “I barfed on a market day. That must have been morning sickness.”
“When you are ready, but not too long. You’ve already established that my acting abilities leave much to be desired.”
“Not too long,” she said.
“And marriage? Will you be my mate?”
She studied the fire, the light casting shadows on her face. “I’m not saying no,” she said at last, “but give me some time.”
