Page 127 of Holiday Hostage
“I’ll do whatever it takes to be a good father. Agreatfather.” I kissed Payton again, taking my time to enjoy the moment.
Afternoon light tracked across the floor and wrapped around us with a delicate heat.
Payton’s stomach grumbled, and I broke off the kiss.
An adorable blush colored her cheeks. “Sorry.”
“No apologies.” I released her to Reed. “I’ll grab you something to eat.” We could all use a good meal, but especially Payton.
God only knew how long it had been since she’d eaten.
Anger threatened. I tamped it down and rustled through the cabinets for some crackers that I handed to Payton.
“This is incredible.” Reed had no qualms about revealing his giddiness. He grabbed Payton’s hands and spun them around the living room.
Tarron and I looked on, grinning like fools and soaking up every moment.
Reed stopped spinning and held out his arms by his sides. “You know what this means?”
Payton popped a cracker into her mouth. “What?” It came out slightly garbled but understandable.
Reed’s smile was pure sunshine. “It means there’s no way you can get rid of us now. You’re carrying our child.” He paused. “Unless you don’t love us.”
Payton stopped chewing.
A look of panic raced over her face.
She swallowed the cracker, rubbing her throat as she did. “I do love you. I didn’t say that?” When Reed shook his head, she leaped at him. “Shit. I’m sorry. I meant to. I love you, Reed. And Tarron, and Mav. I love you all so damned much that I thought losing you would kill me, too. I didn’t want to live without you. You’re the best thing that has happened to me. To us.”
She had her arms around Reed’s neck, but she dropped one to her stomach. “I can’t imagine anyone else in our lives.”
Reed kissed her cheek. “Good.” An eyebrow arched. “I’d be happy to see if we can turn one into two. Twins?”
Tarron choked. “That's not how it works, Reed. You know that.”
“Aw, hell. I know.” Reed scoffed with an exaggerated eye roll in Tarron’s direction. “He’s so obtuse he might as well be a triangle. Can’t track his way out of a paper sack.” He shrugged when Payton laughed. “Guess that’s okay though since he’s a good enough medic to keep us alive.”
“Nice.” Tarron guided Payton toward the window with a hand on the small of her back.
“Can we stop talking about dying?” Payton shuddered. “I’ve never been so scared in my life. I never want to feel that way again. I know you all have rescue missions, and you’ll be in danger. I’m not asking you to give that up. That’s who you are. I just…I need a little while to recover from what we’ve been through.”
“Of course,” Tarron reassured her and tapped the crackers. “You should finish those. I’ll order some dinner to be delivered.”
She ate another cracker and peered out the window. “This is beautiful. Not exactly what I expected.”
“What?” Reed, arms out by his sides again, turned a circle in the middle of the living room. “You didn’t expect the three of us to share a place? Or you didn’t expect it to be so perfectly decorated?”
“Um. I didn’t expect so much white.” Payton arched a brow and gestured toward the blank walls. “I expected it to be clean. You’re former Rangers, so that wasn’t a surprise.”
“It came pre-furnished and painted,” I explained as I walked toward her. “We couldn’t agree on a style, so we left it pretty much how we bought it.”
“White walls are not going to be fun with kids.” Tarron set his hands on his hips and pursed his lips. “Wait. I’m making assumptions. Payton, do you want to move in with us?”
“Move in? Hell, I want to marry her.” Reed rushed over to close the distance.
The four of us came together in a huddle near the windows.
A bird flew past, and Payton watched it for a few seconds. “Was that a proposal?”
