Page 92 of Must Be Love - Irresistible Bachelors

I’ve been gone less than an hour when I get back to the kitchen. The bathroom where I threw up just a little while ago becomes my secret harbor as I wait.

I pee on the three sticks after reading the instructions.

Then I sit them on the counter, set a timer, and wait.

And wait. And wait. And wait. Is there something wrong with the timer?

The timer shows that barely thirty seconds have passed. The nausea is mostly gone now, but it’s been replaced with nerves.

How will AJ respond if I’m pregnant? We’ve talked about having kids, but I don’t think either of us expected it to happen so soon.

I hope he’s happy. I want him to be as happy as I am about this.

If the tests come back positive.

I check the timer again. Still another thirty seconds to wait until I get the results. I avoid looking at the tests. It’s not an easy feat, but I don’t want to stare at them. A watched pot never boils.

The timer goes off, the sound echoing through the small bathroom.

I take a deep breath. This is it. I can do this.

I look down at the counter.

All three tests are positive.

I can’t help it; I let out an excited scream.

Within seconds, AJ is opening the door.

“Amber? What’s wrong? I heard you scream…”

I blink away tears. Words escape me, so I hand him the tests. It takes him a second to figure out what he’s looking at. Once he does, he drops the tests to the floor and wraps me in his arms.

“Oh my God!” he says, kissing me. “We’re going to have a baby!”

I nod, the tears falling freely no matter how hard I try to stop them.

“You’re happy?” I manage to ask.

AJ kisses me again, harder this time. I’m so stunned I struggle to respond. I can’t believe this is happening! I’m pregnant!

“Oh, Amber, yes! Of course I’m happy! I want nothing more than to have a family with you.”

“That’s what I want, too. It’s what I’ve wanted since the day we met.”

“Me, too, Amber. I can’t believe this! You’re pregnant!”

This time, when AJ kisses me, I meet his passion. He pulls me close as our tongues dance in celebration.

We’ve christened nearly every room in this house in the last two weeks, but this bathroom has remained untouched. Until today.

AJ takes me against the wall. When we’re finished, I collapse against him, struggling to stand up.

“I love you, Amber,” he says, kissing my temple. “I’m excited to start a family with you.”

I grin up at him. The look on his face is one of pure joy. I’m sure it’s reflected in my own features.

“I love you, too, AJ,” I say.

When I met AJ at the beauty convention, I knew I was going to like him. He was attractive and kind, two of my favorite traits. Getting to know him over the last few months has only confirmed what I thought on that first day.

AJ and I are compatible, but we’re beyond that. We’re soulmates. We were meant to meet that day.

A lot has happened since then. AJ and I have had highs and lows in our short relationship, but I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. What we’ve gone through has made us stronger.

I kiss AJ softly. It won’t be easy. We’ll have more highs, and we’ll have more lows. But we’ll get through it all together.

Nothing can tear us apart. AJ and I are in this for the long haul.

My hand settles on my stomach. It doesn’t feel different yet, but I know it will soon.

AJ looks down and places his hand over mine.

“This is our future,” he says quietly, kissing me again.

I nod my agreement. “I can’t wait to meet him or her.”

He grins. “Me, neither.”

We stay like this until my stomach growls, and then we enjoy the pancakes I made. It’s the perfect morning. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Epilogue

Amber

I enjoy the cold weather in New York, but I’m glad to be in Florida for a week of winter. Nicole and I FaceTimed this morning. It’s snowing back home. She and her husband built a snow family on the front lawn of their house and took a picture to serve as their pregnancy announcement. Of course, I already knew about the baby. Nicole is my best friend. Two years ago, when I found out I was pregnant, I called Nicole as soon as AJ and I were finished celebrating.

Our beautiful son, Charlie, giggles from his spot on the floor. He’s playing with his Grandma Nina, building towers only to knock them over. He gets a kick out of it every time.

AJ sidles up next to me. “I’m glad we did this.”

“Me, too. Charlie loves Nina.”

“She loves him, too.”

We visited Nina almost two years ago when I had a convention to attend in Florida. That was when we first told her about my pregnancy. We haven’t been back since. It was too hard to travel that far with Charlie so young. Nina came to us right after he was born, but it’s been a year since she saw him.

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