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Tears misted my eyes. “Was that your proposal?”

He scoffed. “Not even close.”

“Oh. Well, the sentiment was nice.”

Declan grinned. “I promise you when I propose, you’ll know. And you’ll be really happy you waited for me to surprise you.”

“I stand by what I said. I don’t want you to feel like you have to marry me just because we’re having a baby.”

“I was going to marry you regardless.” He shrugged. “But the little sprout kind of pushed the timeline forward.”

My insides went gooey like a chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven.

Hmm. Chocolate chip cookies.

He linked our fingers together and brought my hand to lips. “We’re going to be here for a few hours. Can I get you anything?”

“What are you, a mind reader? I could kill for chocolate chip cookies.”

He stood up and gently released my hand. “Mission accepted.”

“You mind if I call my sister and friends and share the good news with them?”

He kissed my forehead and then my lips. “Absolutely. Share the joy.”

I watched him walk out of the room, my heart fluttering with happiness.

Even though I wanted to call my sister and friends, I wanted just another moment to revel in news.

A baby.

With Declan.

Wow.

For the first time in my life, I was completely content. I was getting everything I’d ever dreamed of. A man who loved me. A baby. And living with family who would be there for me.

My phone buzzed, startling me out of my reverie.

“Hello,” I blubbered.

“You’re crying,” Salem said. “Why are you crying?”

“Because I’m happy.”

“That’s weird. You usually cry when you’re sad.”

“Well, I’ve done enough of that already. Now I get to cry because I’m happy.”

“I’m happy you’re happy then.”

“Don’t you want to know why I’m happy?”

“Of course. Did you open your boxes yet?”

I was momentarily thrown by my sister’s boomerang in conversation.

“I opened a few of them, but things have been kind of crazy here, so I didn’t get to your inappropriate present, whatever that might be.”