No!
“I know we…” I swallowed. “We’re together now, but the rest of everything happened fast, and I don’t want you to feel pressured?—”
“Stop,” he cut me off, shaking his head.
“No, Max. We should talk about this. We should’ve talked about this before.”
He got out of the truck with a growl, long strides bringing him to my door. “I have to show you something.”
“Max, please,” I begged, even as I held onto his arm until my feet landed on the ground. “Can we just talk first?”
“Not until you see this.”
I went to pull my hand away, but he wouldn’t let me. Locking it in his grip, he led me inside, heading straight for the stairs. We reached the second floor and walked right by the room where I’d stored all the gifts and other things I’d bought for the baby.For Lucy.Another sharp pain jabbed my chest.
We walked past the master bedroom, and I grew even more confused. There was another bedroom at the end of the hall, I knew, but I hadn’t gone in it since the night Max had brought me here and given me a tour.
He stopped just outside the door, staring at it for a second before stepping to the side.
“Go inside,” he said, angling himself against the wall so I could pass him.
“Max,” I breathed out.
“Please, Daze.”
I should resist. I should get clarification of what was going to happen to us. Howuswas going to work moving forward. But I wanted just one more minute of that bubble. So I bit my tongue and grabbed the doorknob and turned.
Every inch the door swung open was another inch my jaw dropped. Gone was the staged guest room, and in its place was the most magical nursery I’d ever seen.
The dark green walls had been hand-painted with trees and flowers and forest animals, transforming the room into a magical space between a fairy forest and a secret garden.Or even a scene straight from Narnia.I noticed all the dark wood furniture. It was impossible not to. The large dresser. The rocking chair. I didn’t have to ask. I knew Jamie had made it all. But it was the crib that drew me right to its side.
It wasn’t like anything I’d ever seen before, the antique style as beautiful as it was uncommon. The way the sides were solid panels rather than fence-like. How it rested on two bows of wood so the whole crib could rock.
It was exquisite. Perfect.
It was all perfect.
“Max…” I hung my head, unable to look at him because I knew I’d simply collapse.
It was too much.Too thoughtful.Especially when, moments ago, I’d been mentally preparing myself to leave this house and live separately from him, convinced that, in spite of how he told me he felt, things had moved too fast. That we needed to backtrack all the steps that circumstances had forced us to skip.
“I’m not selling the house, Daze.”
“I don’t understand.”
He cupped my face, holding it to his. “I think you do, but I’m happy to say it if that’s what you need, my little wife,” herumbled, dipping his head until his eyes could find mine. “I bought this house for you, Daisy. For my dream to live here with you.” He swiped a tear off my cheek. “I put it up for sale when you and Todd decided to get married because I figured that dream was off the table. But now that you’re here, now that you and Lucy are mine, I have no reason to sell the house. I don’t want to,” he paused when I couldn’t control the whimpers that blubbered from my chest. “Living here, with you, is all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I can’t believe…” I hiccuped. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
Max tipped a grin. “I did almost none of it,” he confessed. “But I did ask for a lot of help.”
“Jamie…”
He nodded. “When I went over to his shop to help him the afternoon of the shower, that was to take a look at the crib. It wasn’t done yet. I hadn’t asked him in time for it to be finished for the shower. But he wanted to make sure it was what I wanted.”
“It’s beautiful. So beautiful. And I—” I broke off, my head sinking into his hold with shame. “You did all this, and I doubted it. Doubted you.”
“Daisy, honey…I don’t expect you to not have doubts. Or to not worry.” He tenderly brought my face back level with his. “In fact, I thoroughly enjoy proving them all wrong.”
