She’d charmed the pants off his family, while Madison invited Jasmine to join her and her friends for brunch at Momma’s Place. His sister-in-law had pulled him aside and apologized for holding a grudge because he wouldn’t date her college sorority sister. She felt Jasmine was perfect for him.
Once Jasmine revealed she was from New York she was bombarded with questions about what it was like to grow up in a city with millions of people jostling for their own personal space. They appeared disappointed when she admitted not growing up in the city, but in the suburbs. Their interest was sparked again as she modestly name-dropped the celebrities she’d met as a protégée for a much sought-after celebrated interior decorator.
Cameron was transfixed when she’d cradled one of his sister’s fretful toddlers to her chest, singing to the child until she fell asleep. The realization that she was going to give birth to his child rocked him to the core. That and informing his family that they would welcome another Singleton at the end of January made her condition all the more real.
“I’m all yours for the next two weeks,” he said quietly.
“Your dad really let you off?”
“Yes. I never take more than a few days off at a time except when I go to New York in May. Now that Dad’s semiretired I’m responsible for covering the office.”
“What about Preston?” Jasmine asked.
“He’s committed to spend as much time with his kids as he can. He’ll take a couple of weeks off in the summer to go camping or fishing with them, and the entire family will go away when classes are in recess. He just got back from the Smoky Mountains.”
Jasmine pushed her hips to his groin. “I’d love to go to New York to see my friend Nydia because she’s still not medically cleared to travel but I don’t want to spend hours in an airport waiting for a flight.”
“I have a client who owns a private jet. I can ask him to bring her down.”
“I can’t ask you to impose on your client like that.”
“It wouldn’t be an imposition.” The man had arranged for his travel to and from New York for his frat reunion.
“Maybe another time.” She sighed. “I really want to see my parents so I can tell them about the baby.”
“I thought you’d told them.”
“I was going to the last time I spoke to Mom, and then changed my mind. Telling her on the phone is just too impersonal.”
Cameron caressed her belly over the nightgown. “Do you want to go to North Carolina?”
“Yes. I like your suggestion about driving to the Sea Islands. We can stop along the way in small towns where I can look for furnishings to decorate the house.”
“Have you decided on the style?” he asked.
“Yes. The kitchen will be high-tech ultramodern, while the rest of the first story open floor plan will be furnished with natural wood, fabrics, and rustic artifacts that complement the brickwork. I’m still vacillating between European classics and American formal for the bedrooms. You’ll have to tell me what you want for your home office retreat.”
“I know nothing about doodads or doohickeys, so I’m going to leave that up to you. Buy whatever you want.”
“You may come to regret that, my love.”
Cameron’s hand went still as he closed his eyes. “Am I your love, Jasmine?”
Her hand covered his on her belly. “Yes. I love you very much.”
Overcome with emotion, a lump forming in his throat and denying him the ability to speak, the seconds ticked until he registered the soft snores coming from Jasmine. She had fallen asleep.
He loved her, she loved him, and now Cameron knew the day of reckoning could not be postponed forever. They had to decide when and where to marry.
Chapter 19
Jasmine stared out the passenger-side window, looking at house numbers along the street in her parents’ retirement community. She’d called her parents to let them know she was coming to North Carolina with a friend. However, she did not reveal that friend was her fiancé and the father of her unborn child.
Cameron had rented an SUV for the drive after she told him there wasn’t enough space in the Porsche to store the items she hoped to pick up during their travels. He had also loaded his golf clubs in the cargo area along with their luggage. His eyes had lit up like a child on Christmas morning when she revealed there was a golf course and driving range at the retirement community.
“Please slow down. Daddy said he would be on the porch.” She pointed. “There he is. Pull into the driveway behind his Infiniti.”
“I’ll help you down,” Cameron said, as Jasmine undid her seatbelt before he turned off the engine.
