“How’s next week?” he asked as he licked and sucked the sensitive skin behind my ear. A moan escaped me as I clutched the back of his head.
“Courthouse is fine with me,” I breathed out in a needy whisper. It was my birthday, and I wanted to drag my new fiancé into the closet to celebrate.
Nick pulled back and shook his head. “I’d rather not marry the love of my life in the same place I had to testify for arson a couple of weeks ago.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I love when you say I’m the love of your life.”
He rested his forehead against mine. “Love of my life, fiancée, baby mama. You wear lots of hats on your little head.”
Nick snickered as I shoved his shoulder.
“I know a judge who’s married a couple of the guys at the firehouse. He’ll do it out of his house. Nice, private, and above all, fast. Unless you want a wedding?”
“No.” I grabbed Nick’s face and kissed his lips. “I want to be your wife as soon as I can. I couldn’t care less about a wedding. I would like a nice dress, though.” I drifted my hands down Nick’s chest, grazing the soft cotton of Nick’s T-shirt. “Maybe you can get a nice dark suit, like the one you wore at Evan and Paige’s wedding.” My lips slanted in a smirk.
“You noticed?” He arched an eyebrow.
“More than you think.” I ran my fingers along the stubble on his jaw.
“I can do that. Can you make sure your dress is tight?” Nick’s palms drifted down my pajama pants.
“Everything gets tighter by the second. I’ll be all boobs and belly no matter what I wear.”
Nick growled and kissed my lips. “Sounds great to me.” He stood from the floor and pushed the plate back in front of me. “You have some cold pancakes to eat.”
I giggled as I shoved the soggy piece of pancake into my mouth. It was cold, but still delicious. This baby was a carb fiend.
“Is that house still on the market?” I asked, reaching for a piece of sausage.
Nick’s brows pinched as he sat next to me. “What house? Oh, that house. Yeah, it is. Why?”
I took a sip of coffee and turned to Nick. “If you’re right, and this baby is a girl, she needs her own room. Jack is used to having a playroom and the basement is small and musty. Couldn’t hurt to look, right?”
Nick let out a long sigh as he put his hand over mine.
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to—”
“I have to plan for what my family needs. That’s where my future is.”
A slow smile spread across Nick’s face. “Okay. When do you want to go?”
“Today is good. Is that too little notice?”
Nick’s lips pursed. “Maybe not. I’ll call the realtor and see.” He leaned over to kiss my forehead before leaving the kitchen.
I craned my head around the kitchen. It would be hard to leave, but change was always hard.
I wasn't leaving anything behind. The good things were coming with me because they were a part of me.
Now, my focus needed to be on making memories, rather than letting them hold me back.
“THIS IS SUCHa beautiful dress. I would actually wear this now, maternity or not.” Marilyn laughed as she hung the dress on the outside of my closet.
Who knew that high-end department stores had a formal maternity section? Kate, Paige, and Marilyn took a ride to New Jersey with me to help pick out a dress for my private wedding to Nick tomorrow.
They had a surprisingly wide selection, but it was hours before I found something I liked. Nick wanted tight and probably low cut, but even though it would only be Nick, me, and my son in a judge’s home, plunging cleavage didn't seem quite right.
My dress was pink. Kate laughed at me, but this was my second wedding; wearing white over my big belly seemed ridiculous to me. It had three-quarter lace sleeves and an empire waist but just snug enough on top. It made me feel like a princess. A chubby princess but a princess all the same.Nick's princess. My lips spread into a beaming smile at the thought.
