“Rae.” I sit on the sofa, pulling her into my arms. “I would do anything for you.” I settle one hand on her bump, wrapping the other around her shoulders. Tears wet my shirt.
“I’m sorry, too, Leo.” Her fingers trace the buttons on my shirt. “I guess I didn’t think about what my leaving would mean for you. Because I didn’t want to.” This time, she looks me in the eyes. “I wanted to stay, but I guess I didn’t know how to make this thing between us permanent.”
“We’re good at a lot of things, Rae. But hard conversations aren’t the best for us,” I say on a laugh.
“Appears not. But Leo?” Her hands find my face again, locking eyes with me. I couldn’t look away if I tried. “I want to be here. I don’t want to go home. Sure, I’ll go and visit, but Sydney is home. You’re home. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. I love you.”
I meld my lips to hers, taking what I’ve missed. She opens, our tongues gliding over each other’s with practised ease.
“I love you, Reagan. Some days, so much it hurts to breathe.” I move her hand, settling it over my chest where my heart beats a rapid tattoo against my ribs. “This belongs to you. As long as I have you and our little one, I’ll have all I need.”
Reagan crushes me to her chest, her lips kissing up and down my neck. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“It nearly ended me leaving you at the hospital.” I pull back, wiping the stray tears away. “Do you have any idea how hard that was?”
She nods. “Yes, because it killed me pushing you away. But I didn’t want my health to be the reason you stayed. I didn’t want you to feel obligated.”
I take her chin in my hand, looking deep into those brown eyes I love so much. “You will never be an obligation. Never.”
Reagan’s eyes glaze over, dropping to my lips. “Take me home.”
“It’s about damn time!” Evelyn’s loud voice echoes around the hallway as she bursts in. “I’ll pack for you.”
“Evelyn! Were you listening this whole time?” Reagan’s voice is full of laughter.
“Of course. I’ve been waiting for you two to get your shit together. I will say, I’ll miss not having to cook, but I’m glad you two kissed and made up.”
“What do you mean, you haven’t been cooking? You’ve brought me every meal for the last two weeks.” Reagan turns her gaze on me.
“Do you think I can cook? Leo had a meal service set up, and I brought it over, telling you I made it. Heavens, Reagan. I thought you were a smart girl. I’d burn air.” Evelyn is throwing what little clothes Reagan has into a suitcase.
A smirk from Reagan has me stirring beside her. “You had my meals delivered every day?”
I shrug. “What can I say? I had to do something.”
“God, if I didn’t love you before, I most certainly do now.” She gives me another kiss, her tongue teasing my bottom lip.
My dick stirs in my pants. He needs to calm down because that’s the last thing we’ll be doing for a while.
“I’ll do anything for you, Reagan. No matter what. You and me.”
“You and me.” Reagan’s smile is brighter than the sun. “With our baby, that’s all I’ll ever need.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Leo
“Oh God, it hurts!” Reagan throws her head back, sweat dripping down her face. She's been in labour for fourteen hours, pushing for the last two.
“Her head is out. Just a few good pushes and she'll be here.” Dr. Thomas's voice rings through the small delivery room.
“You're doing great, Rae. Just think, we'll meet our daughter tonight.” Reagan turns misty eyes on me as she gives me a nod.
“Okay. Here comes your next contraction. Big push and she'll be here!” The doctor's voice is annoyingly chipper to me, after getting here this morning. I clasp Reagan’s hand, wrapping my other arm around her shoulders, and she starts pushing.
I don't envy her. Reagan is exhausted. Face red, hair a mess. But she squeezes my hand as the greatest sound I've ever heard rings through the air.
“She's here!” Dr. Thomas holds her up. Our daughter is red from screaming, covered in goo, and has an odd-shaped head. But I don't think I've ever seen anything more beautiful in my entire life.
