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“You really mean that?”

“I flew halfway around the world to tell you.” He smiled, that crooked grin that had always made my heart skip. “I think I mean it.”

I laughed through my tears. It came out as more of a sob, but it was a laugh. The first real one I’d managed in days.

“I’m sorry I ran,” I said. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you a chance to explain. I was so scared, Jeremy. I’ve never been this scared in my life. One second things were fine, and the next everything changed.”

“I know.” He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight against his chest. “But you don’t have to be scared alone anymore. Whatever comes next, we face it together. Okay?”

I nodded against his shoulder.

“Okay,” I whispered.

I let his words wash over me. He was here. He came for me. He wanted to⁠—

“Wait.” I pushed back. “Did you say… did you say you loved me?”

That sexy smile flashed once again. “I wondered if you heard that.”

“You love me?”

I had heard the words but they were wrapped up in so much other stuff, they didn’t quite sink in. Holy cow. He. Loved. Me.

“Baby, I’ve loved you for a long time. That love has only evolved into the kind that means I want to spend every night with you. I want to raise babies with you. All of it. I. Love. You.”

“We’ll revisit the plural babies thing in a second,” I said. “But, Jeremy, I want you to know, I love you. You are both my biggest pain in the ass and the only person I ever want to see first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. You make me crazy in the best way.”

I looked into his eyes, and yep, he was emotional as well. Sympathy hormones maybe. Or he was just as moved by our declarations of love as I was.

He leaned down and kissed me. His lips feather light against mine. I deepened the kiss until I heard someone clearing their throat behind me.

“Lucy, would you like to take this appointment or should we push you back?” the nurse asked.

I looked at Jeremy. “Would you like to come in with me?”

“I told you, I flew straight here to be with you for every minute of this journey,” he said. “I mean it. Every second. I’m here.”

I laughed. “We’ll have to talk about that later as well.”

“Lead the way,” I said to the nurse, who couldn’t stop staring at Jeremy.

I was used to it. Now, I just had to get used to women staring at the man I loved. He wasn’t just my client anymore. He might just be my everything.

38

JEREMY

Dr. Kelly was a warm woman with graying hair and a calm demeanor that immediately put both of us at ease. She confirmed what we already knew. Lucy was pregnant. I had planted my little seed and her body accepted it. I was going to be a father.

The rest of it kind of washed right over my head. The doctor tried to explain about a million different things that I had never considered in my entire life.

“Can we hear the heartbeat?” I asked, surprising myself with how eager I sounded.

Dr. Kelly smiled kindly. “Not quite yet. At seven weeks, the heartbeat is there, but it’s often too faint to detect with our equipment. At your next visit, around ten to twelve weeks, we should be able to hear it loud and clear.”

“Oh.” I tried not to sound disappointed.

Lucy reached over and squeezed my hand. “Next time,” she said softly.