: Chapter 33

A rude streak of sunlight cut across my face, waking me the next morning. The first thing that popped into my head was the memory of Wilder in my kitchen, holding the wedding dress he’d bought. I smiled as I turned to say good morning, but the spot next to me on the bed was empty, and the sheet was cold. So I wrapped the blanket around myself and went searching for Wilder. I found him at the kitchen table, shirtless with a cup of coffee, nose buried in a book.

“Let me guess which one you’re reading.”

He grinned. “I might’ve dog-eared a few pages.”

I chuckled. “What time is it?”

“Almost ten.”

“Wow. I had my alarm set for nine. I must’ve slept right through it.”

“I turned it off. You didn’t get enough sleep last night.”

“I think it’s more like you kept me up half the night.”

Wilder pulled me onto his lap. “You didn’t seem to object.”

“I couldn’t. Your tongue was in my mouth.”

He buried his face in my neck. “My tongue was a lot of other places, too.”

That it was. My belly fluttered, thinking about the way he’d made me feel last night. “How long have you been up?”

“A few hours. I went to the grocery store to get some things for breakfast. Your fridge was pretty bleak.”

“I haven’t been hungry lately.”

Wilder ran his nose up and down my neck. “I’m starving.”

I got the feeling we’d just changed subjects. “Is that so?”

I would’ve been happy to go back to bed. Surprisingly, it was Wilder who put the brakes on things. He kissed the tip of my nose. “I saw your brother this morning.”

Uh-oh. “Which one?”

“Will.”

“Sorry.” I closed my eyes. “I should’ve warned you that I told him. How did that conversation go?”

“Same way it would’ve if I had a little sister who got knocked up by a guy with a reputation, and he didn’t do the right thing off the bat.”

“Shit.” My shoulders slumped. “That well, huh?”

Wilder brushed hair from my face and smiled. “It’s all good. He’ll come around when he’s ready. I’m glad he’s protective of you. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

I guessed I should be happy no one had a black eye. “I need to tell Travis and my dad still. And Olivia.”

“I’d like to tell my dad when you’re ready, too.”

“Oh God.” I had completely forgotten that Wilder’s dad was Mr. Hayes—the CEO of the company I worked for. “My job. I wasn’t even thinking of that.”

“There’s no rush.” Wilder ran his hands up and down my arms. “But I would like to go with you when you tell your father, if that’s alright.”

“He likes you, but I’m not sure how he’ll take the news. He and my brothers still treat me like I’m twelve in a lot of ways.”

“They need to see that I’m going to be here for you. Telling them isn’t enough.”

I nodded and let out an audible breath. “Okay. We’ll tell him together. He works at the bar on Sundays, and it’s usually pretty busy because of games and races. How long are you staying?”

Wilder looked me in the eyes. “Forever.”

My pulse picked up. “What do you mean? Aren’t you going back to England?”

“I’ll keep an office there, but my life is here. I think it’s time I moved back.”

“Wow. Okay.”

“I think I might have found the perfect place, too.”

“Really? Where?”

He patted my ass. “How about you get dressed while I make breakfast, and I’ll show you. I have an appointment to see the place at eleven.”

I couldn’t believe the last twenty-four hours. After weeks of dragging, I felt like I was floating. I was still scared, nervous that things might turn sour, but at least those feelings were balanced with excitement and happiness. Only time would tell how things would turn out. But I had hope again.

I took a quick shower and got dressed, then stuffed my face with the ridiculous feast Wilder had cooked for breakfast.

“Do we need to get going?” I piled my dish in the sink. “You said your appointment was at eleven. Are we taking the train? The subway has reduced service on the weekends.”

Wilder smiled. “You’ll see.”

A few minutes later, we were out the door. On the street, we turned left, so I assumed we were heading to the C train up the block.

But Wilder stopped a few steps into our walk. “We’re here.”

I squinted. “Here where?”

He pointed to the brownstone next door to my brother’s. I’d noticed the small FOR SALE sign a few weeks ago, but didn’t pay it much attention. A real estate agent opened the front door and smiled.

Wilder laced his fingers with mine. “I need a place to live other than a hotel, and I want to be near you. Eventually, we’ll need more space for the baby. I figured you wouldn’t want to move too far from Olivia.” He shrugged. “Saw the sign this morning, and it seemed like the perfect solution. I know you’re probably not ready to move in with me. I have a lot to do to earn back your trust. Until then, I’ll be close enough to be there when you need me, but you’ll still have your space.”

“You’re really going to move here from London? Your home has been there for ten years. I don’t want you to make any rash decisions.”

“My home is where you are, Sloane. And this decision isn’t rash for me. I’ve wanted nothing but to be with you since the day I met you.”

I looked over at the brownstone. It was as big or bigger than my brother’s. “What would you do with this much house? Rent the floors?”

Wilder shook his head. “The real estate agent said it needs some fixing up. But I’d make it into one big house. Between the baby and Lucas, who will probably visit more often than we’d like, we’re going to need space. Plus, I’m hoping we’ll fill some of the extra rooms with more kids someday. I’d love a family like you have, with everyone close in age. Lucas is sixteen years younger than me, so I pretty much grew up an only child—bouncing from one parent’s house to the other. I like what you guys have. It feels right.”

My chest filled with warmth. Yet there were still those nerves. A part of me was afraid to believe this was real.

Wilder must’ve seen the doubt in my face, though I’d thought I’d hid it well. He pulled me in tight. “Eventually it won’t be so scary. I promise.” He nodded toward the brownstone. “Come on. Let’s go see where I’m going to live.”

Later that night, I was lying in bed while Wilder finished up a call.

“Thanks, buddy.” He tossed his cell on the end table and slipped into bed next to me. “They accepted my counteroffer.”

“Oh my God. So that’s it? The house is yours?”

He nodded. “After a shitload of paperwork, but Andrew will take care of that.”

“Wow. I can’t believe how fast that happened.”

“Sometimes you get lucky and something perfect falls into your lap.” He ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Like you.”

“I didn’t quite fall into your lap. More like you pulled me into the coat closet.”

He smiled. “Semantics.”

“Well, congratulations.”

“Thank you. Back at ya.”

“Me? I didn’t just buy a house.”

“Actually you did. I told Andrew to put the house in both our names.”

“What? No. You can’t do that.”

“Of course I can.”

“I didn’t mean you can’t—I meant you shouldn’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because … this is still new, Wilder.”

“What’s new?”

I motioned between us. “Us. The pregnancy. Things can happen.”

Wilder’s face fell. “Are you afraid to be tied to me?”

“No. That’s not it at all.”

“Then let me do this. I don’t want this to be my house. I want it to be our house. I know what I did made you have doubts. But what I was scared of was never you, Sloane. I was afraid I wasn’t enough for you.”

“You are enough…”

Wilder brushed his lips with mine. “Then let me make this commitment. To us. To our family. Please.”

“It’s still so early in the pregnancy. What happens if…”

“I loved you before I knew you were pregnant. Whatever happens happens. But we’ll always have each other.”

I inhaled deeply, blowing out with a nod. “Okay.”

He flashed a cocky smile, like he knew all along he’d win. “Thank you.”

This man was dangerous. I was pretty sure he could get me to do anything he asked with a little begging and that grin. “You know, I’m not always going to be that easy.”

“No?” He reached over and took my hand, bringing it between his legs. “I’ll always be this hard for you.”

We both laughed. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

Wilder climbed on top of me, hovering. “I love you, Cupcake.”

My heart felt so full. “I love you, too.”

A rude streak of sunlight cut across my face, waking me the next morning. The first thing that popped into my head was the memory of Wilder in my kitchen, holding the wedding dress he’d bought. I smiled as I turned to say good morning, but the spot next to me on the bed was empty, and the sheet was cold. So I wrapped the blanket around myself and went searching for Wilder. I found him at the kitchen table, shirtless with a cup of coffee, nose buried in a book.

“Let me guess which one you’re reading.”

He grinned. “I might’ve dog-eared a few pages.”

I chuckled. “What time is it?”

“Almost ten.”

“Wow. I had my alarm set for nine. I must’ve slept right through it.”

“I turned it off. You didn’t get enough sleep last night.”

“I think it’s more like you kept me up half the night.”

Wilder pulled me onto his lap. “You didn’t seem to object.”

“I couldn’t. Your tongue was in my mouth.”

He buried his face in my neck. “My tongue was a lot of other places, too.”

That it was. My belly fluttered, thinking about the way he’d made me feel last night. “How long have you been up?”

“A few hours. I went to the grocery store to get some things for breakfast. Your fridge was pretty bleak.”

“I haven’t been hungry lately.”

Wilder ran his nose up and down my neck. “I’m starving.”

I got the feeling we’d just changed subjects. “Is that so?”

I would’ve been happy to go back to bed. Surprisingly, it was Wilder who put the brakes on things. He kissed the tip of my nose. “I saw your brother this morning.”

Uh-oh. “Which one?”

“Will.”

“Sorry.” I closed my eyes. “I should’ve warned you that I told him. How did that conversation go?”

“Same way it would’ve if I had a little sister who got knocked up by a guy with a reputation, and he didn’t do the right thing off the bat.”

“Shit.” My shoulders slumped. “That well, huh?”

Wilder brushed hair from my face and smiled. “It’s all good. He’ll come around when he’s ready. I’m glad he’s protective of you. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

I guessed I should be happy no one had a black eye. “I need to tell Travis and my dad still. And Olivia.”

“I’d like to tell my dad when you’re ready, too.”

“Oh God.” I had completely forgotten that Wilder’s dad was Mr. Hayes—the CEO of the company I worked for. “My job. I wasn’t even thinking of that.”

“There’s no rush.” Wilder ran his hands up and down my arms. “But I would like to go with you when you tell your father, if that’s alright.”

“He likes you, but I’m not sure how he’ll take the news. He and my brothers still treat me like I’m twelve in a lot of ways.”

“They need to see that I’m going to be here for you. Telling them isn’t enough.”

I nodded and let out an audible breath. “Okay. We’ll tell him together. He works at the bar on Sundays, and it’s usually pretty busy because of games and races. How long are you staying?”

Wilder looked me in the eyes. “Forever.”

My pulse picked up. “What do you mean? Aren’t you going back to England?”

“I’ll keep an office there, but my life is here. I think it’s time I moved back.”

“Wow. Okay.”

“I think I might have found the perfect place, too.”

“Really? Where?”

He patted my ass. “How about you get dressed while I make breakfast, and I’ll show you. I have an appointment to see the place at eleven.”

I couldn’t believe the last twenty-four hours. After weeks of dragging, I felt like I was floating. I was still scared, nervous that things might turn sour, but at least those feelings were balanced with excitement and happiness. Only time would tell how things would turn out. But I had hope again.

I took a quick shower and got dressed, then stuffed my face with the ridiculous feast Wilder had cooked for breakfast.

“Do we need to get going?” I piled my dish in the sink. “You said your appointment was at eleven. Are we taking the train? The subway has reduced service on the weekends.”

Wilder smiled. “You’ll see.”

A few minutes later, we were out the door. On the street, we turned left, so I assumed we were heading to the C train up the block.

But Wilder stopped a few steps into our walk. “We’re here.”

I squinted. “Here where?”

He pointed to the brownstone next door to my brother’s. I’d noticed the small FOR SALE sign a few weeks ago, but didn’t pay it much attention. A real estate agent opened the front door and smiled.

Wilder laced his fingers with mine. “I need a place to live other than a hotel, and I want to be near you. Eventually, we’ll need more space for the baby. I figured you wouldn’t want to move too far from Olivia.” He shrugged. “Saw the sign this morning, and it seemed like the perfect solution. I know you’re probably not ready to move in with me. I have a lot to do to earn back your trust. Until then, I’ll be close enough to be there when you need me, but you’ll still have your space.”

“You’re really going to move here from London? Your home has been there for ten years. I don’t want you to make any rash decisions.”

“My home is where you are, Sloane. And this decision isn’t rash for me. I’ve wanted nothing but to be with you since the day I met you.”

I looked over at the brownstone. It was as big or bigger than my brother’s. “What would you do with this much house? Rent the floors?”

Wilder shook his head. “The real estate agent said it needs some fixing up. But I’d make it into one big house. Between the baby and Lucas, who will probably visit more often than we’d like, we’re going to need space. Plus, I’m hoping we’ll fill some of the extra rooms with more kids someday. I’d love a family like you have, with everyone close in age. Lucas is sixteen years younger than me, so I pretty much grew up an only child—bouncing from one parent’s house to the other. I like what you guys have. It feels right.”

My chest filled with warmth. Yet there were still those nerves. A part of me was afraid to believe this was real.

Wilder must’ve seen the doubt in my face, though I’d thought I’d hid it well. He pulled me in tight. “Eventually it won’t be so scary. I promise.” He nodded toward the brownstone. “Come on. Let’s go see where I’m going to live.”

Later that night, I was lying in bed while Wilder finished up a call.

“Thanks, buddy.” He tossed his cell on the end table and slipped into bed next to me. “They accepted my counteroffer.”

“Oh my God. So that’s it? The house is yours?”

He nodded. “After a shitload of paperwork, but Andrew will take care of that.”

“Wow. I can’t believe how fast that happened.”

“Sometimes you get lucky and something perfect falls into your lap.” He ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Like you.”

“I didn’t quite fall into your lap. More like you pulled me into the coat closet.”

He smiled. “Semantics.”

“Well, congratulations.”

“Thank you. Back at ya.”

“Me? I didn’t just buy a house.”

“Actually you did. I told Andrew to put the house in both our names.”

“What? No. You can’t do that.”

“Of course I can.”

“I didn’t mean you can’t—I meant you shouldn’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because … this is still new, Wilder.”

“What’s new?”

I motioned between us. “Us. The pregnancy. Things can happen.”

Wilder’s face fell. “Are you afraid to be tied to me?”

“No. That’s not it at all.”

“Then let me do this. I don’t want this to be my house. I want it to be our house. I know what I did made you have doubts. But what I was scared of was never you, Sloane. I was afraid I wasn’t enough for you.”

“You are enough…”

Wilder brushed his lips with mine. “Then let me make this commitment. To us. To our family. Please.”

“It’s still so early in the pregnancy. What happens if…”

“I loved you before I knew you were pregnant. Whatever happens happens. But we’ll always have each other.”

I inhaled deeply, blowing out with a nod. “Okay.”

He flashed a cocky smile, like he knew all along he’d win. “Thank you.”

This man was dangerous. I was pretty sure he could get me to do anything he asked with a little begging and that grin. “You know, I’m not always going to be that easy.”

“No?” He reached over and took my hand, bringing it between his legs. “I’ll always be this hard for you.”

We both laughed. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

Wilder climbed on top of me, hovering. “I love you, Cupcake.”

My heart felt so full. “I love you, too.”