Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Baking smells reach me, guiding me to the kitchen. I find Layla standing at the counter in her PJs, a tank top, and shorts that have my amped-up body stirring. She tosses her head when she sees me, turning her hair even wilder, and then she walks around the kitchen divide and throws herself at me.
And when I say throw, I mean throw. I catch her, in love with how forward she is. She’s always had a healthy confidence in her curvy body, but ever since the proposal, she’s become even more assertive. Lowering her to the kitchen counter, we kiss passionately, and then Layla grabs my chest and gives me a soft shove. It’s like how she’d push against me in the early days when the step-uncle and niece thing was still hanging like a blade over our heads. Now, there’s pure love in her eyes.
“Do you want to see the cake?”
“Why do you sound so nervous?” I brush the hair behind her ear, loving how she turns to the movement. “I know it’s going to be delicious. Everything you make is.”
Taking my hand, she leads me around the kitchen divider. I stare at the cake, heart hammering as I swell with joy.
“The icing took a while,” she murmurs from behind me, stroking my shoulders.
“I can imagine,” I say, a croak in my voice.
With expert precision, my woman has spelled two words with the icing.
I’m pregnant.
I spin and sweep her into my arms, cheering as we turn around and around. She laughs and finds my lips again.
“You know I’ll never be able to eat this, right?” I say between flashes of love and lust.
She laughs. “That’s fine. I’ll make another.”
“Are we talking about cakes or babies?”
She beams. “Well, I was thinking both.”
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Layla
Jack sleeps peacefully in the baby carrier as I work busily in the kitchen, Tess on speakerphone.
“Does he ever cry?” Tess says as I chop vegetables for tonight’s dinner.
“He’s a night owl, that’s for sure. He’s an angel when the sun’s up, though.”
“Are you sure he’s not a vampire?”
We laugh together. I’ll never stop being grateful for being able to let my joy out so freely with no darkness attempting to drag it down.
“He’s so precious. I miss him already, and I only saw him a couple of days ago.”
“When you’re back from your trip, you better come straight here.”
Tess is away with her new boyfriend. Things are going well.
A few nights ago, she told me, “I’m feeling it, Layla. What you said you felt. That certainty. I know I want this man, but I can’t push too hard.”
It’s sweet I can support her and play the role she played for me in the beginning.
“At least he’s not your step-uncle,” I say.
“Well…”
“What is it?” I ask, proud that I can maintain my chopping rhythm as we continue the conversation.
“I haven’t told you this yet, but he used to be really good friends with my dad, like best friends. They had a falling out, and now I’m wondering what I will do. I didn’t mean it to be more than a fling.”
I lay the knife down. “Whoa, that’s a lot.”
“Yeah, so you’re right. He’s not my step-uncle, but there’s still some baggage.”
“Let me ask you this. Are you sure he’s the one?”
“That’s the crazy part, Layla. I was sure the second I saw him. I’ve been trying not to think too deeply about it, but I can’t run from it anymore. I don’t know what to do.”
“I think you need to find out if he feels the same.”
“Really?”
“That’s what cinched it for us. Before I knew he wanted…”
I wave a hand, though she can’t see me taking in the entirety of our life—Jack, the house, all the photos on the walls, the yard with the pool, and lots of space for Jack and his future siblings to play. Of course, there’s also the restaurant-level kitchen which has helped hone my skills so much.
“A life together,” I go on, “everything was up in the air. Once I knew he wanted the same thing as me, everything fell into place.”
“But how do I find out without ruining everything? What if he doesn’t feel the same?”
I think carefully about this.
“Layla?”
“Sorry. I’m here. Honestly, I don’t know. With Miles and me, it just happened.”
“So, what you’re saying is, sleeping with your dad’s best friend is more complicated than sleeping with your step-uncle?”
I grin. “I’m not sure I’d go that far. See if you can get him talking about children and family. That was one of the best moments for Miles and me. We saw this family walking by on our way to our first date, and he just opened up. It was beautiful how passionate he was. It was perfect.”
Miles walks into the room wearing his work shirt, his powerful jaw covered in a light layer of silver dust.