Page 63 of The Impossible

I wrapped my legs around his waist and mouthed the words love you.

“Good look.” He removed the phone from his ear and looked down at me. “Now what I tell you about thanking me, Nic?”

“That I don’t have to, which is why I said love you instead. Because I’m grateful for the man you are. And I love the man you are, even though you have this random beef with pregnancy pillows.”

He laughed hard, wrinkling those chestnut freckles I loved so much. “You think you’re a comedian, huh?”

“Not even close. How long are you leaving me for?” I bit into my bottom lip.

“Couple hours, give you some time to help P get settled in. You said you wanted pizza for dinner. I’ll grab that unless you’ve already changed your mind.”

I shook my head. “Nope, I haven’t. I want pizza and a movie as long as you don’t come in too late.”

He didn’t respond verbally, instead gripping my neck with his massive hand and using the opening between his thumb and index finger to tilt my head upward before his lips crashed into mine.

After what I considered to be a “carry me to the bedroom” kiss, Hondo left and I spent the next hour and a half trying to get some work done before my sister arrived.

“Good morning, Mrs. Carter. Is there anything you need?” Alysia asked.

“Yes, my sister is in town and staying with us. Can you prepare the in-law suite?” I requested.

“Yes, of course. Is there anything you’d like the chef to prepare?”

“Um, yes. I feel like I’ve been going salad crazy lately. Maybe a salmon Caesar? Ohh and some fried zucchini fries like last time, with the ranch sauce.” I smiled hard at the thought. Since finding out I was pregnant, I appreciated food more. Not to mention these cravings, they were a beast, especially in the middle of the night when I needed something sweet. I also appreciated that I had a chef most of the week because she was much more capable than me when it came to food I saw in passing and craved out of nowhere.

“I’ll relay that. Other than that, I’m headed into the city to get some things after I finish with the suite. Anything you need from there?”

I smiled even wider. “Honeybun b⁠—”

“Brownies,” she finished with a smile. “Mr. Carter asked me to see if I could get a tray of them rather than a few in a pastry box.”

Laugher expelled from my lips because them being proactive was beyond me. I didn’t think I was that bad… Shit, maybe I was.

“This house is beautiful, and to think, he gave you a whole tour before you knew it was for you.” Paige laughed as we sat on the sofa in the living room of her suite.

“Same thing I said. The entire time we toured, I promise I was wondering why in the hell he had me in a house he had gotten for his wife.” I laughed, thinking back on the randomness of that moment.

“But it all came together and you love everything about that man, don’t you?”

I nodded. “Everything, and it’s so crazy because I didn’t plan to. Agreeing to marry him gave me more distance from our family and of course it changed my last name.” I giggled. “But then it just happened and everything clicked almost instantly. Not only that, but he’s like talking to my best friend, somebody who didn’t wait to get to know me but knew me all along.”

“Look at you gushing.” She grinned. “You deserve this type of love and protection. I’m so glad you have it, even though it came to you under forced circumstances.”

“So, Maya. Does she know you’re here?” I changed the subject slightly, attempting to see where her head was.

She shook her head. “I went to talk to her like you said, but when I saw her all over her ex, I let it go. Maybe taking care of her ailing abuelita was code for getting back with her ex.”

I shook my head. “Damn, you know we could fly out to Boston and I’ll kick her ass for you.”

She giggled. “You were never the fighter, Pat. Just because you know a lil one two from self-defense class does not mean you’re like that.”

“Don’t underestimate me. I know a thing or two more than you think.” I shrugged.

“Girl, bye. How is dear old dad and your leprechaun of a grandfather?”

I fucking cackled. “I haven’t talked to your grandfather since before he tried to have me killed on my wedding day, and your father, that’s a whole other ballgame.”

“Have you killed? What the fuck? What am I missing?” She was at the edge of her seat.