Page 116 of Tempted To Be Mine

Jeremy caught my eye and nodded. This was it.

He cleared his throat loudly enough to get everyone’s attention. The room gradually quieted, all eyes turning to us.

“We have an announcement,” Jeremy said, taking my hand. “Actually, Lucy has an announcement.”

I held up my left hand, letting the ring catch the light from the massive Christmas tree in the corner. “We’re engaged.”

The room exploded.

The wives surrounded me, admiring the ring and asking when we were thinking about having the wedding.

“This is wonderful,” Victoria said, squeezing my hands. “Welcome to the family. Officially.”

I looked around at all of them. I belonged here. I had a family. My child would have so many cousins he’d need a spreadsheet to keep track of all of them.

The doorbell rang, cutting through the celebration. Tiana looked confused.

“Are we expecting anyone else?”

“Actually,” Jeremy said, smiling, “that’s my surprise.”

I walked to the door and pulled it open, revealing my grandmother standing on the threshold. She was bundled up in a bright purple coat, Harold beside her, both of them beaming.

“Gram!” I pulled her into a hug. “You made it.”

“Of course I made it. You think I’d miss my granddaughter’s first Christmas with her future husband?” She pulled back and grabbed my left hand, examining the ring with a critical eye. She nodded.

Harold whistled.

“He did good,” she said.

I led them into the massive living room where everyone welcomed them. I stood back, Jeremy’s arm around my shoulders. And yes, I cried. Again.

EPILOGUE

JEREMY

The sound that woke me up at three in the morning was not one I’d ever heard before. It was somewhere between a gasp and a groan. The window was open. Maybe an animal.

“Jeremy.” Lucy. The voice she used when she was trying very hard not to panic. “I think it’s time.”

I sat up so fast it left me lightheaded. “Time?”

“The baby, you idiot.” She grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly strong. “I’m having contractions. Big ones.”

Every single thing I’d learned over the past seven months evaporated from my brain. Gone. Completely wiped clean. I stared at her like she’d just told me aliens had landed in the backyard. I probably would have handled that better.

“Oh no,” she gasped.

“What?”

“My water just broke.”

“The baby,” I repeated in awe. “Baby. Water. Oh shit. Your water broke!”

I threw the covers off and promptly got tangled in the sheets, got free, and tripped over the shoes I’d left beside the bed for this moment.

“Shit. Okay. Wait.” I stood in my boxers and forced myself to think straight. The baby wasn’t going to be delivered in the bed in the next five seconds.