Once Upon A Half-Time 1(97)
“Name one.”
“Me.”
That’s the one I’d hoped for. But I didn’t rush into his arms. Not yet.
“You know…you were right,” I said. “You promised I’d fall for you before the sunset of our third date.”
“I’m irresistible like that.”
“You really should warn a girl.”
“And miss out on all the fun?”
I pushed a lock of hair behind my ear, my smile fading. He wanted the truth, and I didn’t know if I could keep the secret anymore.
“I won’t lie to you,” I said. “I fell for you. Hard. But I’m not a girl who believes in fairy tales or fate or magic. These next few months are going to be insane—not just the investigations, but because of the baby.”
“I’m going to take care of you, Elle.”
“I just…want to make sure this is real.”
“Of course it is.” He pulled me close. “You know we fell in love the first moment we met.”
“If only I could remember it.”
He smiled, teasing me with dimples that I couldn’t resist. “Fortunately for you, I do remember. You came up to me and said something to the effect of…We belong together. Let’s hook up in the hotel room all weekend, meet again in three months, fall in love, have a baby, and live happily-ever-after.”
“Hmm.” I nodded. “That doesn’t sound like me.”
“Well, that was the gist of it.”
“Are you sure you weren’t the one coming onto me?” I asked. “Because I think I remember you saying…I’m gonna chase after you until you agree to date me, and then I’ll charm you, knock you up, and we’ll live a happily-ever-disaster.”
“Sounds more like me.”
“Yeah, that’s about right. Remember what I said after that?”
“Tell me.”
“I told you…If I ever keep secrets from you, it’s not because I don’t trust you, it’s because I’m in love with you and refuse to jeopardize your spot on a team.”
“Oh, yeah.” Lachlan smirked. “You did mention that. Right before you said…I love giving blowjobs. Make sure I give you one a day or I’ll be really cranky.”
“I must have been really drunk to say that.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger. And right after that promise was when I told you…If I ever get mad because you called me out on my bullshit, know that it’s because I’m terrified of failure and disappointing the ones I love.”
“Yep. That memory is clear as a bell.”
Lachlan smiled. “And then I said…The only thing I want in this life is to provide for my family, because you and our future unborn baby and Bast—who is actually my son, by the way—are the most important people in my life.”
I knocked my forehead against his, unable to hide my smile. “I think that’s the one that made me drop the panties.”
“No. It’s the one that kept them off.”
“I’m sorry, Lachlan.”
He brushed my cheek. “No. It was my fault. I lost my temper. Hell, I didn’t even know I had one.”
“First time for everything.”
“Hopefully the last. I don’t like feeling like that. It’s not me.”
“And who are you?”
“A man who wants to protect you. Honor you. Help you.” His hand brushed low, settling on my tummy. “I’m not just some mistake from Vegas. I want to be the best decision you ever made. I love you, Elle.”
It was the kind of declaration a girl could get used to hearing. I smiled, but Lachlan didn’t let me speak. He grabbed his duffle bag and herded me to the couch.
“I know this is a whirlwind relationship,” he said. “That’s part of the fun. Our marriage isn’t a conventional one.”
“Not by any stretch of the imagination.”
“But, luckily for you, I have a good imagination.”
“That I really remember.”
“It’s time we start this again.” He pointed to the shelves behind me, full of knick-knacks and trinkets. “You need a couple additions to the Lachlan Collection.”
“I do?”
“Yep. And you need to start this marriage right.”
“How?”
He grinned, rifling through the bag before offering me a small package. “We got married, but you didn’t have any of the traditional luck for a bride. So there’s your something old.”
“You’re being a little sweet.”
“Ain’t seen nothing yet.”
I tugged on the packaging. The paper fell away, and I held a deck of playing cards, emblazoned with the insignia for the Bellagio in Vegas.