“Well, I’m glad you guys seem to be okay now.”
He nods. “We’re both happy. I love working for the Townsends. They’re good people, and Cooper pays me well—not that I need it.”
My face whips toward him, showing how perplexed I am by that statement. “What?”
We start to approach the stables and Wyatt hops off his horse. He comes around, grabs my hips, and helps me down. “Zach had to buy me out. I don’t need the money. I live well below my means, and I’ve saved a lot of money.”
“I had no idea. I mean, we’ve never really talked money, but . . .”
“I’m not rolling around in my dollar bills.” He laughs. “But I’m set for a very long time.”
Wyatt’s hands wrap around my middle, and I curl into him. “You should know that I can take care of myself financially as well. My store was very profitable over the last few years, but with Erin buying in, it allowed me a lot of breathing room. I’m saying this because I think you should know that I’m not hard up for cash. I don’t ever want you to think that my motives are monetary.”
I’ve seen the horror stories. All I want is for Wyatt to be a good dad to the nugget. It’s good to know that he’ll never slack on that part of things, but at the same time, I’m fine. I’m not a gold digger, and he needs to be aware of that.
“I think it’s good for us to have these talks.” His lips inch close to mine. “It makes me realize just how lucky I am right now.”
“Yeah?” I ask a little breathlessly as he grows closer. “Why is that?”
“Because,” his lips graze mine, “I’m winnin’ your heart.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to respond. His mouth connects with mine, and I hold on tight. We both give and take through this kiss, and his words swim in my head as I lose myself to his touch.
Everything feels so strong when I’m with him. If someone had told me this was how I would feel about him, I would’ve laughed. Wyatt isn’t the man I ever thought I would fall in love with. I always saw myself with a business man. He would work downtown, we’d both come home from work, and go to a swanky restaurant for dinner. We’d go to New York when we wanted to see a show or head to the Outer Banks when we wanted the beach. No kids for a long time, if ever.
Instead, I’ve fallen for a cowboy who has probably never been to New York, and I already have a baby baking in my belly. Definitely not in my plans.
Yet, I’ve never felt as secure as I do right this second.
If this is what happens when my plans go to shit, I can live with the consequences.
On the way back to the cottage, Wyatt tells me we’re staying for two more nights, and that he wants me to relax and think of nothing. Even though we’re living together, it’s so different being here. I can’t fully explain it, other than this feels like a romantic getaway.
In Bell Buckle, we’re living. Here we’re free of mundane day-to-day stuff.
Tonight, we’re going out to dinner and from what I can tell, it’s definitely more upscale. I look through my bag, hoping to find something I can wear, and see my emerald satin cocktail dress. Presley did a fantastic job packing for me. I only brought two fancier dresses with me to Tennessee, and this is by far my favorite. I pin my hair into a messy updo and do my makeup a little heavier for dramatic flair. This dress calls for a little more of everything.
I finish getting dressed and look myself over. The dress still fits perfectly. The front is a lower-cut top that crosses in the front, and it clings past my hips, ending at the knees. It’s extremely formfitting, and the baby bump I’ve been pretending is not there, is now very prominent.
My hand rests against it as I suck in a deep breath. “You’re really in there.” My eyes won’t move from the spot. “I knew you were, but now I can see that you’re really in there.” I lean against the bathroom counter and look down at myself. It’s a moment. A big one for me. My baby, our baby, is there. Growing all on its own.
I’m going to be a mom.
I knew this, of course, but it’s really happening. There’s proof of it. It’s real.
A tear falls, and I wipe it away. I’m overcome with emotions. These last four and a half months have been trying. I’ve really run the gamut of highs and lows. From being unsure of whether I could do this to knowing I would find a way. Then being so angry about having to move to now being upset that there is a little over a month left before I have to make a choice. Then there’s the feelings about Wyatt. Do I love him? Is it too soon? Has it always been written in the cards but I was too blind to see?