The Billionaire's Unexpected Baby(39)

He almost dragged her into the house as she tried to catch a glimpse of every corner of the home she had always dreamed of.

Inside was as perfect as she'd always envisioned. Hardwood floors, a  light airy spacious kitchen, a family room with a fireplace-she could  already picture spending nights watching movies before a roaring fire  with the baby and … maybe …        

   





"I haven't showed you the best part yet," he said, pulling her toward another room.

He opened a set of French doors and her heart just about stopped.

"Oh, Brooks," she said, choking back the lump that formed in her throat.

He led her into a room, a library really. With wall-to-wall built-in  shelves just waiting for books. There was a fireplace in this room as  well, and a big bay window with a window seat.

"My own library?" she asked, suddenly feeling like Belle in Beauty and  the Beast. It took everything she had not to jump on the ladders and  start singing while rolling along the shelves.

Brooks rested a hand on one of the rolling ladders. "Do you like it?"

"Do I like it? Brooks, this is just …  It's incredible."

He beamed. "I have one more thing to show you," he said, pulling her out  of the library and toward another set of French doors that led outside.  He opened them and drew her onto a deck that overlooked the large  backyard. On one side, someone had planted a garden where she could  already see neat rows of vegetables and herbs beginning to sprout. The  rest of the yard looked like it was right out of Better Homes and  Gardens with neatly manicured lawns overflowing with flowers and trees.  And on the other side of the yard was a swing set and playhouse just  waiting to be used.

She sat on the steps of the deck and raised a shaking hand to her mouth as she looked around the yard she had always wanted.

"Do you like it?" Brooks asked her again.

"I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life. This is … perfect."

He flashed that huge smile again and sat a couple steps below her. "I'm  so glad you like it. It's in a really good school district, too. One of  the top-ranked districts. The elementary school is only two blocks away  so you could walk Olivia to school every day if you wanted. And there's a  dance studio about a ten-minute drive from here where they teach all  kinds of classes. They even do piano lessons there if that's something  she's interested in. The community center isn't too far away either and  there's a big library about three miles down the road that way," he  said, pointing behind him. "And I checked the crime databanks. This is  one of the safest neighborhoods in the city. Most of the people here  don't even lock their doors when they leave."

"You actually checked on all of that stuff?"

He looked at her a little surprised. "I went and visited each place. I  even met the kindergarten teacher, though I know it's a little early for  that yet. But I wanted to make sure it would be a good place for Olivia  to grow up. Oh and … " He shoved his hand in his pocket and for a second  Leah's heart stopped. But, instead of the ring she thought he might be  pulling out, he handed her a key.

"What's this for?" she asked.

"You'll need to be able to get Olivia to school and her dance and piano  classes. And if you want to go into the city you'll definitely need  something to drive."

She sucked in a breath. "You bought me a car?"

"A minivan," he said with a huge grin. "It's actually a pretty sweet  ride. I drove it sixty miles and never felt a bump. Seriously, it's the  quietest car I've ever been in. It's top of the line, complete with a  DVD system, which the guy at the dealership told me is popular with  kids. I know you don't need something that big just yet, but the  dealership guy said that they are good for things like carpools. And if  you ever decided to have more kids … "

She didn't know what to think. He was quite literally handing her everything she had always wanted. Well, almost everything.

"And you're giving this all to me?"

He nodded. "No strings attached. If you want it, this is all yours. But I will admit I had hoped … "

He pulled a stick figure of a man out of his back pocket. One of those  kinds that people put on the back window of their car to represent  everyone in the family.

"Yours and Olivia's are already on the car. I hoped … maybe … " He took a  deep breath and then took her hands in his. "I know I screwed up, Leah.  Really, seriously screwed up. My only excuse is that I thought I was  doing what was best for you and the baby. I didn't think I was what you  needed. You deserve far better than me. And, honestly, I was terrified.  And an idiot. And I've never regretted anything more in my life. What I  was too stubborn to realize is that I'm the one who needs you. Who still  needs you. Who will always need you. I know I don't deserve you. I  don't deserve another chance. But … "       

   





"What about Marcus? He's not going away, Brooks. He's Livy's father … "

"I know. And for her sake, we're going to work on getting along. He … "

His face flushed and he pulled up his calendar on his phone, showing it  to her. She glanced down and gasped out a surprised laugh. "You two are  going to couples counseling?"

He let out a long-suffering sigh. "Remote sessions on the video  conference line. His idea. But … it's not a bad one. We're both determined  to get along."

She smiled at him, her heart overflowing. "That's an excellent start."

He took her hands again. "I know you don't need me but … "

Leah reached out and put a finger against his lips. "You're wrong." She  cupped his cheek. "I do need you. This place," she said, gesturing  around her to encompass the house. "It's amazing, incredible. Everything  I always dreamed. But the dream wouldn't be complete without you here."

Brooks stood and pulled her into his arms. "Will you marry me? Again? For real this time?"

Leah laughed. "I would be honored to be your wife. For real."

His smile lit a fire in her that would burn until the day she died.

He put his hand in his pocket again and she laughed. "How much do you have stashed in there?"

"This is the last thing."

This time he pulled out a small velvet box. He opened it to reveal a  tastefully beautiful ring, the stones arranged in the shape of a flower.  Big enough to be impressive, but not so big that she'd be embarrassed  to wear it.

"I knew you wouldn't want anything too big … " he said, his uncertainty  chipping away at her heart. "The first one I picked out was twice this  size. And I had the jeweler put it on hold just in case. But I know when  we talked about it before with the wedding bands you were ridiculously  stubborn about it … "

She laughed and leaned forward to kiss him. "It's absolutely perfect, Brooks. I've never seen anything more beautiful."

He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her, long and deep, searing the moment in her heart forever.

Then he broke away, laughing, and swept her into his arms.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go christen the bedroom."





Epilogue

Olivia Brooke Cassidy, named to honor both her fathers, was christened  in the tiny stone church on the banks of the Greek island where Piper  Harrington had been christened a year before. The party had continued  into the wee hours of the morning, though Leah and Brooks had escorted  the guest of honor back to the yacht not too long after the ceremony.  Little ones needed to be in bed at a proper time.

And it was her parents' honeymoon after all.

A strange one, maybe. Leah was sure most couples didn't take all their  closest friends with them on their honeymoons. But they'd wanted to go  back to where they'd first met. And it seemed a good idea to start a new  tradition with the christenings. Well, a second tradition. They had  another one going with the prenups. Brooks had insisted they sign  Kiersten's version the second time around. Well, the preliminary version  that simply stated that anything she says goes. Kiersten keeps adding  to it. Leah protested, but Brooks wouldn't take no for an answer.  Stubborn fool.

The christenings were a tradition Leah was much happier to follow. Now  with Cole and Kiersten's baby and Leah and Brooks's baby newly  christened at the little church, it felt well on its way. Especially  since there might be another little one to be christened before too  long.

Leah handed Kiersten a towel and a glass of ice water with mint leaves.

"Thanks," Kiersten said gratefully, sipping on the cool water. "I don't  know why I'm getting seasick this time. I've always done fine before."

Leah raised an eyebrow. "Unless you're not seasick this time. You could be pregnant."

Kiersten's eyes widened. "Oh God."

Leah laughed. "You might want to get that checked when we get home."

Kiersten nodded. Then she laughed, too. "Well, I did want to have more  kids. I was planning on putting a little more space between them. But  I'll hold off the panicking until I find out for sure."