And she wanted to get closer to him. To touch him. But she could tell by the determined gleam in his eyes he had things he needed to say, so she remained still, silently willing him to continue.
“I like this present me. I like who I am with you,” he said. “And I want to be the manyouwant to step out of your comfort zone with.”
She smiled. “You are. You so are.”
He answered with a grin. “I want to be the man you want to spend the rest of your life with.”
Air backed up in her throat, and she cleared it as he handed her the last four roses, his gaze fierce, protective, and warm. So warm. “These are for carrying my baby and wanting me—I hope—to share your lives. My world doesn’t work without you in it, Kaydee. I don’t like the me without you.”
Her heart squeezed, and her eyes filled again. It was too much. Perfect. Right. She was done. That was it. She needed to hold him. Touch him. Love him. She was shaking so bad her teeth were practically chattering, and the poor roses were rustling so hard it was a wonder the petals didn’t fall off.
“Give me them,” Fi said, sticking her hand around Kaydee, as if reading her mind.
She handed off the flowers, then turned back to Leo.
“Hang on,” Beth said, rushing forward to tug the bag and chocolates from Leo before scurrying back to stand by her husband in the crowd. “Carry on.”
She smiled her thanks to the woman before returning her attention to Leo. “I’ll let you in on a secret,” she said, stepping closer to touch his face. “I recently discovered I don’t like the me I am without you, either. She’s too closed up. Miserable.”
He reached out to place his hands on her hips. “I can help with that.”
She chuckled. “I know. I also know another secret. I love you, too, Leo. So much I think my heart might burst.”
Joy brightened his gaze, and soon it blazed. She knew that look. He was going to kiss her. Her nearly bursting heart leaped. And when he hauled her in close and their lips met, her entire body came alive. She was acutely aware of all of him, right down to the way he held her tight like he would never let her go. She really, really loved that part.
When he finally broke the kiss, she barely heard the crowd’s applause, for she was hyperaware that a certain body part of his—her favorite part of his—was hyperaware of her, too.
A smile tugged her lips. “You really are happy to see me.”
He choked out a laugh and leaned in for another quick kiss. “With every breath.”
“Okay, I’ve got to know,” Fiona spoke up from behind. “What’s in the bag?”
She felt another laugh vibrate from him before he drew back and turned to Beth. The woman grinned and scooted forward to hand the bag back.
“Brick needs to take some pointers,” Beth whispered loudly with a wink before retreating back to her frowning husband.
“Hey,” Brick said.
She glanced from the red bag Leo placed in her hand up to his still-smiling face. “What is it?”
Leo shrugged, his gaze alight with mischief. “Something I thought you’d like our baby to have.”
Our baby…
Tears sprang to her eyes, and this time she let them spill out. God, it felt so good to hear him say that. She blinked a few times as she dug in the bag to pull out a small, stuffed… “Captain America?”
“Good choice,” Emma said.
Leo smiled. “Figured it didn’t matter, boy or girl, everyone loves Cap.”
Nodding, she drew in a breath. “And I love you.” She lifted up to kiss his cheek. “And my surprises. I just feel bad I don’t have anything for you.”
“No need,” he said, gently holding her face in his hands while he wiped her wet cheeks with his thumbs. “Youare my greatest surprise.”
Epilogue
Eight months later…
