“You’re… Are you kidding?”
I shook my head again, the emotions rising up. I swallowed them back. I had to stay rational and reasonable. I couldn’t let my hormones rule me. I had to be smarter than that this time.
His hand covered his mouth, hiding his emotions from me. “Are you okay? I know that’s not what you wanted.”
I exhaled a laugh. “I don’t know how I am yet.”
“What…” He exhaled slowly. “What do you want to do, Casey?”
“You’re not… You don’t have an opinion?”
“I have a lot of them. Five minutes ago, I thought you were going to run out of here angry at me. Ten minutes ago, I was terrified to tell you I love you. Thirty minutes ago, I was looking at engagement rings and wondering if I’d ever be able to convince you to marry me. All of that has changed now. All that matters is what you want.”
“You wanted to marry me?”
He nodded. “I did, and I still do. We didn’t go into this with that plan, but I want that more than anything else. I want you in my life for good. But only if you want that, too. I don’t want you to feel trapped.”
My hands shook as I brought them to my face. “Landon.”
“Casey.”
“Say it again.”
“Say what?”
“Say you love me,” I whispered.
“I love you, Casey White. More than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. And if you’ll have me, I want to build a life with you. With Mikayla and our baby.”
“A dirty life?” I asked.
A laugh popped out of him. “Very dirty.”
“Are you going to stay over there or are you going to kiss me?”
He stalked across the room and wrapped me up in his arms, but he kept his lips off mine. “I love you, Casey. Not because of the baby. Because of you. I will always be here for you, but I never want you to feel like you have to marry me. I know you’re not in the same place as me, but I hope you’ll give me a chance to show you what it’s like to be loved.”
I laughed. “You silly man. I am so in love with you.”
“You are?” he blurted, truly surprised.
I nodded. “I am. I love you, Landon Boyd.”
“Well, damn. I didn’t see that coming.”
“I never saw you coming, but I’m so happy you’re here.”
“I love you, Casey.”
“I love you.”
He kissed me hard, spinning me around and setting me on the edge of the table. He kneeled in front of me and kissed my belly. “Hi, baby.”
My emotions swelled and overflowed.
He was going to be the best father ever.
And he was all mine.
