Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“I have to go and get my car from Brock’s. Then I’m coming home and doing nothing.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I brought your car home last night, so now you don’t have to go anywhere.”
I push away from him. “Um, I’m sorry, what?”
“I picked up your car on my way home last night. And it’s a good thing, since I want you off your feet. You’re to relax all day long, maybe even tomorrow.”
“I didn’t even talk to him about the price of the tires.” My hand goes to his chest, suddenly embarrassed that I have to tell him that I made a payment plan with Brock. “I have to call him to discuss how much it was.”
“You can,” his hand goes to my hip, “but it would be for nothing since I paid for it.”
I try to move away from him, but his hand on my hip holds me in place. “Theo, let go of me.”
“No, I like you here close to me. I want you even closer when you get mad so I can kiss you.” He bends to kiss my neck. “Don’t make a big deal over it, please. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Not that big of a deal? How much did it cost?”
He bites his lower lip, and certain parts of me get tingly in spite of my irritation. “He gave you the friends and family discount, and he didn’t charge you labor. So that’s on him.” He tries to hide his smirk.
“How much was it?” I ask him, my voice low.
“What difference does it make?” His gray eyes stare into mine.
“It makes a huge difference because now I’m going to have to pay you back. And I just can’t do it in one shot.” I’m going to have to make a payment plan with Theo. How awkward is this going to be? I already hated my parents, but I especially loathe them for putting me in this position.
“Pay me back?” he questions in disbelief.
“Yes, pay you back.” I move away from him and get off the bed, standing beside it, though I really want to go hide in the bathroom until he leaves. “Theo—”
“Baby,” he says softly, “you aren’t paying me back. Not now, not in a year, not even ten fucking years from now.” He flips the covers over, gets up in his black boxers, and puts his hands on his hips. “This is what happens in relationships, Collins, it’s a give-and-take.” I think about his words as he walks around the bed. His hands come up to hold my face. “This is nothing,” he declares, and I pfft at him. “You are giving me a child. A whole human child. Do you know what that means?” My eyes roll to the side of my head. “No, seriously, think about it. Our child. There is nothing I can give you that can measure up to you carrying our child.”
“Theo,” I say his name in almost a whisper.
“Give me this.” He puts his forehead on mine. “Let me give you this.”
“I don’t know how to do this,” I admit to him. “In my whole life, I’ve never had anyone to depend on but myself.”
“Stick with me, baby. I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” He kisses my lips. “Now, I have to get to the jobsite for a bit. Then why don’t I come back and we can go out to lunch?”
“I don’t know. I would hate to go out and have people see me, and then it gets back to the station that I was out galivanting when I just called in sick.”
“So how about I pick something up, and we can have lunch here together?”
“I can make us lunch.”
“You are supposed to be off your feet,” he snaps, “and you need to call the doctor. Why don’t you do that while I make you breakfast?”
“It’s—what time is it?”
“Alarm rang at six-thirty.”
“Well, I don’t think the doctor is there, but I can leave a message. I’ll go and do that now.”
“That would be great. I’ll start your breakfast.”
He starts to walk out of the room when I call his name. “Theo.” He looks over his shoulder. “Thank you”—I put my hand on my stomach—“for everything.”
“It’s my pleasure, Collins.” His smile is full, lighting his eyes. “That first night I met you, I thought you were the most beautiful person I had ever seen.”
“You don’t have to say that.”
“I’m not saying it to say it. I’m saying it because it’s true. Not only are you the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, but you have a heart that is so pure I don’t think there is another person on this earth who is like you. I just know our child will have the best parts of you, and for that, I’m the luckiest man alive.” He smiles again and heads off to the kitchen.