Chapter 312

Kylie stared at him.

This man.

This extraordinary, impossible man.

Kylie looked down at the ring. She turned her hand slowly.

The stone caught the light.

She smiled. “Oh, my God.”

Christian grinned.

She held up her hand. “Look at this.”

He looked. “I have been looking.”

“No, look properly.”

He leaned closer.

She moved her fingers, watching the light catch the stone. “Christian.”

“Yes, Belle?”

“I’m engaged.”

He nodded solemnly. “That is generally what happens when someone says yes to a marriage proposal.”

She gasped. Then she hit his chest.

He caught her hand, laughing. “Sorry.”

“No, you’re not.”

“No, I’m not.”

She shook her head, smiling so brightly that he felt his chest tighten. Then she looked at the ring again.

“I have a ring.”

“You do.”

“A very beautiful ring.”

“I agree.”

“That you bought for me.” She said it in a song tune.

“Yes, Blue.”

She looked up.

His expression softened. “I want to marry you.”

Her smile turned tender. She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist.

He immediately held her.

She pressed her cheek against his chest.

For a moment, they stood quietly beneath the garden lights, holding each other while the distant sound of their friends’ laughter drifted through the open doorway.

Then Kylie tilted her head back. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Did you practise that speech?”

He laughed. “Yes.”

“How many times?”

“Too many.”

She grinned. “Did you cry while practising?”

He looked offended. “Absolutely not.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Christian.”

He sighed. “Once.”

Kylie burst out laughing. “ONCE?”

“Possibly twice.”

She laughed harder.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “You are enjoying this far too much.”

“Of course I am. You’re in love with me.”

“Tragic, isn’t it?”

“Devastating.”

He kissed her.

She kissed him back, smiling against his mouth. When they drew apart, she rested her forehead against his.

“I love you.”

His eyes softened. “I love you, too.”

She smiled. “Fiancé.”

He went still.

She watched the word land. Then she grinned.

“Fiancé.”

His mouth fell open. “Say it again.”

She blinked. “Fiancé?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No. The other one.”

She understood. Her smile softened. “My fiancé.”

He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, they were shining. “God, Blue.”

She cupped his face. “Hi.”

He laughed, then pulled her into another hug.

She held him tightly, and stared at the ring. Kylie was still admiring her ring when the thought occurred to her.

It was not sudden, exactly.

The thought had been with her for days.

She had carried it quietly, turning it over in her mind, wondering how to say it, when to say it, and whether she should have said it sooner.

She had known she wanted to tell Christian.

Her smile softened. “Christian?”

“Hm?”

“Can I show you something?”

He immediately straightened. “Of course.”

She took his hand. Then, gently, she guided it down. Past her waist. Until she could place his palm against the side of her lower abdomen.

Christian looked down at their hands. Then at her face. One eyebrow rose. “What are we doing?”

Kylie smiled faintly. “Just keep your hand there.”

He looked at her.

She held his gaze.

For a second, he seemed amused by her mysterious expression. Then something in her eyes made him pause.

His smile faded slightly. “Kylie?”

She took a slow breath. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

He went very still.

His hand remained against her abdomen, but his fingers stopped moving.

“All right.” He swallowed softly.

She swallowed. “I found out last week.”

He blinked. “Found out what?”

Kylie looked down at his hand. Then back at him. “I’m pregnant.”

Silence.

Christian stared at her.

For one long second, he didn’t seem to understand the words. He looked at her face. Then at his hand. Then at her face again.

His eyebrows drew together. “Kylie.”

She nodded. “I’m pregnant.”

He blinked rapidly. Then he looked down at her abdomen again.

His expression changed so quickly that Kylie almost cried. His expression went from confusion, to disbelief, and then a flicker of fear so naked that her smile softened immediately.

Christian looked back at her. “You’re…”

He stopped, swallowed, and tried again. “We’re pregnant?”

Kylie nodded. “Yes.”

He stared at her. “With a baby?”

“Christian!”

He looked genuinely bewildered. “I know how that sounds. I just—”

He stopped and ran a hand over his face. “Heavens.”

Kylie smiled harder.

He looked at her again. Then down at her abdomen. Then back at her. “We’re pregnant.”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

“You’re actually pregnant.”

“That’s what the test said.”

He blinked rapidly.

She nodded, sniffing.

He took a breath. Then another.

His mouth opened, closed, and opened again. Nothing came out.

Kylie watched him, with her heart pounding. She had never seen him look so completely unprepared for anything.

And she had seen him face armed men without blinking.

But this?

This had left him speechless.

“Christian?”

He looked up immediately. “Yes.”

“Say something.” She smiled gently. “I’m okay.”

His expression shifted. He searched her face. “Are you?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“You’ve been feeling all right?”

“Mostly.”

“Mostly?”

She laughed softly.

“Morning sickness. A little tiredness. Some food and smells have become absolutely offensive.”

He stared at her. “Which smells?”

She considered it. “Coffee, sometimes. Fried fish. Your cologne, once.”

He looked horrified. “My cologne?”

“Only once.”

“Which one?”

“Christian.”

“I’m getting rid of it.”

She burst out laughing. “No, you’re not.”

“I absolutely am.”

“You’re not throwing away a cologne because I disliked it once.”

He looked at her seriously. “If it makes you feel sick, it’s gone.”

Her smile softened.

His expression was changing.

The fear hadn’t disappeared entirely, but something else was beginning to emerge beneath it.

Wonder, and disbelief. A kind of fragile, dawning happiness that he seemed almost afraid to trust.

He glanced down at her abdomen. “There’s a baby.”

Kylie nodded. “Yes.”

“Our baby?”

Her eyes filled. “Yes, Christian.”

He swallowed. “Our baby.”

She smiled.

He stared at her for another moment. Then he blinked rapidly and looked away, running his hand over his face again.

Kylie reached for him.

He immediately took her hand.

She squeezed his fingers. “Hey.”

He looked at her.

Her expression was tender. “I’m right here.”

He nodded. “I know.” He laughed shakily. “I think my brain has stopped working.”

“That happens to you sometimes.”

He stared at her.

She smiled. “Usually when you’re hungry.”

He laughed. Then he looked at her again, and his eyes filled so suddenly that Kylie stopped smiling.

“Oh.” Her face crumpled.

He shook his head. “No, no. I’m fine.”

She cupped his cheek. “Christian.”

He leaned into her palm.

For a moment, he simply looked at her.

Then he whispered, “I’m going to be a father.”

Kylie’s lips trembled. “Yes.”

He closed his eyes. A tear slipped down his cheek. He wiped it away immediately, almost reflexively, but Kylie caught his hand.

“Don’t.”

He looked at her.

She smiled through her own tears. “You don’t have to hide it from me.”

His expression crumpled. He laughed softly, shaking his head. “God, Blue.”

She stepped closer.

He wrapped his arms around her. And this time, when he held her, something about the embrace was different.

He was still holding Kylie, and now there was another future resting between them.

A tiny, unseen life.

Christian pressed his face against Kylie’s hair.

“I’m going to be a father,” he whispered again.

She wrapped her arms around him. “You’re going to be a father.”

He laughed, and the sound broke halfway through.

Kylie held him tighter.

For a while, they stood together without speaking. Then Christian drew back. He looked at her face, searching for something.

“Kylie.”

“Yes?”

He sniffed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” The question came out quietly, and uncertain.

She looked down. “I didn’t know how.”

He went still.

She took a breath.

“I found out last week. I was going to tell you, but then I kept thinking about it, and every time I tried to say something, I couldn’t figure out where to start.”

He listened.

“I know we love each other. I know we’ve been together for six years. I know you would do anything for me.”

She glanced at the ring on her finger. A small, disbelieving smile touched her mouth.

He smiled faintly.

She continued.

“But we never really talked about children. Not properly. Not in a way that made me feel like I knew what you wanted.”

Christian’s expression softened. “I didn’t want to assume.”