“You’re
“Feel inside my pocket.”
Her brows went up at the bizarre request. “Excuse me?”
He chuckled. “Not that pocket.” Then he let go of one of her hands and tapped the breast pocket of his suit jacket. “Feel it.”
Her mind still full of suspicion, she reached up. Gingerly, she pressed against the spot he’d indicated. It was a hard lump, and she shrugged her shoulders in incomprehension.
His mouth was curved into a smile as he reached inside and extracted a small box. It was pale green leather, almost silver in its sheen. He tilted it toward her, and she read the embossed words, “Marry Me.”
Something the consistency of concrete slid through to the bottom of her stomach. It wasn’t possible. There was no way.
Mitch lifted the lid to reveal a stunning diamond solitaire against a tiny satin pillow.
She blinked, while goose bumps tingled to life across her skin. “I don’t understand?” she managed.
“Guys who aren’t in love and who, by the way, have no earthly clue their girlfriends are pregnant, do not buy engagement rings and wander around with them in their pockets waiting for exactly the right moment.”
“He’s right about that,” Cole put in, and Jenny saw Emily press an elbow into his ribs.
Mitch gave Jenny’s hand a squeeze. “Will you marry me, Jenny? Please.”
She gazed up at him. How could this be happening? He hadn’t known she was pregnant. He’d had no idea there was any reason for him to be noble.
“I don’t understand,” she repeated.
His smile was tender, and his eyes shone blue-silver. “I love you, and I want you to marry me. And it has absolutely nothing to do with you being pregnant. Though, I’m thrilled about that. And I am going to be a fantastic father. And I am never, ever,
Tears formed in her eyes, and she glanced at Emily.
Emily was grinning ear to ear. “I believe the word you’re looking for is
Jenny shifted her incredulous gaze to Mitch. These weren’t just words. He wasn’t being diplomatic. He wasn’t trying to make her feel good. He honestly-
She drew a shaky breath. “Yes.”
He kissed her fast and hard and deep, and then scooped her up into his arms, glancing around. “Which one is your room?”
Jenny laughed in surprise, nodding to a door beside the kitchen.
“Excuse us,” Mitch said over his shoulder to Cole and Emily.
“You might want to put the ring on her finger,” Cole called from behind, laughter threading through his voice.
“Later,” Mitch growled in Jenny’s ear. “With flowers and champagne and me on one knee.”
Lying in her cottage bed, Jenny gazed up at the diamond that sparkled on her finger. They hadn’t bothered waiting for the flowers and champagne, hadn’t even made it out of bed all afternoon. Emily and Cole had headed back to Royal, obviously seeing no reason to stick around and say goodbye.
Mitch’s body was warm against Jenny’s, a light sheet covering them both while the breeze from the ceiling fan wafted its way down.
His hand trailed over her stomach, cupping it with his warm palm. “So, I’m going to be a daddy.”
She put her hand on top of his. “Yes, you are.”
He kissed her temple. “You okay with all this?”
“I am now.” She tipped her head to look at him. “You?”
“I’m not going to be like my father.”
“And I’m not going to be like my mother.”
His free arm went around her, and he gave her a squeeze. “We’re going to do this right.”
“And, apparently, we’re going to do it in D.C.?”
“That was part of my plan. But only if you agree.”
“It’s a good job?” she asked, thinking she’d live anywhere in the world with Mitch. Sure, she had good friends in Royal, but Emily meant the most to her, and it looked like Emily’s life was about to get very mobile. Cole had houses all over America, and in at least four other countries.
“It’s a very good job,” Mitch replied. “But you and the baby are my priority. We can stay in Royal if you want. I’ll find something to do.”
“Can we come back to visit?”
“As often as you want. We’ll keep your house. Hell, we can keep mine if you’d rather. Two might be overkill.”
“I do like my lot on the lakeshore,” Jenny admitted. “And we’ll have to teach the baby to swim somewhere.”
“And there are those great French country house plans on your short list.”
“I picked the other one.”
“Not anymore you didn’t.”
Jenny couldn’t help but smile at the conviction in his tone.
Mitch’s hand flexed convulsively against her bare stomach. “A baby. It boggles the mind,” he admitted in a whisper.
“Well, I’m excited.”
“Yeah?” There was a salacious edge to his tone.
“Not that kind of excited.”
He gave an exaggerated sigh. “Too bad.”
“But I am hungry. I’m eating for two.” She paused. “Well, one and a very little bit at the moment.”
He drew her more comfortably into his arms. “It happened that very first night?”
“That very first night.”
“It must have been fate.”
“I think it was Emily’s burgundy dress.”
“That was Emily’s dress?”
“Yes.”
“You should buy it from her.”
Jenny laughed. “You know, she’s probably not going to want to wear it again.”
“I’ll make her an offer.” Mitch glanced around. “I sure wish you had room service here.”
“You better get up and cook me something. I’m in a delicate condition.” For some reason, her stomach felt much stronger now.
He propped himself up on one elbow. “You need to eat?” Then he sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “What do you want? I’ll make something right now.”
She laughed. “Wow. This delicate condition thing is really going to work for me.”
He turned and flicked his index finger across her nose. “No. This having Mitch Hayward in love with you is going to work for you.”
“I’ll take a cheeseburger, please.”
He stood. “I’m bringing you a salad and a glass of milk with that.”
His cell phone chimed from the pocket of his pants that had been discarded on the floor, and he bent to retrieve it.
He checked the display. “Cole.”
“Tell them they didn’t have to leave.”
“Oh, yes, they did.” He pressed a button. “Yeah?”
Mitch paused to listen for a moment, then he shifted the phone out of the way. “Cole wants to know if he can spill the beans. The temporary admin person heard that message on the office voice mail from D.C., and people are wondering where you’ve gone.”
