Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Which is why Ava never will.
“What the hell do you think I’m going to do?” she asks, her tone somewhere between scathing and wounded. More the former. I glance at her in question. Wait. What does she think I think she’s going to do? I’m talking about food choices. Being careful. Taking it easy. Putting all the necessary things in place to make this risk-free and ensure both Ava’s and the babies health and safety. What the hell does she think I—
Oh no.
“Don’t,” she whispers, her eyes flooding with tears. Shit, and now I’ve made her cry.
I move across to the seat next to her, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m sorry,” I say, my voice soft and quiet. “Don’t get upset, please.”
“I’m okay.” She snivels, wiping her nose. “I said, I’m fine.” She breaks free, her expression fierce as she swipes up her water. She’s angry. And I know she’s not angry with me. She’s mad with herself, reflecting on her fleeting, desperate, actions.
I’ve got over it, got past it. I realize what she was doing and why she did it. She needs to forgive herself. “Ava,” I say gently. “Look at me.” Her annoyed glower remains in place, her eyes on the back of the restaurant rather than me. For Christ’s sake, it’s our last night together here. This is not how I planned for it to be. Fuck, I need to ease up on the baby talk. “Three.” So we’ll go for some Jesse talk. I don’t appreciate the roll of her eyes, nor the fact she’s still refusing to look at me. Fine. She doesn’t think I’ll act on zero? She really has forgotten who I am. “Two,” I go on, and she sighs, looking at her water as she sets it down, firm in her stubborn stance. “One.” Another sigh. Fuck this. “Zero, baby.” I pull her off the chair and tackle her to the floor with gentle ease, pinning her there, hearing a chorus of collective gasps from diners around us. Ava’s big brown eyes are as wide as I’ve ever seen them as she stares up at my serious face. She can’t believe me? Well, here she is on the floor, and here I am pinning her there. In a crowded restaurant. Wherever, whenever.
“Jesse,” she breathes, motionless, looking positively shell-shocked. “Let me up.”
“I did warn you, baby.” My smile breaks. “Wherever, whenever.” I guarantee my wife will do what I ask in future.
She starts wriggling when I make no attempt to release her. “Yes, okay. You’ve made your point.”
“I don’t think I have.” I dip, my face close to hers. Her cheeks are a glorious shade of embarrassed. “I love you.”
“I know, let me up.”
“No.”
“Please,” she whispers, her gaze pleading.
“Tell me you love me,” I demand.
“I love you.”
I sag. “Say it like you mean it, Ava.” Not like you’re desperate to get all attention off us. Fat chance. Everyone is still silent, all listening. I’m quite surprised there’s been no intervention, though. Lucky for them.
“I love you,” she says again, this time gently, and I study her for a second, before relenting and helping her up off the floor. I remain on my knees before her. I’m not done.
“Get up,” she orders, cautiously glancing around the restaurant.
She cares too much. I don’t. I get close, slipping my palms onto her arse and looking up at her. “Ava Ward, my beautiful, defiant girl,” I whisper, making her eyes widen again. Yes, baby. A public declaration of love. I have no shame when it comes to this woman. “You make me the happiest man on this fucking planet,” I go on. “You married me, and now you’re blessing me with twin babies.” The crowd sings their sigh as I kiss her belly. “I love you so fucking much,” I say with grit. “You’re going to be an incredible mummy to my babies.” Getting to my feet, dropping kisses on her body on my way up, I finish in her neck. “Don’t try to stop me from loving you. It makes me sad.”
“Sad or crazy?” she asks, a nervous tinge to her voice.
“Sad,” I confirm, taking her cheeks, nose to nose. “Kiss me, wife.”
There’s a mild, disbelieving shake of her head before she plants one on me, and the crowd starts clapping. I break our kiss and look around, seeing people standing. Women swooning. Men undoubtedly considering upping their romantic game. Ava dying. Okay, I’ve made a big enough spectacle of us both. Time to eat. “I love her,” I say one last time, sitting us down.
“Twins!” the waiter says, excited as he bursts through the tables. “You must celebrate.” I flinch when the cork pops, flying across the restaurant, and he laughs, happy as he pours two glasses.
Ava stares at the glasses, her embarrassment now gone and awkwardness creeping up the back. “Thank you,” she says politely. “That’s very kind.”