“I want to be part of this, Vee.” He cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes. She had to know he was serious. He didn’t want any misunderstanding between them.
“I don’t want to do this alone. I’d like you to be part of it, but I don’t want to force you, either.”
“I’m sorry for how I acted last night. The whole day—fuck.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.
“That’s not how I’d have preferred for you to find out.” She ran her hand down his chest, her palm coming to rest over his heart.
“I was an idiot, overwhelmed, scared, stupid. I knew the day I left Vegas you were a good thing. No matter what shit I say, I want to be part of this next chapter. Even if I’m bad at it.”
She chuckled. “It’s okay to be imperfect parents. I don’t think anyone has it all together.”
“I think you’re pretty damn perfect.”
Yvonne smiled and glanced away.
He cupped her cheek and gently turned her face until she looked at him.
“No more secrets, right?” he whispered.
“That’s the deal.”
“Okay, well, I’ve got one I have to share.”
“Oh?”
“My priorities have changed. Work will always be important, but you’re my number one. I love you, Vee. I knew you were something special when we met, I just didn’t know how special you were going to be to me.”
She blinked a few times and pressed her hand to her mouth. Tears pooled in her eyes and her face creased.
“Too soon?” He winced.
She shook her head then kissed him. Her tears fell on his cheek. Her arms held him close.
“I love you, too,” she whispered against his lips.
“Really?” He grinned and for the first time in a long time a sense of peace wrapped around him.
“Really.”
“We’re going to make this work.” He stroked his fingers through her hair.
“I’d also like to know how we wound up here, for future reference. Do you have super sperm I should know about?”
Nolan sputtered a laugh. Usually that was her thing. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“We did use protection, didn’t we?”
“Every time. I think? Part of that night is a little hazy.” He squinted at her.
She stared at him, eyes bright, the morning light giving her a soft glow. “I don’t think I care one way or the other how it happened. I’m...excited. My whole life, I’ve tried to be Theo. But I’m never going to be him. Now, I get to be me.”
“I like you a lot.” He tugged her closer for another kiss. “So, what’s our plan?”
“Well, I’ll issue a resignation notice Monday. I figure I’ve got three months before I can’t hide my bump. That’ll give me time to train a replacement. When I’m satisfied I’ll quit. And that’s when I’ll tell everyone about the baby. Not before.”
“You don’t think they’ll be mad?”
“Probably, but...I don’t want their input. I don’t want to raise a child the way I was raised. I want things to be different. And I have the money to do it how I want to. I’ll sell my New York condo, move out of L.A., downsize...”
Nolan wasn’t a fool enough to think emotions magically fixed everything. He and Yvonne might love each other, but they had a tough road ahead.
“Where do you think you’ll move?” he asked.
“Well, there’s this guy who said he loves me. I’d kind of like to be closer to him, see how things go.” She traced his lips with a tip of her finger.
“You don’t have to move to Seattle. I don’t have to stay with Aegis Group. I can do something different.” Right now he’d give up just about anything if she asked.
“No. Oh, no.” She shook her head. “Only one of us can be in massive life revamp, and right now that’s me. If that’s what you want to do, you have to wait at least a year or two before we do anything crazy like that.”
“So, we’re doing this?”
“If you want to.”
“I want to. Right now.” He grinned and sat up.
“Now?” She glanced at the door.
He whispered into her ear, “You’re good at keeping quiet.”
Yvonne laughed and twined her arms around his neck. She’d opened up to him, granted him the heart of this beautiful woman she didn’t share with the world. And now she was giving him so much more.
Life wasn’t always neat lines. Their love was messy, imperfect, and it destroyed all his orderly boxes.
Totally worth it.
Epilogue.
Three Months Later. Krieger Inc Company Garden Party, Los Angeles, CA.
Yvonne adjusted the flowing shawl she’d draped around her torso and glanced around the entry to the party. Her baby bump was only noticeable because she’d dressed to show it off. Today was, after all, Baby Day.
The calendar she kept on her desk at work had a secret code countdown to this weekend. By some magic, she’d found the perfect candidate to replace her. The woman was a whiz, handled Theodore like a champ and didn’t back down. For the last month Yvonne had mostly been warming a seat, doing a pittance amount of work, while wanting to be anywhere else.
Her mind was made up, and she had no reservations about today.
A warm hand came to rest on the small of her back. She glanced up at Nolan and smiled. He and Vaughn had flown in at three that morning straight from a job he still wasn’t ready to talk about just to be with her.
“Okay.” Tabby strode through the doorway leading to rooms closed off for today’s company event.
“You look nice. Cute shoes.” Yvonne eyed the familiar strappy black heels. She’d picked them out as Nolan’s apology present.
“Thanks. A certain unavailable man gave them to me. I don’t hold it against him.” Tabby grinned. “They’re waiting for you.”
Yvonne nodded, her mouth going dry.
“Want us to tag along?” Tabby asked.
“No.” Yvonne glanced up at Nolan.
They’d talked about this. She had to face down her family alone, or else Mom would forever say that Nolan was behind this, driving a wedge between them.
“You got this.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “We’ll be outside.”
Nolan slapped Vaughn on the shoulder and the two men ambled off, out into the party around the pool.
She sighed and smiled. Nolan looked damn good in a suit.
“You are so in love it’s gross.” Tabby elbowed Yvonne and chuckled.
She shook the moment off and glanced at Tabby. “What happened with you and Vaughn? I thought...”
Tabby’s smile turned sad. “It was fun while it lasted, but...I’m not the woman for him.”
“Sorry.” Yvonne winced.
“Don’t be. The sex was amazing. He and I, we just didn’t connect. And that’s okay.”
“You really liked him though.”
“I did. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t make a man be the person you want them to be. You have to like who they are already.”
“True.”
“You’re doing that smiling thing again.” Tabby nudged her. “Go. Get this over with.”
Yvonne nodded, pushed her shoulders back then strode through the door. Once she was out of sight she pulled the shawl from around her shoulders and left, it draped on the back of a chair.
She was ready to move into her little bungalow with Nolan and figure out what their future looked like, imperfections and all.
Yvonne locked eyes with her mother through the open door leading into the more comfortable living room of Theodore’s L.A. home.
“There you are, darling.” Mom spread her arms wide.
Yvonne stepped around another chair, then into the room.
They were all there. Mom. Dad. Theodore. Douglas. And now they were all looking at her.
The gray knit dress didn’t hide anything.
Yvonne cupped her hands just below the bump, something that had b
ecome habit the last few weeks.
“We have a few things to talk about.” She pasted on a smile, looking each person in turn.
Mom’s face was pale.
Dad’s eyes took up his whole face.
Douglas merely smirked and sipped his beer.
Theodore’s brows were crawling into his hairline, but his lips curved into a smile.
“I’ll say.” He rubbed his hand across his jaw.
She sucked down a deep breath before beginning. “First, before anything else, I want to tell you all that I love you very much. What I’m about to say, it’s personal. It’s for me and the family I’m starting.”
“Yvonne...” Mom’s voice wavered.
Theodore crossed the room and wrapped his arm around Yvonne’s shoulders before giving her a gentle hung.
“Do what you have to,” he whispered.
Tears sprang to Yvonne’s eyes, and she clutched her older brother’s waist.
“Today I’m giving my final notice, in writing, to both Dad and Theo.” She glanced from her brother to their father. “I know this is a surprise to you and you probably have questions.”
“What is it?” Theodore gestured to her stomach, his hand hovering in the air as if he didn’t quite know what to do.
“This is a baby.” She took his hand and placed it against her. “And in five months someone besides me will get to hold it.”
“That’s some secret you’ve been keeping.” Theodore grinned at her. “Congrats, Vee.”
“Thanks.” She smiled then dared a glance at the rest of her family.
Dad had his arm tight around Mom’s shoulder, whispering in her ear. She nodded, but otherwise seemed to shell-shocked to say anything.
“I guess you’re serious about your boyfriend then?” Douglas walked over. He eyed her stomach, but didn’t show Theodore’s interest.
“I am.” Yvonne wouldn’t rock the family boat any more than this today. She’d ease them into her new world order later.
Douglas nodded. “He’s a good guy.”
“Don’t think that just because I’m gone things are going to get easier for you.” Yvonne had been surprised when Douglas applied for an entry level position at Krieger when the dust settled after DC.
“Shit, I wish.” He shook his head. “That woman you hired busts my balls daily.”
“She knows you’re going to take her job someday. I give it two or three years if you work hard enough.” Yvonne reached over and smoothed her little brother’s tie.
Dad steered Mom across the room. Yvonne didn’t expect Mom to accept this development well. Yvonne was ruining that picture perfect family Mom had always tried to control. The best part was that Yvonne no longer cared. She was her own person, with her own future.
Dad let go of Mom then pulled Yvonne in for a hug, the kind of tight, lift her off her toes she missed.
“I’m proud of you,” he whispered.
His words caught her off guard. At best, she’d hoped he would accept her decision. But pride? She didn’t begin to understand why, but she’d take it. Because Yvonne was damn proud of herself for figuring out that even though she was on the path, she told herself she wanted, she’d been unhappy. Until now.
“I’m proud of me, too,” she whispered back.
NOLAN TOOK A LONG pull on the beer. He kept his eyes locked on the house. No part of him liked sending Yvonne in there alone to have this talk with her family, but she’d had a dozen points why she wanted and needed to do this on her own.
“She’ll be fine. Here.” Tabby handed out a new round of beers to him and Vaughn. “To our girl kicking ass.”
Nolan took the third beer Tabby had pushed on him and set it on the rock retaining wall with the others. And here he’d thought he would be the nervous one. Tabby was about to come apart at the seams.
“There she is,” Tabby blurted.
Yvonne stepped out onto the patio, a hand up shielding her eyes. Her other arm was tucked into the crook of Theodore’s arm.
“God, why did you let her wear wedges?” Tabby smacked Nolan’s shoulder. “What if she falls?”
Yvonne locked eyes with Nolan across the party.
His heart did that funny thing in his chest and damn if he wasn’t a lucky bastard.
Theodore led Yvonne across the party to join them. Judging by her older brother’s smile, it hadn’t all been bad.
“Well?” Tabby asked.
“You knew?” Theodore frowned.
“Yeah. I called it before she even knew.” Tabby planted her hands on her hips.
Yvonne shrugged. “I think Mom and Dad are too shocked to say much of anything right now, and Doug doesn’t care.”
“Dad’s happy,” Theodore said with a knowing nod.
“Whatever. It’s done.” Yvonne grinned and glanced at Nolan.
“You’re really leaving me, Vee?” Theodore pressed his hand to his heart and gave her a pathetic whimper.
“You’ll survive, or you’ll finally hire an assistant who can do the job right.” She kissed her brother on the cheek then let him go and stepped to Nolan’s side.
He wrapped his arm around her, everything right in his world.
“Okay, so, are we good to start planning?” Tabby held up her hands. “I’m dying to start shopping for you two. When are you moving? Officially?”
“You’re moving?” Now Theodore looked panicked.
Yvonne glared at Tabby. Nolan laughed and Vaughn muttered something under his breath.
“Yes, I’m moving. Thanks, Tabs.” Yvonne glared at Tabby, but there was no heat in it. She was too happy.
Nolan still wasn’t entirely certain the house Yvonne had her heart set on would work. It was small compared to her other homes. They’d be downsizing a lot. But she kept saying it was what she wanted, for them, for their little family. And he’d trust her.
“Where and when are you moving?” Theodore zeroed in on Nolan. “And when were you going to ask permission to steal my sister?”
“I stole her.” Nolan shrugged then kissed the top of Yvonne’s head. “I’m not going to ask permission.”
Yvonne spent a moment catching Theodore up on the impending sale of her LA home. Her condo in New York was long gone. Tomorrow they’d close on the bungalow. And then things would move on.
“I need to go find the bathroom,” Vaughn announced.
“Oh, don’t go to the pool house. That’s where everyone goes.” Yvonne wrinkled her nose. “Come into the house and I’ll show you. I need my phone, anyway.”
Nolan shifted his weight to follow Yvonne, but Tabby grabbed his arm.
“We’ll be here,” she said with a smile.
Nolan remained rooted to the spot when he really wanted to tag along after Yvonne. He’d begun to crave her presence between ops. Her calm soothed him, balanced him out.
“The three of us should talk,” Tabby said when Yvonne was halfway to the house.
“I’ll say.” Theodore turned to face Nolan. “This serious?”
“Yup.” Nolan was prepared to weather the gauntlet ten different ways.
Theodore nodded and glanced away.
“My question is do you plan on marrying her?” Tabby asked.
Nolan clenched his jaw. He’d promised Yvonne to consider his words before he spoke and telling Tabby to fuck off might only set her off. Tabby pissed off was something he’d like to avoid.
“I’d like to know that, too.” Theodore crossed his arms over his chest.
“I think that’s something that’s between me and Yvonne.”
They still had to talk about his drunken phone call. He’d had a tight window between jobs and had a few too many beers blowing off steam. Once more, he’d spoken before he thought. Telling Yvonne to marry him hadn’t exactly worked out. He doubted she’d ever respond well to orders. It was a good thing she’d never enlisted. She had appreciated the donuts he’d sent to her office the next day.
“That’s fair,” Theodore said.
�
��Seriously?” Tabby gaped at Theodore.
Theodore kept staring at Nolan. “Just putting this out there, Yvonne once said if she ever got married she wanted to use our grandmother’s ring. Mom never liked it, so Dad has it in a safety deposit box. I could get it.”
Well hell. That was the kind of lifeline he needed. Rings and the sort weren’t his forte. Tabby would enthusiastically help him shop, but he doubted they’d agree on anything.
“I suppose we should trade numbers. Just in case.” Nolan pulled out his phone.
“You’re lucky she likes you.” Tabby huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
“I am.”
“Put a girl out of her misery and tell me if you’ve at least brought up the topic?” Tabby huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Don’t make her break out her little black book.” Theodore thumbed at Tabby. “She’s persistent.”
Nolan sighed. “Does it count if I was drunk?”
Tabby gasped and clapped her hands while Theodore chuckled.
“That totally doesn’t count.” Tabby grinned. “But as far as drunk dials goes, that’s acceptable.”
“I knew Yvonne was up to something, I just didn’t think it was this.” Theodore locked eyes with Nolan. “I’d give you the warning about our family, but I think good luck is more in order.”
Theodore extended his hand and Nolan clasped it in a firm shake.
“Welcome to the family,” Theodore said.
“And speaking of family,” Yvonne announced returning on Vaughn’s arm. She smiled up at Nolan, lashes fluttering. “Just so you know, your mother has decided to tell her friends she is the one who introduced us.”
“How...?” Nolan squinted, unsure how his mother had come to that conclusion.
“I don’t know, but it might be a better story than Vegas?” She slid her arm into Nolan’s. That beaming smile of hers made his heart do funny things. He loved that she was doing that more, smiling, laughing, enjoying herself.
He bent his head and kissed her cheek. “That’s an awesome story.”
“Do you really want to tell your daughter she should go to Vegas to find her Prince Charming?” Her brows rose.
“Wait.” Tabby squealed. “You’re having a girl?”
Horror struck Nolan at the thought of his baby following in their footsteps. “Mom’s story is better.”
Dangerously Involved (Aegis Group Lepta Team, #2) Page 28
