Dad Bod
Page 26
“Hey, hey, what are you talking about?”
“You didn’t—you haven’t been using condoms with me.”
“And?”
“And...” I step back, throwing the door wide open so Tyler can see the test on the counter. “I’m pregnant.”
Tyler’s face reacts first with shock, his mouth opening and closing in surprise. He spies the test, then my face, before worry clouds his own.
“I swear I’m on the pill, and I—I guess I missed a few days before you came back because I was upset, but...I thought they’d have kicked back in again. I’m sorry.”
“Thanksgiving?” he asks.
“Probably,” I say with a sullen nod. “I don’t know—”
“That’s incredible!” Tyler’s voice breaks as he clutches me to his chest in a bear hug that nearly cracks my ribs. “Margaret, I’m so—why are you crying? This is amazing news. Unless...do you not want more kids? I guess I always just figured—you love Mila so much, and...”
“I thought you would be upset,” I whisper against his shoulder. “You said you didn’t want to bring another child into the world—”
“—who didn’t have two committed parents,” he finishes. “But I’m committed, and you’re the most wonderful mother I know.”
“Tyler—”
“Wait. I had something I wanted to ask you. Before this news, this happy news,” he says, tripping over his feet as he moves toward the bed. He’s wearing only his boxers, fumbling around under the pillow before he turns to me with a wild expression on his face. “I have had this since I came back to Harp’s Haven.”
“Tyler, you don’t have to—”
“This has nothing to do with you finding out you’re pregnant,” he says, easing himself onto one knee. “I love you, Margaret Marshall. You taught me the meaning of love, and I want to spend the rest of my life exploring it with you.”
His hands shake as he takes mine in his. My feet have crept across the room, one hand resting on my stomach while the other hand sits in his outstretched palm.
“Will you marry me, Margaret?” Tyler asks. “Will you make me the happiest man alive? Will you be the mother of Jess, and Mila, and the rest of our children?”
“Are you sure? Tyler, you don’t have to—”
“I didn’t make this ring appear from nowhere,” Tyler says, a wry grin. “I’ve had it for a while now. I’ve been waiting for the right time, and I was hoping you’d say yes tonight.”
“I love you, Tyler,” I say, tears finally pricking my eyes as I realize what’s happening. “Yes, Tyler, Of course.”
With shaking hands, Tyler slides a beautiful ring onto my finger. Once it’s there, in place—sparkling like the snow outside our window—he stands, brings me to his chest and fastens his lips to mine.
“Come on,” he says, gleeful. “I’m putting pants on, and we’re waking the girls.”
“But, Tyler!” I laugh. “We can wait until morning!”
“Nope.” Tyler’s looking like a child in his excitement, hopping around on one leg as he shoves himself into a pair of sweatpants. “They’re going to be sisters! Big sisters. We’ll be a family, Maggie, this can’t wait.”
I laugh with him as he wraps me in a robe and drags me from the room.
“Santa can’t top this one,” he says. “Though I’d like to see him try.”
“Hey, one second.”
I stop him at the door for one moment, one tender kiss. It lasts long, longer than I expect, leading us to tumble back into bed. By the time we manage to unlock our limbs from one another, giddy and breathless, I pull his face to mine and grin.
“Merry Christmas, Tyler Daniels.”
The End
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the story!
If you’re interested in more sexy, fun romance stories—stay tuned for the next book releasing in January 2018 titled AWKWARD! Read on for the synopsis!
Awkward
LADIES,
I know how things look from the outside. I’m rich. I’m a successful surgeon. I’m handsome. I should have women lining up from here to New Jersey clawing for space in my bed, but there’s one huge catch.
I’m f*cking awkward.
Every time I get a date, I spoil it. Asked if she’s pregnant? Check. Forgot her name? Check. Bought a meat lover’s pizza for my vegan girlfriend? Check, check, check.
This is why my best friend, romance fanatic Allie Jenkins, has declared that she’s swooping in to save the day. She’s prepared a list of required reading straight from The Ripped Bodice, and I’m supposed to take notes, learn from the best, and put that shit into action. After all, practice makes perfect, right?
Wrong. Allie’s volunteered to let me practice these shiny new romance tactics over a series of pretend dates—which leads to one giant problem. I’m falling head over heels in love with my best friend, and she thinks it’s all fake.
Just when I’m starting to get the hang of this thing called love, I can’t help but turn everything upside down, inside out, and all around awkward.
Preorder now!
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Lastly, if you happened to enjoy the story and can spare five minutes out of your day, honest reviews at the retailer of your choice are always welcome and appreciated.
Thank you so much in advance!
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Did you love Dad Bod? Then you should read Delivery Girl by Lily Kate!
Good things come in extra-large, smoking hot packages.
Things like pizza.
The very pizzas that I deliver for my dad’s restaurant, Peretti’s Pizza. It’s a temporary job, something to pay the bills until I graduate from school, but it does the trick. In fact, it's working quite well until Ryan Pierce of the Minnesota Stars decides to order a pizza from me, and life as I know it turns upside down.
You see, Ryan Pierce doesn’t just open his front door. He opens it buck naked. And suddenly, I’m not the one boasting the biggest, hottest package in the room. However, it’s what happens next that gives me butterflies whenever my phone beeps. Ryan starts to call, and then text, and then fifteen pizza deliveries and one fantastic night later, we’re friends with benefits.
So when he asks me to be his fake girlfriend at his brother’s wedding, I’m happy to help. But the longer we pretend, the more I worry that this is one package I might not be able to handle.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
This is a full-length, standalone romantic comedy with an HEA. It is intended for audiences 18+ due to mature content including romance, language, and ridiculously fun times.