Rebel Heir (Rush Series Duet #1)(70)

I walked away, leaving the rumblings and whispers of my staff behind. No one had a chance to congratulate me or even respond. That was fine with me.

Large footsteps trailed me. I knew exactly who it was before his deep voice came up from behind me. “Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. You think you’re gonna make an announcement like that and not have to deal with me? You got another thing coming.”

As Oak followed me into my office, I couldn’t help the smile on my face because I knew he was gonna have a field day with this.

I turned to face him and sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you first. I went to find you earlier, but you were busy breaking up that fight and then the night just flew by.”

“This is for real?” He smiled.

“Yeah. It’s for real.”

Oak caught me off guard when he approached and gave me a huge bear hug. “I couldn’t be happier for you, man. How far along is she?”

I wracked my brain for an answer I hoped would make sense.

“A couple months…”

A couple months—ish.

“You guys have been together for a while, then. You had me fooled. It explains a lot about your crazy behavior, though.”

“We’ve been keeping it on the down low until we figured things out.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Fatherhood is a gift. I’m glad you’ll get to experience it. I was worried you wouldn’t because you’re stubborn.”

“It wasn’t something I ever thought I wanted, Oak. But I guess when you meet the right person, that changes everything.”

“Damn straight.” He just kept shaking his head and smiling. “I knew from day one that you and Gia would end up together. I’m glad you finally saw it, too.”

That night on my way home, I went to light up a cigarette. For the first time, I really stopped to think about the fact that I needed to quit because of the baby. I couldn’t smoke around him and couldn’t be smoking around Gia anymore, either. Throwing the unlit butt out the window, I decided to give quitting a real honest try this time.

Then, I picked up the phone and dialed Gia. When she picked up, I simply said, “You know that work situation you were worried about? I took care of it.”





A few nights later, Gia and I were headed out to eat when I said, “Do you mind if we stop by my house real quick?”

“No, not at all. You know I love your house.”

I hadn’t asked her to move in with me. We were together every night, sometimes at my place, sometimes at hers. But I didn’t want to push things. Still, I wanted her to know that I was all-in, so I spent a good chunk of this week putting together a little surprise for her.

When we entered my place, I led her toward the spare bedroom. “I want to show you something.”

She looked suspicious when she grinned. “Okay…” When I opened the door, she gasped. “No way!”

“I spent the week changing the guest room into a nursery. Do you like it?”

She got a load of the newly decorated space. My mother had painted a mural on the wall of the moon and stars. I’d assembled a white crib and the whole room was done up in blues and grays to match the wall. A changing table sat in the corner. It was fully stocked with supplies. The room was move-in ready.

She walked around, soaking it all in. “I…I love it. Did you design this all yourself?”

“I might have gotten a little help from my mother. She painted this wall, actually. She’s been out here all week, and you didn’t even know. But I picked out the bedding and the other stuff. I figured it’s pretty gender-neutral with the gray mixed in…just in case he turns out to be a girl.”

She was pretty speechless.

“I don’t know what to say. This is the most amazing thing that anyone has ever done for me.”

Kissing her on the forehead, I said, “I don’t want you to think I’m pressuring you to move in. That’s not what this is about. This room is for the baby whether you’re living apart from me or with me. That’s your choice. But I figured he’s gonna need a place to sleep when you’re here.”

There was nothing I wanted more than for Gia to move into my place. But she’s very independent, and I didn’t want to pressure her. There were enough changes happening. At the same time, I wanted her to know that my home was her home.

Gia walked over to the corner of the room and grabbed a stuffed bear that was sitting in the rocking chair. She hugged it and shocked me when she started to cry.

She wiped her eyes. “Is it weird that I just don’t feel deserving of all of this?”

“Why not?”

“Just a few weeks ago, I felt like my life was over, like I was going to have to start from scratch and find my way back up. Then, you told me that you loved me and would accept my baby and me. And it just…it turned my world right side up again. Accepting my child as your own is a huge undertaking. I feel like you’re giving me so much, sacrificing so much, and all I have to give you is my love.”

Wrapping my hands around her face, I looked into her eyes. “That’s all I need. It’s something that only a few people have truly given me in this life. You underestimate how much that really means to me.” I led her over to the rocker and pulled her onto my lap. “You never know when the tables will turn in life, Gia, or what will happen. But I know that if something unimaginable did happen, that you’d do anything for me. And when it comes to you and this baby…yes, it’s a huge undertaking…but sacrifice isn’t the right word—it’s an honor.”