LITMIR.BIZ

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tore into the boxes and smiled. The circular crib was going to look perfect tucked into the corner between the windows. Trailing a finger along the edge, Mia couldn’t wait to see her baby all snuggled up, safe in her bed with the chandelier-type mobile hanging overhead.

      She moved to the smaller boxes and opened them, curious to know what else there might be. The second her eyes landed on the pale-pink-and-ivory bumper cover, Mia’s breath caught. The soft swirl pattern was so much more delicate and precious than she’d hoped.

      As her finger slid over the ruffled edge, tears clogged her throat. This was supposed to be a joyous time, a moment every woman would remember.

      She looked deeper into the box to find her boy bedding. A note attached to the bumper read, “Send back what you don’t need … or keep for the next bambino. Love, F.”

      For a second, Mia closed her eyes, giving in to the tears. She was so happy for this baby to come into her life and didn’t regret a moment of being with Bronson. She just wished she hadn’t allowed herself to open her heart so freely when she knew she was going to get hurt. She’d known from the start that she carried a secret that would change his life. How could she blame him for being so angry and not believing anything she said now?

      On a sigh, Mia wiped her damp cheeks. “I can do this on my own. I’m stronger than I think.”

      “Yes, you are.”

      Mia spun around to see Bronson standing in the doorway of the nursery. “What are you doing here?”

      Casual as you please, he lifted a shoulder, but kept those mesmerizing eyes focused directly on her. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be welcome, so I let myself in since I knew your code.”

      With slow, easy steps, he crossed the room to stand directly in front of her. Mia tipped her head back to look up into those eyes she’d so easily fallen in love with.

      Bronson slid a thumb over her cheek, wiping away one lone tear. “Are those tears over me, sweet Mia?”

      The words may have sounded cocky if he hadn’t delivered them with such agony in his own tone, such torment in his eyes.

      Mia blinked and cleared her throat. “My tears are over a lot lately.”

      His eyes roamed over her face and she just knew she looked like a mess. At this point, though, what did it matter? She was turning into a whale. But, God, she’d waited for him to come to her. Waited and prayed.

      “You’re not sleeping well,” he told her, running a fingertip below her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

      Mia jerked away, shocked those two words came from his mouth. “What are you sorry for?”

      She turned back to the boxes, unable to be so close to him.

      “Everything,” he whispered in her ear as his hands came to cup her shoulders, pulling her back against his chest. “I’m sorry for everything. For denying this child is mine, for not being the man you needed me to be, but most of all for not returning the precious gift you so freely offered me.”

      Mia’s head dropped to her chest. So much for holding those tears back. “And what gift was that?”

      Bronson turned her around, lifting her chin with his fingertip. “Love. Your unconditional gift of love was so rare to me. I didn’t believe it, didn’t believe in you or us.”

      Hope speared through her, but fear accompanied it. Could she allow herself to let her guard down again? Bronson wouldn’t be here if he didn’t believe her and, dare she hope, love her.

      “I know what I did may not have been the right decision, but Bronson, it wasn’t my place to say.”

      “I realize that now.” He kissed the top of her head. “If I’d been in your shoes, I can’t say what I would’ve done, but I know that what you did was right. There aren’t many people who make the right decision when they’re under pressure. I was so angry I wasn’t sure if I could forgive you.”

      Bronson stared back at her, then reached to pull her into his strong, warm embrace. Mia fell against his chest and sighed.

      “And now?” she dared to ask, tipping her head back to look into his eyes.

      “Now I’ve fallen in love with a woman who only eats green M&M’s, who has persevered through life no matter what the odds and who I want to spend the rest of my life with so she can try amazing new recipes in my gourmet kitchen. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me, how much your loyalty and integrity have made me a better person.” He swiped a lone tear that trickled down her cheek. “I want to wake up every morning and see you next to me. I want to make more children with you so we have a house full of love that can come only from the bond we have. But most of all, I want you to know that I was a fool for ever doubting you. Let me spend the next fifty years showing you how much I love you.”

      Mia’s breath caught. “Is that a proposal?”

      Bronson stepped back, reached into his pocket and held out a locket. “It’s not to replace the one you have, but I thought you might want a picture of your new family to keep with you.”

      “Oh, God.”

      Bronson smiled. “How am I doing in making up for being a jerk? Because I’ll grovel more, Mia. I’ll do anything to make you see just how serious I am about loving you and committing myself to our family.”

      “Our family,” she repeated.

      His image blurred as her eyes collected with more tears than she could hold. They fell down her cheek, one after another, as a laugh escaped her. “You’re amazing. The locket is … God, Bronson, I don’t know what to say.”

      Bronson slid the chain around her neck and fastened it, then pulled a small box from his pocket.

      “Just how much do you have in those pockets for me?” she joked through tears.

      “Not nearly enough to make up for my actions,” he told her, opening the velvet box. “This is the ring my father gave my mother.”

      “What? Bronson, I can’t take her ring.”

      “When I told her my plans, she insisted. This isn’t her original engagement ring—that one she’ll never part with. He gave her this on the night I was born for this purpose right here. To pass down to the woman I will marry.” He took her hand, sliding the ring on. “Perfect fit.”

      Mia eyed the ring on her finger. The glistening diamonds stole her breath, but had someone else worn this before?

      “No,” he said, as if reading her thoughts. “I didn’t give this to my ex-fiancée. She wanted a new ring, and when she asked to go ring shopping, I didn’t even mention that I had this. I should’ve known then she wasn’t the one.”

      Unable to contain her excitement one more second, Mia threw her arms around Bronson’s neck, but their baby stopped her from getting too close.

      “Oh, sorry.” She laughed. “Bella is growing pretty fast these days.”

      Bronson raised a brow. “Bella?”

      “Um, I call her that. It means—”

      “Beautiful,” he whispered before capturing her lips for a brief kiss. “Just like her mother.”

      His kiss never failed to send a jolt of love and hope through her.

      “Let’s start our life together,” he murmured against her lips.

       Epilogue

      “Are you ever going to put her down?”

      With a radiant smile on her face, Bronson’s wife of two months rocked their sleeping daughter. A sight he never tired of seeing.

      “She’s just so sweet,”

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