CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

PAYTON

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I’m nervous as hellwhen we pull up outside my parents’ house in Knox’s Maserati.

But these were my terms.

I need to make this right with my father and know that they see what kind of man he is before I move in with him.

He reaches over and takes my hand. “You okay?”

“Yes.” I smile, and then add, “You?”

“No, I’m nervous as fuck.”

Good. Mr. Confident could do with some humble moments in his life. But I still love him beyond words.

Dad opens the front door and I immediately see the grimace on his face.

“Shit.”

“Let’s go,” Knox says and climbs out. He circles the car and opens my door. By the time we are walking down the path, my father has his arms crossed and Mom is standing behind him.

“Where are the movers?” he growls.

I bite my lip and lean into Knox. “Dad. Mom, can we go inside to talk?”

“Knox Montgomery,” he says, introducing himself, and I let out a groan.

I’m messing this up already.

He places his hand on my lower back as he reaches out his hand to Dad.

Fortunately, my father uncrosses his arms and extends his hand. “Judge Mills.”

Mom rolls her eyes and says, “Marie Mills. Come in, both of you.”

But she shoots me a questioning glance.

“Nice to meet you both,” Knox says.

This is new for me. Mom and Molly would’ve been the first people I told, but now everything is different.

I’m pregnant with Knox’s baby.

He is now my priority, and I am his.

Finally.

“Drinks?” Mom says as we follow them inside and Knox takes my hand.

“No. Let’s hear what they have to say,” Dad growls.

We sit on the sofa and when I sit too far away, Knox tugs me beside him and takes my hand.

“If you’re here to ask my permission to marry my daughter, the answer is no,” Dad says as I gasp.

“Dad!”

“I’m not,” Knox replies, and I spin my head to his. The room goes silent. I’m not sure what I’m meant to do, but he squeezes my hand.

“Jerry, let them talk,” Mom growls.

“I’m here to tell you that I messed up. While I can’t share the smaller details of things, which I’m sure you will appreciate as lawyers, I can say that I put other things in my life first, instead of Payton,” Knox tells them.

Mom glances at me and I tug on my bottom lip.

Hearing him open up vulnerably like this makes me love him even more.

“Fortunately, I got my priorities sorted before I truly lost her,” Knox says and glances down at me. My heart thuds as I see the love flowing from his eyes.

“Oh,” Mom sighs and Dad mutters something.

“I love your daughter and refuse to live a single day without her,” he says, drifting his gaze back to my parents. “I’ve asked her to move in with me and she accepted with terms.”

“That’s my girl,” Dad says, and I risk a smile.

“But I also have some of my own,” Knox says, and it surprises me. “I will clear her debt. Right now.”

“Knox, no,” I cry.

“And you will marry me,” he adds.

“That is not happening.” Dad shifts in his seat.

But I can’t hear a thing they say. My mouth gapes as I take in what he is saying.

“One day. I’m not proposing today. First... well.” He cups my face. “Tell them.”

Crap.

I turn, flushed with the fact that Knox Montgomery just told me he wants to marry me.

One day.

What a tease.

This man truly loves me. I’ve always known it, even when he didn’t, but to hear him say that he’s committed enough to marry me makes me want to climb on him and make love to him right now.

Clearly, that is not happening in front of my parents.

Damn pregnancy hormones.

Focus, Payton.

“So, well. I am moving in with Knox. I love him. A lot and—”

“Is this about that debt? Because that is no reason to be with someone, Payton,” Dad says, and Mom agrees with him.

“No. It’s not, and I didn’t know he was going to offer that.”

“I’m not offering. I am doing it,” Knox says firmly.

We all glance his way, then back to one another.

I need to just spit this out.

“Mom, Dad, you’re about to become grandparents. I’m—”

“We’re—”

“We are pregnant,” I say, and my eyes go straight to Knox. He’s been glowing as much as I am—in between throwing up—since finding out two days ago. We’ve made love about thirty times and I’m sore.

But happy.

Dad starts launching into a bunch of arguments, but Knox takes my face and kisses me. Chastely, but enough to steady my nerves.

“Jerry, listen to them. Look. They’re in love,” Mom says.

Knox turns to them, letting my face go. “I do love your daughter. And our child. I am going to marry her, Judge Mills. I hope you will come to realize I’m the right man to love and protect your daughter for the rest of her life.”

Dad swallows.

I see true overwhelm on his face for the first time. My eyes prickle as I watch my father fight to let his little girl go.

“Good.” He nods. “You should do that. But if—”

Knox holds his hand up. “Not going to happen. I hurt her once and nearly lost her. I’m an intelligent man, Judge. I will not repeat that mistake.”

Dad and Knox stare at one another and then after what feels like forever, Dad finally says, “Call me Jerry.”

Mom and I leap to our feet, and she wraps me in her arms.

“I’m going to be a grandma,” she cries.

“Yup,” I say, nesting into her shoulder. “I’m so scared.”

“You will be fine. You have us and a man who loves you. That’s all you need,” she says, releasing me and looking at Knox.

Then she walks to him and hugs him.

My heart nearly explodes.

“Welcome to the family,” Dad says, shaking his hand.

“Thank you, sir,” Knox says. “I want you to meet my father soon if that’s okay.”

Dad smiles. “I already know your father, Knox.”

Of course he does.

“And keep your money. My daughter was never going to pay for it. I was trying to teach her to stick with something but looks like she’s done that. Just in a different way.” Dad watches me. “You will be a mother until your last breath, Payton. That’s a forever commitment.”

I want to kick his ass, but I’m about to become a parent, so who am I to judge? I’m sure I won’t be perfect. And if it wasn’t for him, I may never have met this amazing man.

So, in a way, I’m grateful.

I lean into Knox as he wraps his arm around my back and smile up at him. “And a wife. One day.”

His lips drop to mine, and he grins. “One day.”

“They’re adorable.” Mom sighs.

I smile over at her to show just how happy I am.

“Let’s get you moved in, and then you can call Molly and we’ll tell my family,” Knox says, patting my bottom.

I pull out of his arms and go to my dad. He holds his arms out and embraces me.

“Love you, Dad.”

“Love you too, baby girl. I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandpa.”

ON SUNDAY NIGHT I curlup on Knox’s—our—bed and find Molly’s name on my phone.

She’s been messaging, but with everything that happened this weekend, I haven’t yet replied. I wanted to be able to tell her everything and analyze it over and over as we love to do. For that, I needed to find a moment when I was not throwing up after getting moved in.

Now I am.

My clothes are in the enormous walk-in wardrobe and my mug is in his kitchen. I own more than that, but you get the idea.

The phone rings, and Molly answers, sounding flustered. “Hey, Payton. Are you okay?”

“Yes. Sorry, I didn’t reply until now. I’m... at Knox’s.”

“What?” she gasps, then, “Yes, hang on. Give me one minute.”

Where is she?

“Can you talk? I can call back later,” I add.

“Are you together? Tell me quick.”

I frown, but answer. “Yes, he fell asleep in my hall. I’ll tell you the whole thing when we see each other. But it won’t be over margaritas. Molly, I’m pregnant.”

She gasps. “Oh, my god.”

I smile. I’m just so damn happy.

“Congratulations. Right?” she asks reluctantly.

“Yes.” I smile. “Very.”

“Okay, I need all the details, but right now, I need to get on this plane.”

“What plane?” I sit up.

“My grandfather passed away a few days ago, so we’re flying to England tonight,” Molly says.

What? God I feel terrible that I didn’t answer her messages.

“Molly. My god. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you. I’ll be away six weeks while we deal with the estate and funeral. I’ll call you next week when I catch my breath.”

“Fly safe. Please take care.”

I hang up and Knox walks in, climbing on the bed next to me.

“Molly—”

“I heard. Don’t feel bad. You couldn’t have known, and this has been a huge life change for us both.”

I would fly over to support her, but I’m so ill. I throw up every morning and sometimes in the evening. The doctor confirmed I was around two months pregnant on Friday when Knox took me to an appointment, so it should pass soon.

“Now, let’s call my sister and brothers,” he says, tugging me up against him.