Chapter 23

Felicity

A boy. I'm going to have a son. When the ultrasound tech told us, both Shepherd and I cried. He may have also jumped in the air throwing a fist up. The thought of it still makes me laugh.

After we left the hospital, with pictures of our little guy, we came back to my house. He refused to go back to work. I was exhausted and wanted to crawl into bed. Shepherd crawled in next to me and stroked my hair until I fell asleep.

I woke up not long ago and found a note on my nightstand.

Felicity,

I didn't want to wake you, you need your rest.

I went to the store to get food to make us dinner.

Hopefully, you'll sleep through, but if not I wanted you to know I didn't leave, I just stepped out.

I'll be back. I'll always be back.

Shepherd

I wipe the tears that escape and grin, holding the note close to my chest. We've let so much time pass, both wanting each other, but missing out because of miscommunication. Maybe a little bit of fear too. But now after just talking, that's all in the past and we're finally together and his note proves he's better at relationships than he gives himself credit for.

My hand rests on my belly and I smile. I can't remember a time I've been this happy, this excited about what's to come. A future with Shepherd Atwood and our son.

I get out of bed and look in the mirror, fixing my hair quickly and applying a bit of mascara and lip gloss. Once I'm satisfied I go downstairs and grab a bottle of water out of the fridge.

The front door opens and I lean against the counter waiting for Shepherd. He walks into the kitchen, carrying a few bags.

"That's a lot of food for dinner."

He places them on the counter, before turning toward me. "Your cabinets and fridge were nearly empty. I wanted to make sure you were fully stocked again." He grins as he steps closer, resting his hand on my belly. "How are you feeling? How's our boy?"

Our boy. My heart swells at the sound of those words.

"I feel good and he's starving," I say.

"Oh he's starving, huh?" He reaches into one of the bags and pulls out a blueberry muffin. Not just any blueberry muffin, but one from Pour Some Sugar On Me. They make the best muffins around.

"You got me my favorite muffin?" I ask, watching as he puts it onto a plate for me.

"Of course I did. I've been paying close attention, even if you didn't think I was." He takes the muffin to the table and places it down. "Now sit and enjoy. I'll get dinner started."

This man continues to surprise me in the best ways possible.

He won't allow me to do anything. He insists I rest on the couch while he stays busy in the kitchen. So after I finish my muffin, I get comfortable on the couch and text Emmie.

Hey.

Emmie: Hey, how are you feeling?

Good, it was Braxton Hicks, so I got the all-clear.

Emmie: Thank goodness. So, everything is good with the baby?

Yes, and that's not just it.

Emmie: Oh yeah?

Shepherd came to the hospital and we talked and now we're together like for real together.

Emmie: Finally! It was so obvious to everyone watching that you two are crazy about each other. I'm thrilled for you both.

Me too, thanks.

Emmie: Maybe I should try a friends-with-benefits thing and see how that goes.

LOL worked for me.

Shepherd steps into the living room with a cup of coffee that he places on the coffee table in front of me. "It's decaf and not the strong shit I like."

I stare at him and my body burns. I'm not sure that this incredibly hot man standing in front of me has any idea what he does to me. The way his muscles flex when he moves. The way his eyes seem to search my soul. The way his deep voice sends chills down my body. His sweet gestures, talented hands, and protectiveness have me in a constant state of being horny. I'm not even sure if it's my hormones anymore. I think it's just him .

"You okay?" he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I smile, nodding. "I'm great, thank you."

He goes back to the kitchen and I pick my phone back up.

I think I might be falling in love with him.

Emmie: I know, Felicity. It's so obvious the way you look at him and I think he's falling in love with you too for the same reason.

My heart pounds in my chest and I put my phone down, unable to keep the smile off my face.

I've been reading a book my mother suggested and I'm a little flustered knowing the kind of things she's reading, but it's a hot book. It's not helping my situation at all.

The kitchen is filled with the sounds of Shepherd cooking—pots and pans banging, dishes clinking, and a knife hitting the cutting board. He's been taking care of me, constantly checking on my needs and wants. Despite how difficult it is to resist, I can't bring myself to invite him into my bed right now, no matter how horny I am.

But now, the smell of roasted chicken wafts through the air and I can't help but get up and make my way to the kitchen. The sight that greets me brings a smile to my face—Shepherd checking on the oven while a candle glows in the middle of the set table. Sure, there are dishes piled up in the sink and crumbs on the counter, but it doesn't bother me one bit. This is exactly what I've always wanted for a family—a messy kitchen with dinner cooking and a partner who genuinely wants to help out. In the past, I've pushed Shepherd away whenever he offered to help because it felt too good, too real. But now, I'm finally allowing myself to embrace it. "It smells amazing," I tell him with a grin. He looks over at me and his own grin widens. "It's ready. Take a seat and I'll dish us up." I offer to help, but he refuses - wanting to do everything himself out of sheer joy for being able to take care of me.

He steps up to me and kisses my forehead. A few inches too high from where I want to feel his kiss, but it's sweet. "Sit your sexy ass down, Felicity."

I laugh and do as he says. He comes over, placing two small plates down, and sits across from me. I glance down and see a mixed greens salad, topped with juicy strawberries, candied pecans, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. I take a bite and moan as the delicious taste invades my mouth.

"Damn, don't do that," he says, staring at me.

"I can't help it, this is amazing. How'd you learn to cook like this?"

He grins, finishing the mouthful of salad he has in his mouth. "Nice way to distract." We both smile and he continues, "My mom always had us helping in the kitchen. She said she couldn't send us out into the world until she knew we could feed ourselves." We both laugh and I admire his mother even more now. "But this salad is Griffin's recipe. He showed me at Atta Boy how to make it when I told him how much I liked it."

"I'm glad you learned because this is my new favorite salad."

My words cause him to smile as his eyes soften. "I'm glad."

Once we finish our salad, he gets up to get our dinner served. A perfectly roasted chicken with garlic and herbs, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus. He places my plate in front of me and sits back down.

As we enjoy dinner, Shepherd lifts his eyes to mine and I notice the corner of his lips lifting. "I can't believe we're finally here," he says, a smile spreading across his face. "I've dreamed about this moment for so long. I want our baby to have the best life possible."

I return his smile, feeling my eyes shimmering with emotion. "Me too. I've been thinking a lot about what kind of parent I want to be. I want our boy to grow up feeling loved and supported, no matter what."

Shepherd nods, his expression serious. "Absolutely. I want to create a home filled with love and laughter. I want us to be there for every milestone, big or small. I want to teach him to be kind and brave, to follow his dreams. No matter how impossible they feel."

My eyes soften as I think about our future. "I want to make traditions of our own. Maybe Sunday family dinners or annual trips to the beach. Little things that will become special memories for us and our son."

Shepherd's face lights up with excitement. "I love that idea, but not Sunday dinners. Those will only belong to my mom, but we will have Sunday dinner there with my entire family and that's kind of amazing." His eyes lock with mine, holding emotions I've never seen before. "And I want to make sure we're always open and honest with each other, setting an example of communication and trust. No more questioning what the other is thinking, feeling, or wanting. I want our son to feel like he can come to us with anything."

I reach across the table and squeeze his hand, feeling a surge of what I can only describe as love for this unbelievable man in front of me. "I love that," I say, instead of anything else.

"I know we're going to be amazing parents, Felicity. I can already see us teaching him how to ride a bike, cheering him on at his first baseball game, and helping with homework."

I giggle, imagining those moments. "And let's not forget the sleepless nights, the diaper changes, and the endless piles of laundry."

He laughs, a twinkle in his eye. "Those too. But we'll get through it all together. I know we will."

We pause for a moment, thinking about the depth of our conversation. Shepherd reaches out and gently places his hand on my growing belly. "I promise to always be there for you and our boy. To support you both, no matter what."

I cover his hand with mine, feeling a sense of peace and contentment wash over me. My body is now on fire with need for this man as I say, "And I promise the same. We're in this together, Shepherd. Now and always."