Chapter 53

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Lola

It’s been two weeks since the night I was rushed to the hospital, and a lot has happened. We bought a new truck, and we started the official paperwork to buy the house from Wade. The painting contractor begins working on the décor next week and is going to hang Jordy’s paintings we are moving from his penthouse. I’m on a mission to make the house feel like a home before the baby arrives. On the other hand, Jordan is planning on building a bigger garage to accommodate his Ferrari that I have yet to sit in, and his motorcycle.

Just over a week ago, we officially announced to the world that we were dating.

Kali came up with the clever idea of announcing we were expecting a baby together at the same time with a photo of a hockey puck embossed with the words Baby Miller and our due date alongside another photo of Jordy kissing my stomach. My heart overflowed at the stream of well wishes and congratulatory messages we received.

“My mom and dad loved you.” Jordy leans over the center console of the truck and smacks a kiss to my temple.

“Really?” I genuinely think his mother would much prefer it if I bought a one-way ticket to Timbuktu.

“Yes,” he says confidently. “Ignore my mom. She takes some time to warm up to people. She’s….”

An ice queen with a frozen heart.

“A bit stubborn sometimes,” he says, turning the key in the ignition of our new Mercedes G-Wagon. A white one, just like I wanted.

Having just finished a meal with Jordy’s parents, his sisters, Wade and Kali, as well as Zane, Nicki and Marcus, and Piper and Daryl, at my flagship restaurant, Firepit, we’re finally on our way home.

Inviting everyone at the same time was an icebreaker and a way for everyone to meet as a group. Well, that’s my reasoning which I’m sticking to. When in fact, it was my way of protecting myself from Jordy’s mother. I like her, but I don’t think she likes me. She’s a little standoffish and is difficult to read. Even when we showed her the ultrasound, her face remained emotionless, while Jordy’s father hugged me with enthusiasm and then went on to share all the wonderful stories about him and my dad.

It was lovely hearing how my father had bought a row of units and transformed not only a street but a community, giving them jobs and regenerated an area nobody else saw potential in. Ben reminded me of the kind of visionary he was, who could see beauty and possibility where others only saw neglect. He wasn’t just a businessman; he was a builder of lives, someone who understood that investing in people mattered as much as investing in property. He also reminded me that sometimes the greatest wealth lies not in what you own but in what you inspire, and I’m going to do everything in power to carry on my father’s legacy.

While Tamara was less than enthusiastic about the baby, Ben was already planning days out to Walt Disney World as a family.

Lucia and Sofia can barely contain their excitement about becoming aunties. They've already mapped out an epic shopping spree, ready to fill carts with the cutest baby clothes the moment we find out the gender next week. They’re practically buzzing with ideas. From tiny sneakers to cozy onesies, and even debating over matching outfits. It’s going to be a shopping trip for the books.

A text message alert from his mother appears on the truck's display, where Jordy’s phone is connected via Bluetooth. He taps the screen to have the message read aloud.

“Please ask Lola if I can join the girls' shopping trip they have planned. I would like Lola to pick out furniture for the nursery. Your father and I would like to buy it for you.” The electronic voice stops.

Shocked that Tamara wants to play an active part in my pregnancy, I throw my hand to my mouth when another text arrives, and Jordy plays that one too.

“I would also like to be called Grandma. I hope that’s okay with you. I think Grandma Miller has a nice ring to it. And as I’m semi-retiring, when the baby arrives, I would like to take the baby two days a week to help Lola out. It’s the least I can do for my son and his new family.”

I try holding back a laugh but fail, and Jordy joins in. “See, I told you, baby. She loves you.”

Thank the stars.

“Let’s go home.”

Forehead’s kissing, Jordan makes love to me, hitting the exact spot deep inside that makes me arch my back, my impending orgasm threatening to make an appearance.

“Come for me, baby.” He lifts my leg, holding it against his waist to tilt my hips at an angle he knows will have me screaming his name.

Slow and tender, he takes long, languid strokes. Our mouths collide, tongues sliding over each other as we climb, then come together, our hearts rhythmically beating at the same pace.

Our bodies detonate, my inner walls pulsating around his cock as we come undone.

“I love you,” he pants against my lips. “I love you so fucking much.” He jerks the last of his hot seed inside of me.

“I can’t imagine my life without you.” He’s the best part of every day and every night. I’ve never felt happier.

Kissing my lips, he slides himself out of me and moves south, kissing my neck, all the way down to my stomach. He cups my belly, that’s gotten slightly bigger in the last two weeks. “I love you, too, little one.” Looking up, his eyes sparkle with mischief. “Marry me.” His face splits into a wide grin.

A slow smile stretches my mouth. “Say that again.” I start laughing in shock. Is this really happening?

“Gladiola-Grace Ramsay, will you marry me?” He grins cheekily because he already knows my answer.

My heart rate spikes, adrenaline rushes my brain. As if the baby and the house aren’t enough, just like he promised, he wants everything. With me.

“Yes,” I reply.

“You’ll be mine forever, Lola.”

I wouldn’t want it any other way.