CHAPTER 24 JOLENE

"Oh my God, I can't believe we're engaged!" I squeal the next morning.

The alarm just went off, and Jonah won't be up for at least another hour.

I'm not typically a morning squealer, but this morning calls for it. I stare at the gorgeous diamond my fiancé placed on my finger last night, a cushion-cut double halo ring with a diamond band.

My heart warms as I think back to his words—words that were caught on camera for me to watch over again and again, and the fact that he included Jonah in the proposal just makes it all the sweeter.

We're having a baby. We're getting married. It's all the things I most wanted with him, and it's all finally happening. The decades we had to spend apart were worth it if it meant we'd be able to get to this moment right here, right now.

Lincoln shifts beside me. "Good morning," he says, and he thrusts his hips toward me to let me know he wants to make it a good morning.

"Again?" I ask. "I'm still recovering from last night."

He chuckles. "I'll take it as many times as I can get it with you, my love."

I laugh, but the truth is, hearing him call me his love is about the sexiest thing I've ever heard first thing in the morning.

I shimmy out of my panties and climb on top of him, and I pull his cock out of his boxer briefs and line it up with my pussy before I sit down on top of him.

"Oh God," he moans, and I share in that sentiment.

I move slowly over him, a languid, lazy morning tryst, and he lets me set the pace. He pulls my t-shirt off and tosses it to the ground, and he caresses my breasts as I start to pick up the pace, the ache building inside me as he pinches my nipples.

He moves his hands down toward my ass, and I brace myself on the headboard as he starts to thrust from beneath me, setting an even quicker pace as we both climb toward new heights together. Eventually he lets out a growl before he stills and spills into me, and then he thumbs my clit as I ride him the rest of the way into my own orgasm.

We head into the shower together, and he massages my shoulder and neck before washing me clean.

"Now that is how I want to start every day," he says once we're both out of the shower and getting dressed.

I giggle. "Deal."

"I have two things I need to address with you," he says, and suddenly he sounds all business as he returns to our shared bathroom. He perches on the ledge of the tub while I pull my make-up out of its new drawer.

"Is this a conversation I can have while I do my make-up or is this a put the make-up down and listen to me, Jo, sort of convo?"

He chuckles. "Either. Both."

I drag the eyeliner along my lid.

"I talked to my mom," he begins, "and she rather awkwardly admitted that my dad might not actually be my dad."

I drop my eyeliner. "Whoa." I turn to face him. Only one eye is lined and I'm sure I look ridiculous. "Are you okay?"

He nods. "I'm fine. It just…explained everything. Why he's always treated me the way he has, and why I always felt like he resented me. Because he never knew, either, and I think deep down I was a reminder of that time in their lives."

"They never did a paternity test?" I ask.

"I think my mom didn't want to know. She wanted to assume it was his. She sounded pretty ashamed over the entire situation," he admits.

"And you? Do you want one?"

He nods. "Yeah. I do. I want to know if I'm a Nash or not."

"Will it change anything?"

He glances down at the floor and shakes his head. "Probably not," he murmurs. "But I'm going to do one anyway. It won't change my childhood, and it won't make him a better dad. It won't mend anything between us. But I'll have the peace of mind of knowing one way or the other, you know?"

"Of course. I support whatever you decide."

"And that leads me to the other thing I wanted to tell you…I spoke with your father."

My jaw drops. "About?"

"I told him I was proposing to you and I wanted his blessing."

"Whoa. Did he give it?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No, but he said he'd talk to you, and if it was really what you wanted, he wouldn't stop us."

"Well, that's as close to a blessing from him as we're ever gonna get," I say. "When was this?"

"Last week at the Gridiron."

"So my parents know you were going to ask. Does your mom know?"

He shakes his head.

"Well, we'll have to tell them soon since the podcast will publish tomorrow and I'm not holding onto it," I say.

He chuckles. "I'm ready when you are."

"Can we invite them for dinner tonight?" I ask.

"I think that would be a great idea."

I let out a soft sigh, and then I walk over and drop a kiss to his lips. "Thank you."

"For what?" he asks.

"For trying. For being you. For being everything I ever wanted."

"Right back at you, JoLo." He stands and pulls me into his arms. He plants a hot kiss on my mouth. "I'll leave you to it," he says as he pulls away, and I press my lips to his once more.

"Now go make me some of those world famous pancakes of yours," I demand, and he laughs.

"Your wish is my command, my future wife."

My future wife. Dear Lord, this man.

I'm one lucky lady.