“I was.” Nerves leaping, she thrust out the package.

Sam smiled and rubbed his flat belly. “Chocolate? Good, I’m starved.”

“It’s…not food.”

“Hmm,” he said, perplexed, undoing the ribbon without a care as she knew he would, opening the box and pulling out… “A piece of paper?” His frown turned to a horrified scowl. “From Dr. Kennedy?” His intense gaze met hers. “This is a blood test. Yours.”

“Yes, I-”

“Angie?” He gripped her shoulders, backed her to a chair. Pale now, he hunkered at her side and cupped her face. “What’s the matter?”

“Well…” She set her hands on his wrists and managed a shaky smile. “This is silly, isn’t it? I didn’t think it would be so hard to say out loud. I mean we talked about it, but neither of us had the greatest experience growing up, and-”

“Angie.” He skimmed the report, swallowed hard and looked back up at her. “You’re…”

With his hand in hers, she set it low on her stomach. “Yes. I’m…” She grinned. “Do you think either of us will ever be able to say it?”

He whooped, surged to his feet and twirled her around all in one smooth motion. Then he gently set her on her feet and put his forehead to hers. “We’re going to be good at this.”

She put her hands on his jaw and smiled. “Yes. I think we are.”

“You should sit down.”

Angie laughed. “There will be plenty of time for that in the coming months.”

“Are you saying our little child is going to be a handful?”

“I’m sure of it.”

Sam stared at her. “Maybe I should sit down.”

She laughed. And in the end, they both sat down, Sam first, Angie in his lap, in his arms…right where she wanted to be, forever.

Jill Shalvis

USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning Jill Shalvis is the author of more than fifty romance novels, including a series with firefighter heroes for Harlequin Books. The three-time RITA® Award nominee and three-time National Readers’ Choice winner makes her home near Lake Tahoe. Visit her Web site at www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog.