by Katy Connor
“I’m guessing you’re not on the pill any longer?”
Her face fell. “Are you disappointed? Do you want to have kids?”
Christ, I’d been given a second chance—with her, with life—and I was already fucking it up. “That’s not what I meant. How far along are you?”
“It’s really early. Barely four weeks. I took one of those early detection tests. I think I’ve known all along. My body feels different.”
I let my hand rest on her lower belly, already in awe. “A girl who looks just like you,” I whispered.
“Nope, a boy who has your smile.”
“You’re marrying me?”
She draped herself over me, being careful to avoid the wires and tubes. Pressing her lips onto my skin, she whispered both a prayer and her vow. “No one in this world but me gets to be your wife. That’s a promise.”
Epilogue
FOUR MONTHS LATER
JENNY
“Seriously?”
“What?” I asked, looking around to see if anything was wrong.
“You’re already one gorgeous bitch, but now? With the dress and the pregnancy glow, not to mention the ridiculous amount of bling your man has given you.” She stopped to fan and talk to herself. “Do not cry, Gabrielle Marie. Don’t you dare do it. The makeup artist has left, and the rabbi’s waiting.”
I adored my dress. It was an Envie de Fraise gown with a plunging neckline and an encrusted jeweled belt as part of the empire cut.
I gazed at my reflection in the full-length mirror. “It really is something. Isn’t it?”
She halted mid-fanning. “You make that dress spectacular, not the other way around.”
I smiled. Because I finally knew she was right.
Took me long enough. Yeesh.
I was standing in the bridal suite of the most charming and lovely little inn I’ve ever seen. In just a few minutes, I was going to walk down the aisle and marry the only man I’d ever loved, the future father of my child. I had one of Alex’s monogrammed handkerchiefs in my hand.
I unfolded it and stared.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“That man,” I whispered before holding it out so she could take a look. “Read it.”
Embroidered in the corner read: Drs. Alexander & Jennifer Petrinov.
We stared at each other.
“I’m so happy, I can’t even believe it.”
“Believe it,” she said.
“Am I allowed to be this happy?”
Gabby frowned.
“I mean…I keep…” I wasn’t explaining this right. I looked out the window. “It’s almost too good, you know? Like something awful must happen, in order to balance out all this over-the-moon happiness.”
Gabby snorted. “Now you sound like your Russian.”
I chuckled to myself. “You’re right, I do. I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?”
“Uh, yeah you are,” Gabs said. “Everything is going to be fine. Better than fine.”
“As badass as you are, even you can’t guarantee that.”
“Yes, I can. You know how?”
I shook my head.
“It’s not because nothing’s ever going to happen to you. That’s life. None of us are immune. Look, you’ve always had yourself. Now you have a man who loves you stupid. The rest, you’ll figure out. Plus, you’ve got me.” She cleared her throat. “Now, let’s finish with the beautiful.”
She took the curling iron, forming loose ringlets around my face. Then, one at a time, she wove little white flowers in a crown.
I wore the cutest little rose gold strappy shoes. Of course, I couldn’t reach my feet, so Gabs had to help me.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” I asked her.
“Are you trying to ruin my look? I am barely holding it together as it is.”
“Fine,” I relented. “But you should know I’ll probably cry enough for both of us. All these pregnancy hormones have made me annoyingly sappy.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Don’t you move,” she said, pointing at me while walking to the door. “You are utter perfection, and I don’t want you messing any of it up by you being, well…you and klutzing it all up.”
I didn’t even attempt to argue with her because she was spot on—if there was a way for me to spill on it, trip over it, or rip right through it—it being anything—I would do it.
She opened the door wide—and there was my Alex, in a gorgeous Armani suit.
He had insisted on waiting until he was fully healed from his injuries. He also had to undergo extensive physical therapy for his right shoulder before he resumed his usual surgical schedule. But there he was—my man in one, beautiful piece.
Unfortunately, my girl was non-too-pleased.
“Are you freaking kidding me right now?” she said, hand on her hip, glaring at him. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”
He kept his hands behind his back. “But I come bearing a gift for my bride,” he said, walking in, then showing a medium-size Tiffany box in his hands.
She waved her hand again. “Oh girl, that’s my favorite shade of blue,” she said, giving me eyes that squealed happy thoughts. “All right. You get five minutes. I’ll be back, though.”
She closed the door, and I walked toward him, meeting in the middle of the room.
I cupped his jaw in my hand. “You did not need to get me anything. You’ve spoiled me enough already!”
And he had. My engagement ring was off-the-charts beautiful, an emerald-cut, five-carat, yellow diamond surrounded by white diamonds. I was also wearing a three-stranded diamond bracelet, another gift from him, along with two-carat diamond stud earrings. It was ridiculously extravagant, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love it.
He sucked in a breath as his eyes raked me from head to toe. “You are…” He stopped to clear his throat, so overcome with emotion it was hard for him to speak. “You are the most exquisite creation I have ever seen. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
I placed my hand on my belly. “We’re lucky, Alex.”
His hand rested next to mine. The baby kicked where our hands were—and our faces lit up. “See? He’s happy too,” I told him, beaming.
“Yes, she is,” he said.
We had decided to wait to find out the baby’s sex. Alex wanted a little girl more than anything. I just said a boy because I wouldn’t mind having a little version of my man around. But we didn’t care. Healthy and happy was all that mattered.
He handed the box over. “Your neck is very naked, and it is completely unacceptable,” he said, teasing. “Maybe this will help.”
I took the box, tsk-tsking as I undid the white bow.
“Baby, this is beautiful!” I gasped.
It was a yellow sapphire and diamond necklace. He took it out and walked around to clasp it around my neck. I lifted my hair so he could.
“Later, I only want you wearing this with your rings. Nothing else.”
He kissed the back of my neck, his hands snaking up my sides and under my arms as he did. “Do we have to bother with the whole reception?” he asked. “I just want to get you back to the hotel and bury my face in what’s mine.”
“Maybe we should at least go through with the ceremony, to make it official. Then I’ll be yours for real.”
He rested his chin on my shoulder, his mouth close to my ear. “We’ll do that, but just so you know, I’ve always been yours. And you were mine before I even knew you. I imagined the kind of woman I wanted in my bed, giving me babies, and it was you. And it will be you for the rest of our lives. Love you, Jenny.”
“Me too, Dr. Holy Hotness.”
…
Discover the 50 Shades of Gray’s Anatomy series
GOING DOWN
DR. SEXY
YES, DOCTOR
About the Author
Katy Connor is the thirty-something author of the 50 Shades of Grey’s Anatomy series and has a se
rious addiction to her iPhone. When she’s not checking social media, she can usually be found in a local coffee shop, drinking hipster coffee and dancing in her seat to the horrible music. Katy loves to hear from fans, so reach out and say, hey, girl, hey, on any of her social media!
Don’t miss these One Handed Reads!
THE DILF
by Amy Andrews
Owen
I’ve had a crush on Stefanie, my best friend’s older sister, since I was fifteen. But I’m all grown up now, with a medical degree and an in-depth knowledge of female anatomy I’m not afraid to use.
Stefanie
As a resident nurse, I’ve had enough of arrogant doctors to last me a lifetime. But my kid brother’s bestie—ten years my junior—is sleeping in my spare bed for three weeks and making it very clear he wants to be in my bed instead. But I don’t do casual anymore. No matter how much I want to open my legs for the DILF.
HER GENTLEMAN DOM
by Kate Allure
Lilli is thrown together with a wickedly sexy British architect on a San Francisco building project, but her paralyzing attraction to the man could ruin her career. An experienced Dom, Finn never initiates unsuspecting, young women into his dungeon, but hints of her sexual subservience along with her can-do spirit are irresistible. After a night of passion, Lilli discovers his true nature and runs, only to return later and offer her submission, but Finn doubts she’ll have the moxie to survive his training. It’s up to Lilli to prove she can flourish under his loving bondage.
BOUGHT FOR LOVE
by Fiona Davenport
Miles Deveraux has more money than one man needs, but his shady past continues to cause problems. He decides it’s time to get married. Life in the big city hasn’t gone the way Emma James expected. Faced with the prospect of losing her home, Miles’ offer of marriage saves her. But once the ring is on her finger, Miles wants more.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Katy Connor. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact [email protected].
ISBN 978-1-949038-19-4
Cover design by Bree Archer
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition February 2019