by Kaylee Ryan
I admit that a little of my apprehension in telling him comes from that night, but he’s proven over and over again that’s not who he is. He loves Kendrix with everything he is, and me too. I know my worry is silly, but it’s there all the same.
“Nope. You need to do it now. The parents won’t be here for—” Dawn looks at her watch. “—another thirty minutes. We’ve got the kids, everything is done, the guys are just messing with streamers to look busy.” We all laugh at that because it’s the truth. “Go tell him now. We’ve got this.”
“I don’t want to take away from Kendrix and her first birthday with her daddy.”
“Laney,” Mara chimes in. “You’re going to tell her that she’s going to be a big sister and that her daddy is for certain going to be here for all the birthdays to come. That’s not taking away from her big day.”
“Go.” Reagan’s voice is stern.
“Damn, Tyler was right. Those pregnancy hormones are scary,” I tease her.
“Oh, hush.” She snorts. “Go.”
“All right. I’m going. Let him tell the guys.”
“You got it. That’s what they get for not letting us in on the engagement.” Kendall grins.
“Wish me luck,” I say as I stand from the couch.
“You don’t need it,” the four of them call back.
Here goes nothing.
Epilogue
Kent
It doesn’t matter where she is in the room, my eyes seek her out. The connection we have is that strong. That’s why I tune out of the conversation Ridge is having about something cute as hell that Knox said about Kendall being pregnant when she stands and heads this way.
She’s glowing, and I know it’s from happiness, and from the baby she’s carrying. I’m more in tune with her body than my own. She missed her last cycle, and her breasts have been tender. Trust me, I know because I give them lots and lots of attention. She also asked my mom to watch Kendrix yesterday. She had an appointment. One I was unaware of. I don’t need her to tell me to know that she’s pregnant. I thought maybe last night would be the night she would tell me.
At first, I was worried she would think my knowing about her pregnancy was why I proposed, but that sounds ridiculous even to my own ears. I’ve told her since the day she declared she wanted us to live here that she was going to be my wife. I’ve also made it known that I’m more than ready to add to our family.
“Hey, baby.” I snake an arm around her waist and pull her into me.
“Hi. Can you help me with something?”
“Laney!” Seth scolds. “There are children present.” He can barely say it with a straight face.
“I know. All of your wives are going to keep an eye on them for me. Don’t worry. I’ll bring him right back.”
“Kent, brother. There’s medication for that,” Tyler teases.
I discreetly flip him my middle finger and follow Laney down the hall to our bedroom. “What’s up?” I ask her.
“Well, there’s something I need to tell you. I was going to wait, but there’s no time like the present, right?”
“Right,” I agree.
She steps into me, rests her head on my chest, and wraps her arms around my waist. “I love you, Kenton.”
“I love you too.” I run my hands up and down her back, soothing her.
“I didn’t expect this. This life we’re building. I remember,” she says softly.
“You remember what, baby?”
She pulls back, and big blue eyes peer up at me. “I remember us,” she says as a tear slides down her cheek.
This, I was not expecting. “Okay. What does that mean? I promise you, I’ll never stand you up. Never. Laney, I’m so sorry,” I start to apologize again. I’ve done it several times over since we’ve been back together.
“Stop. You’re a good man, Kent. I know that even without my memories. Having all of that, it just makes this moment even more special. I remember every touch, every caress. Everything. I remember it all.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugs. “I was too busy going through it all in my mind, and then when I got home, the house was so beautiful, and I didn’t want to make the day about me and my past. I wanted it to be about us and our future.”
“Us. Laney. It’s always us. You can tell me anything. Anytime.”
“I almost didn’t tell you today. It’s such a special day. Our little girl is turning five, you’re here for the first birthday with her, and many more to come.” She adds, “I have my memories back.”
“How? When? Tell me everything.”
“Well, before I can tell you that, I have something else to tell you.”
This is it. Here it comes. The moment I missed out on with Kendrix.
“I’m pregnant.”
I lift her into my arms and kiss her. “I fucking love you so damn much.”
“You’re happy?” she asks when I finally set her on her feet.
“Ecstatic.”
“Well, I was at the OB yesterday to confirm my suspicion, and the moment the doctor walked into the room, it was like déjà vu. It all came rushing back to me. The same doctor, the same situation. When he told me I was pregnant, the same scene almost six years ago flashed through my mind.
“That night, I did have something to tell you. Two things. I wanted to tell you that I was in love with you. I knew you loved me too; I could feel it. Then I was going to tell you that you were going to be a daddy. I was going to transfer for my last year of college and move here. I wanted to start building our life together.”
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there when I said I would be.”
“It’s all in the past. What we have to look forward to is our future, as a family of four.”
“Oh, we’re not stopping at two.”
“No?”
“Nope. This is a big-ass house, Laney. We have to fill it up.”
She laughs. “Well, Tillie has a room for when she stays here.”
Tillie has been making an effort to be the person she should have been all those years ago. Delaney still has her guard up. It’s going to take some time, but I think she’ll get there.
“Okay. We have six bedrooms. We have at least two more babies to add to the clan.”
“Let’s get this one here and we can talk about more.”
“Deal.” I kiss her softly. “So, when are you going to be my wife?”
“How’s tomorrow sound?”
“What?”
“Justice of the peace. I just want to be married. We’ve lost so much time. I don’t need the flair of a wedding or the fancy dress. I just need your last name. Besides, if Kendrix is a Baldwin, I want to be too.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, did I forget to tell you? I told you today was special for all kinds of reasons.” She flashes me a smile, and I feel as though my heart is about to beat out of my chest. “I got the final paperwork. I added you as Kendrix’s father on her birth certificate and officially changed her last name. Just in time for kindergarten in the fall.”
“She’s Kendrix Baldwin.”
“She is.”
I crush her to my chest in a hug. I just want to hold her. The chance of me finding the one that got away was uncertain. In fact, the odds weren’t exactly in my favor. However, here we are. It’s unexpected but no less than perfect. I’ll place my bet on the unexpected odds every time.
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to read Unexpected Odds.
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More from Kaylee
With You Series:
Anywhere with You | More with You
Everything with You
Soul Serenade Series:
Emphatic | Assured
Definite | Insistent
Southern Heart Series:
Southern Pleasure | Southern Desire
Southern Attraction | Southern Devotion
Unexpected Arrivals Series
Unexpected Reality |Unexpected Fight
Unexpected Fall | Unexpected Bond
Unexpected Odds
Standalone Titles:
Tempting Tatum | Unwrapping Tatum | Levitate
Just Say When | I Just Want You
Reminding Avery
Hey, Whiskey | When Sparks Collide
Pull You Through | Beyond the Bases
Remedy | The Difference
Trust the Push
Co-written with Lacey Black:
It’s Not Over / Just Getting Started
Cocky Hero World:
Lucky Bastard
Acknowledgments
To my readers: Thank you for following me on this journey with the Beckett Construction Crew and their Unexpected Arrivals. I can’t thank you enough for reading. I’m so glad that you loved these characters as much as I do. I’m sad to see them go, but I’m excited for all new worlds coming later this year.
To my family: I love you. Thank you for believing in me, and being my number one supporter. I could not do this without you.
Wander Aguiar: Thank you for an amazing image that brought Kent to life!
Jonny James: I’ve been holding onto this image for a long time now. Just waiting for Kent’s story to release. Thank you for doing what you do, so authors can bring their characters to life for readers.
Tami Integrity Formatting: Thank you for making The Unexpected Odds paperback beautiful. You’re amazing and I cannot thank you enough for all that you do.
Sommer Stein: Time and time again, you wow me with your talent. Thank you for another amazing cover.
My beta team: Jamie, Stacy, Lauren, Erica, and Franci. I would be lost without you. You read my words as much as I do, and I can’t tell you what your input and all the time you give means to me. Countless messages and bouncing idea, you ladies keep me sane with the characters are being anything but. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking this wild ride with me.
Give Me Books: With every release, your team works diligently to get my book in the hands of bloggers. I cannot tell you how thankful I am for your services.
Tempting Illustrations: Thank you for everything. I would be lost without you.
Julie Deaton: Thank you for giving this book a set of fresh final eyes.
Becky Johnson: I could not do this without you. Thank you for pushing me, and making me work for it.
Marisa Corvisiero: Thank you for all that you do. I know I’m not the easiest client. I’m blessed to have you on this journey with me.
Kimberly Ann: Thank you for organizing and tracking the ARC team. I couldn’t do it without you.
Bloggers: Thank you doesn’t seem like enough. You don’t get paid to do what you do. It’s from the kindness of your heart and your love of reading that fuels you. Without you, without your pages, your voice, your reviews, spreading the word it would be so much harder if not impossible to get my words in reader’s hands. I can’t tell you how much your never-ending support means to me. Thank you for being you, thank you for all that you do.
To my Kick Ass Crew: The name of the group speaks for itself. You ladies truly do KICK ASS! I’m honored to have you on this journey with me. Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting, suggesting, the teasers, the messages all of it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do. Your support is everything!
With Love,
Kaylee Ryan