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“I—I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”

“Well, you didn’t give me a chance to tell you earlier this week when I was trying to speak to you about working out of town.”

He pushes a hand through his hair. “I guess congratulations are in order then.” Reaching across the desk, he holds out his hand for me to shake, which I accept. But inside, I’m nervous that he’s going to question the timing of this.

“I appreciate it, but now you can understand why I’m going to need to be home more. My wife needs me.” Calling Lennon my wife rolls off of my tongue so easily that I should be alarmed.

Instead, I like the taste and sound of it way too fucking much.

“Yes, I can see that. Well, I had you scheduled to leave for Florida next week, but perhaps I can still move some crews around to give you the chance to work in Garnet Valley for a change.”

Relief rushes through me. “I really appreciate it, Donovan. The baby was a surprise, to say the least.”

He holds up a hand. “Trust me. I get it. My oldest definitely wasn’t planned, but it turned out to be the biggest blessing.”

In that moment, it hits me that I don’t know what my role will be in this child’s life after he or she is born. Owen is right. I need to talk to Lennon about when this arrangement should end—if that’s even what she wants.

I know I should want that, but my head isn’t catching up to that memo yet.

After Donovan regales me with a few stories of his wife’s pregnancy, I direct the conversation back to work. “Let me know as soon as you can about the college project then,” I say, moving to stand from the chair.

“I will, but consider it a done deal. In fact, if you’re interested, would you want to be the foreman on the job?”

Hell yes. “Yeah. Of course.”

Donovan nods. “Perfect. I’ll have more details for you on Monday then, Easton.”

“Sounds good. Thanks again.”

Even though I shouldn’t be this fucking pumped, there’s a pep in my step as I exit the office and head back out to my truck. I didn’t think getting married would make that conversation so easy, but I can’t deny there’s a wave of relief rolling through me.

I get to work close to home and finally enjoy the house that I worked so hard to buy.

Yeah, but there’s about to be a woman living in it with you, Easton. A pregnant woman, at that.

I’ve never lived with a woman other than my mom. Hell, I’ve never even brought a woman back to my place. Any hookups happened while I was on the road.

No girlfriends. No friends with benefits.

No one.

Just one-night stands where both of us knew the terms.

So why does the idea of having Lennon live with me not scare me more?

Before my subconscious can answer that, I shake off the thought and head back to my house to take care of a few things before I drive over to the ranch this evening for dinner with my brother and mom—because that’s one discussion I’m definitely going to need to be more prepared for.

***

My mother’s eyes well with tears. “You’re telling me that my youngest son got married today and I wasn’t there?”

“I’m sorry, Mom.” Can’t say this wasn’t the reaction I was expecting. “It all happened so fast.”

“Plus, he thought you’d try to talk him out of it just like I did,” Owen adds.

My mom’s jaw drops open. “Is that so?”

“Well…”