We go into the apartment. L tells me to sit on the couch while she gets my birthday gift from our bedroom. I’m not so sure it’s what I was thinking. She isn’t acting like herself—she seems nervous.

She returns to the living room and sits next to me before placing a small rectangular box in my hand. It’s wrapped in chocolate-brown paper with a blue ribbon bow and definitely isn’t big enough for lingerie—unless it’s really tiny.

“Open it.”

I remove the bow and tear into the paper as I ponder what could be inside. It’s a simple white gift box. What is this? A bracelet? I hope not since I’m not a fan of men in bracelets, but I’d wear it if it’s what she gave me.

I remove the top and I’m confused by what I see. “A pregnancy test?” She just had her period a couple of weeks ago, so she can’t possibly need to take a test.

“No. It’s an ovulation predictor. It tells me when I’m most fertile.”

I can only think of two reasons she’d use this: to avoid having sex on the days she’s fertile so she doesn’t become pregnant, or the complete opposite—because she’s ready to. “And you want to know when you’re fertile because … ?”

“You asked me to have your baby, and this is me saying yes.” A smile spreads across her face. “A baby … it’s my gift to you.”

I lean over to kiss her mouth and stroke my thumb over her cheek. “Best gift ever.”

She lifts a brow. “I took a test earlier and I’m ovulating.”

It’s weird. Something about hearing her say those words makes me want to throw her over my shoulder and haul her down to our bedroom so I can bury myself deep inside her. “Does that mean you want to start trying now?”

“I do.”

“I love when those two words come out of your mouth. It means something crazy good is about to happen.”

I get up from the couch and tug so she’ll stand with me. I put my hands on her lower back and pull her close. No hug. No kiss. I simply look into her eyes. “This is what you want, right? You’re not agreeing because you feel pressured or because you know it’s what I want?”

She strokes her hand down the side of my face and I reach up to cup my hand over hers. “It’s all I’ve thought about since you asked on our honeymoon.” She laughs. “It’s totally insane to be married a month and try to have a baby on purpose, but it’s what I want. I’m ready to start our family.”

“Our family. I love the sound of that.”

“Me too.”

I clasp her hand in mine and lead her down the hall to our bedroom. “Can I have a minute? I want to change into something special for you.”

Yes! I knew she’d be putting on some hot lingerie for my birthday. “Yeah. You can have two if you need it.” She walks into the closet and comes out with a shopping bag. Whoa. I wonder what’s in there? “Take as long as you need.”

She gives me a naughty grin. “Be back in a jiffy.”

This is it, McLachlan. You and L are going to make a baby. There’s no going back after it’s done. Hmm. I’m surprisingly calm about it, but I guess that’s how it feels when you know it’s right.

There’s no reason to still be dressed when L returns. We both know what we’re here for, so I take off my shirt and trousers and place them on the chair in the corner of the room. I’m only wearing my boxer briefs when she comes out of the bathroom and stops in the doorway, leaning against the frame. She shifts her weight to one leg and places a hand on her hip, pushing her breasts up in her ivory chemise. It’s a bra at the top with sheer fabric flowing to the edge of the tiny triangle between her legs. It’s the ultimate prelude to baby-making.

“What does the birthday boy think?”

I walk toward her and she moves to meet me in the middle of the room. I’m remembering the times when she’s been her most beautiful: the night I met her; seeing her again after I thought she was gone forever; watching her walk down the aisle to be my wife. I thought she was beautiful all those times but the way she looks now as she comes to me so we can make a baby … it isn’t something I know how to label. Beautiful doesn’t begin to cover it. I’m in awe.

I’m overcome by the love I feel for this woman. My eyes fill and a single tear escapes. She’s trembling as she comes up on tiptoes to catch it with her lips. “I know.” This is a surreal moment for me. This beautiful woman has agreed to take a part of me into her body and join it with hers to make a new being—a little person who looks like us.

She puts her hands on my hips and walks backward toward the bed until the backs of her legs hit the mattress. She sits and glides to the middle. She lifts her foot and curls her toes around the waistband of my boxer briefs, pulling them, and me, in her direction. She uses her index finger to coax me. “Come here, birthday boy. I’ve got a little somethin’ for ya.”

I crawl up her body, taking my time as I leave a path of kisses beginning at her belly. When we’re face to face, she grasps the back of my neck. “Kiss me,” she says as she pulls me down so our mouths can meet.

Her mouth is making love to mine. Slow. Deep. Loving. “I love you, Laurelyn McLachlan.”

She stares at my eyes as I hover above and runs her fingertips down my cheek where she kissed my tear away only moments earlier. “And I love you, Jack Henry McLachlan.”

I kiss the side of her face and move my mouth down the length of her neck before reaching to unfasten her top. She arches her back, allowing me easier access to the clasp, and I can’t resist placing a kiss between her breasts, over her heart.

When I’m finished removing it, she lifts her bum and we repeat the same process with her knickers. “I’m feeling a little underdressed here.” She pushes at the waistband of my boxer briefs. “Maybe you should take these off so I don’t feel out of place.” She helps me push our last barrier away and I discard it over the edge of the bed.

Her legs are parted and I nestle my body between them until my hard cock is against her warm, inviting entrance. But I’m not quite ready. Making love is something we’ve done countless times, but it’s never been for this reason. This time is different. “This is about so much more than us.”

She’s trembling beneath me. “I know,” she whispers. “And it scares me to death, but in a good way.”