Chapter 467

Olivia

The sound of the front door opening made me peek my head out from the dining room. Nathan walked in carrying a large white bakery box, a huge grin spreading across his handsome face.

His hair was more tousled than usual from the chilly February wind, but his blue-green eyes were brighter than ever. Despite my annoyance with him from the other day, I couldn’t deny how handsome he looked during moments like this.

“Liv, I picked up the cake and—” His voice trailed off when he spotted me standing on top of a chair, hanging blue and pink streamers from the ceiling.

“Olivia! What the hell are you doing up there?” he exclaimed. He quickly set the box down on the table and rushed over, his earlier look of amusement quickly shifting to one of concern. “Please get down before you fall. What are you, insane?”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide my impish smile, touched by his protectiveness and maybe wanting to make him squirm a little bit more. “Oh, stop. I’m perfectly fine,” I said as I taped up another section of pastel pink streamer paper. “I may be pregnant, but my balance is just fine for now.”

Nathan planted his hands on his hips, stamping his foot stubbornly. Rarely did he embrace his Alpha role at home, but clearly his fear for the baby’s safety broke our usual dynamic. It was endearing, to say the least.

“I don’t give a shit. It’s still dangerous being up that high in your condition,” he argued. “Now climb down this instant, or else I’ll come up there and take you down myself.”

I couldn’t help but snort with laughter. Still, not wanting to actually worry my silly overprotective husband, I relented, carefully climbing down off of the rickety chair.

“Yes, sir, Alpha Ford,” I teased with a mock salute.

Nathan rolled his eyes and brushed past me. I watched as he climbed up onto the chair and began putting up the streamers himself.

Unable to resist, I crept over to peek under the lid of the cake box while he was distracted. My mouth began to water as I gazed down at the flawlessly iced cake that was waiting for me—vanilla with whipped raspberry filling, our favorite.

Although, the interior color of the cake remained cleverly hidden for now. It was going to be either blue or pink. Hopefully not both; I wasn’t sure if I could handle another set of twins so soon.

“Mm,” I teased, licking my lips. “Looks delicious.”

Nathan, noticing my hungry gaze, leveled me with a stern look as he taped up another blue streamer. “You keep your grubby little hands off of that cake,” he said. “We have to save it for the party.”

“But it looks so delicious,” I whined. “And I’m so hungry…”

Nathan smirked. “I figured you’d say that, you sugar monster,” he teased, nodding his head toward another, smaller box off to the side that I hadn’t noticed. “That’s why I got you that.”

Following his gaze, I felt a grin stretch across my face. I grabbed the box and opened it to reveal a decadent chocolate muffin that made my stomach growl immediately.

“This is for me?” I asked.

“All yours. As long as I get a bite.”

I grinned. “You’ll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.”

Nathan chuckled as I took a big bite of the cupcake, savoring the sweet chocolate and raspberry filling. “Delicious,” I muttered around a mouthful. He smirked and jumped down, wandering over to me.

To placate him, I swiped a bit of frosting onto my finger and held it out for him to lick off. He pouted, but carefully licked the frosting off of my finger with little hesitation. The feeling of his tongue made me tingle, and I didn’t fight back when he leaned down for a bite out of my coveted cupcake.

“Delicious indeed,” he purred, pulling me close and kissing the chocolate off of my lips. “Truly though Liv, I hope all this helps make up just a little for…”

His face clouded momentarily. Shame still lingered there in his eyes from the appointment debacle from the other day.

“You went above and beyond,” I said gently. “Was I devastated at first? Absolutely. But look…” I gestured from the decorated dining room to the stunning two-tier cake, all of which Nathan had arranged himself. “You’re turning a painful memory into a joyful celebration now.”

“I just want to show you how much you mean to me,” Nathan said, a bit bashfully. “You deserve nothing less.” He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, smiling. “And soon we’ll know for sure if Elliot and Aurora are getting a baby brother or sister.”

…

I stood adjusting my new skirt in the bedroom mirror, turning this way and that. The skirt was a dark red satin, and I was wearing a black sweater on top. Perfect for a pre-Valentine’s party.

Suddenly, as I was adjusting my hair, Nathan’s arms slipped around me from behind. He spread both hands over my rounded stomach and rested his chin on my shoulder, meeting my gaze in our reflection.

“You look so gorgeous,” he murmured against my ear.

I took in a soft breath, turning to face him in his arms. We stayed like that for a few moments, just enjoying the peace and quiet before our guests arrived.

“I know it may take more time to regain your full trust after… well, everything when I missed our appointment,” he said softly. Pain flashed through his eyes. “But please know how deeply I regret it all. You and our babies will only ever come first from now on.”

My throat grew unexpectedly thick with emotion. Looping both arms around his neck, I drew him a little closer and pressed a kiss against the warm, soft skin of his neck. I lingered there for a moment, inhaling his sweet scent: grapefruit salt, just like always.

“You’re already forgiven, Nathan,” I whispered. “Just please don’t ever break a promise to me like that again.” I brushed my lips across his. “Deal?”

Nathan sighed into our kiss, relaxing slightly. I felt his hands run up my sweater, cool and smooth against the bare skin of my back.

The feeling made me shiver just a little, and already I could feel my panties growing wet beneath my skirt. These pregnancy hormones were making me insatiable.

“Deal accepted, happily.” He gave me that perfect lopsided grin that I always adored. “Now come on. Our esteemed guests should be here any minute now.”

Together, we headed downstairs hand in hand just moments before the doorbell rang. I threw it open enthusiastically to find Angela and Levi on the porch holding dishes of food, with Angela practically bouncing on her heels due to her excitement.

“There’s the beautiful mom-to-be!” she exclaimed as she barreled in and kissed my cheek enthusiastically, with Levi rolling his eyes amusingly behind her.

Within just a few minutes, Clint and Dianna were at the door, too. Clint looked as handsome as ever in a tweed suit and a bowtie, and Dianna wore a long dress with a bit of forgotten paint around her elbow.

Before I knew it, our villa was full of the type of love that we cherished the most. Our party was small, but it felt enormous in my heart. We shared a delicious dinner together, just the six of us, and then it was time for the long-awaited cake.

Together, Nathan and I took hold of the knife and sliced slowly into the layers… revealing smooth, vivid frosting inside.

It was blue.

Nathan’s eyes widened upon seeing the blue frosting. “It’s a boy,” he murmured. “Another boy!”

I couldn’t believe it. Almost immediately, I felt tears spring to my eyes upon realizing that another tiny baby boy was waiting to join our family. Without another word, Nathan threw his arms around me and whirled me around, eliciting a wild laugh and a gasp from my lips.

“Oh my gosh,” Angela breathed, clasping her hands together. “A boy. How do you feel, Liv?”

I took in a deep breath, still winded from the sudden twirl. “I feel… amazing,” I answered, turning to face Nathan. I tilted my chin up at him, tossing my hair over my shoulder as we gazed at one another lovingly. “We’re having another boy, Nathan.”

Nathan grinned and looped his arm around my waist, pulling me close once more to dot kisses across my nose and cheeks. “I love you, Liv.”

“I love you too.”

Suddenly, a knock on the door caused us all to fall silent, the laughter and shouting around the table falling into a surprised hum. I furrowed my brow, pulling away; we weren’t expecting anyone else.

“I’ve got it,” I said, figuring that maybe it was a neighbor or a delivery.

But when I threw open the door, I realized that it was anything but that. Instead, it was entirely unexpected; the two faces that stared back at me had never been invited.

“Dan? Clarissa?”