Page 32 of Promised to the Cowboy

“I don’t want to disappoint them.”

I stop walking. “Evie.”

“What?”

“You’re carrying our daughter. You’re already family.”

Evie’s eyes glisten for a second before she blinks it away. “You keep saying that.”

I frown. “Saying what?”

“Our daughter.”

“Because she is.” I lift our joined hands and brush a kiss over her knuckles. “Ready?”

She takes a steadying breath. “No.”

I smile. “Good.”

She laughs. “Good?”

“I figure if we’re both terrified, at least we’re doing it together.”

She looks at me for a second, then nods. “Together.”

I open the door.

Every conversation inside stops.

Daniel looks up first from where he’s leaning against the kitchen island, coffee mug in one hand. Ethan’s halfway through stealing a cookie from the batch Maggie’s just set down. Delaney’s making notes in the little notebook she seems to carry everywhere. Jenna’s perched on the counter beside her.

Jacob stands near the sink, travel-worn in a denim shirt and boots still dusty from the drive home. He’s broader than his sons now, silver threaded through his dark hair, the deep lines around his eyes carved there by weather and years.

His gaze lands on me first.

Then on Evie.

Then on our joined hands.

Maggie catches my eye over Jacob’s shoulder and gives me the tiniest nod.

I clear my throat. “Dad.”

Jacob straightens.

“This is Evie.”

Evie offers a small smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Sutton.”

He crosses the room without hesitation and holds out his hand. “Jacob. Welcome to Stoneridge.”

She takes it. “Thank you.”

I reach for Evie’s hand again when he releases it. “We have something to tell you all.”

Ethan leans back against the counter. “That much we’d figured.”

I glance at Evie before looking back at my family. “Evie’s pregnant with my baby.”