Bachelor Swap, Lacey Black [best short novels txt] 📗

because she needs the help, but so I can put my hands on her.

“Thank you,” she giggles, as my hands slowly slide up her sides.

“Anything to get my hands on you,” I tell her honestly.

Once Dolly is secured to another tree, I take Kyla’s hand and walk her toward the water where the dogs are already swimming. They love walking the property with us, especially when we come out here where they can swim in the small pond.

“Let’s go for a walk,” I say, pulling her away from the water’s edge. “I have something I want to show you.”

***

Kyla

I’m nervous. I’ve been trying for two days to figure out how to have this conversation with Mason, and it appears the perfect opportunity has presented itself. He loves this pond, much like I do. It’s probably my favorite place on the ranch, with the exception of the front porch. My hope is that it’ll relax him enough to not take my news like a bomb tossed in his lap.

“Let’s go for a walk,” he says, pulling me away from the water’s edge. “I have something I want to show you.”

We head for the cluster of trees I love, weaving into the middle until we reach a small clearing. That’s when I look up and notice the platform. “What’s that?” I ask, gazing skyward as he leads me beneath it.

“Come see,” he instructs, pointing to the wooden ladder. As I place my hands on the rung above me, he adds, “They’re safe and secure, I promise.”

I smile, already knowing that. Mason would never let me climb a ladder he wasn’t sure was secure. As I breach the flooring, I grab on to the railing and hoist myself up and take a look around. We’re not super high, but enough I can see into the trees and the pond off in the distance.

I wonder what we’re doing up here and when he could have done this. I know he goes off with the ranch hands alone a lot, but I would have thought he’d tell me he was building a structure back here.

When I turn around, I’m surprised to find him on the floor. Not sitting but kneeling on one knee and holding something in his hand. “Mase?” I ask, confused at what’s going on.

“Kyla,” he starts, meeting my questioning gaze with one full of anticipation and love.

That’s when it hits me.

“Oh my God!” I bellow, my hands coming up to cover my mouth.

He chuckles and reaches out for a hand. I slowly bring my shaking left one down and place it in his. First thing he does is kiss the top of it before returning his eyes to mine. “Sweetheart, I’ve thought of this day so many times over the last year. I’ve thought about how we started and how far we’ve come together since you showed up here. Every day, I fall more in love with you and look forward to each day that follows. I want to continue to build our life together, and maybe someday, when we’re ready, fill this treehouse with kids. I know it’s not much now, just a floor, but it’s a good base and a solid foundation. I want to build it all with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He takes a deep breath. “Kyla Morgan, will you marry me?”

He blurs slightly through my unshed tears. I nod, knowing there’s only one answer to his question. “Yes.”

Mason slides a ring on my finger and jumps to his feet, taking me in his arms. His kiss is full of an overwhelming sense of happiness and passion, and all I want to do is strip him down and show him just how much I love him.

But I can’t.

Not yet.

I pull my lips from his and suck in a gasp of air. “Mason, actually I have something I need to tell you.”

He looks worried as he takes in my words, his critical eyes scanning me from head to toe. “Is everything okay?”

I clear my throat and smile. “Yes, I think so. I’m hoping things will be very okay,” I reply nervously. I pull back and put a little space between us. He lets me go, but I can tell he doesn’t like it. I take a deep, cleansing breath and let it out. I’ve wondered how I’d say these words to him. Do I just say it, like ripping off a Band-Aid, or do I give him some sweet words, like he did with his proposal?

Maybe a spot in between…

“I’m pregnant.”

Oops!

That’s not at all how I was going to do it. So much for finding the sweet spot in between.

“What?” he gasps, his eyes wide with shock.

“I just found out two days ago. My period was late and so I took a home test. It was positive.”

“You’re pregnant?” he asks, trying to wrap his head around what he’s heard.

“I am.”

He blinks a few times before a smile sweeps across his handsome face. Mason lets out a whoop before taking me in his arms and spinning around. I laugh, my feet dangling above the ground, until he suddenly stops and sets me down. “Shit, Ky, I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s okay,” I reply, sniffling. Suddenly, I’m all teary-eyed again, my emotions completely overcoming me.

He pushes back, his eyes dropping to my stomach. I feel his hands gently caress the flat skin. “This is the best day ever,” he whispers, before taking me in his arms once more and placing a kiss on my lips.

“It is.”

“I can’t believe we’re going to have a baby,” he says, almost absently. “I’m going to have to hurry up.”

“Hurry up?”

“Well, first I need to get you down the aisle. I want to marry you as quickly as we can arrange it. And then I need to get these walls done.”

I bark out a laugh. “I don’t think the baby will be able to climb into a treehouse for a few years, Mason.”

“No, probably not,