Serve & Protect Read online

  “Hales!” He called as he entered the apartment. “I'm back. Care to tell me why we had to have all of these things today?”

  I rounded the corner, pulling our suitcases behind me. “Surprise!”

  He arched a brow, and crossed his arms. “What's all this?”

  “We're going on our honeymoon!”

  “We're supposed to go back to work on Monday.. are you feeling alright?” He asked, stepping towards me and placing his hand on my forehead.

  I swatted him away. “Noah! I'm trying to do something spontaneous here.” I pouted. “Don't you at least want to know where we're going?”

  He laughed, pulling me into his arms. “Alright, Sugar. Where are we going?”

  I smiled wide, before wrapping my arms around his neck. “Jamaica!” I said with excitement. “Montego Bay, to be exact. Our villa is on the water! On the freaking water, Noah! It's got a private pool, jacuzzi, and outdoor shower. There's even an over the water hammock. Oh! And there's a glass floor inside, so you can see the fish swimming beneath you. We even have a butler, with a water taxi!”

  “What the hell is a water taxi?” He asked.

  “I have no idea, but I'm dying to find out.”

  We laughed together, before he pressed his lips to mine. “And how much did this cost us?”

  “I used the wedding money... are you mad?”

  “How long are we staying?”

  “A week.” I said cautiously, still trying to gauge his reaction.

  “An entire week of seeing you barefoot, and in a bikini? I think I can handle that.” He smirked, before whispering in my ear. “Your hair wavy from the salt, your skin kissed by the sun. Sounds pretty damn perfect.”

  “Our flight leaves in an hour.” I whispered, just as seductively.

  As Noah, and I boarded the plane I couldn't help but think about everything that had happened in the last few months. I thought that I knew my dad better than anyone in the world, but now? I don't think I'll ever know the kind of man that he truly was. I've always hated secrets, and now I hated them even more.

  “You alright, Sugar?” Noah asked, reaching for my hand.

  “No more secrets.” I said, turning to face him. “Promise me. There's nothing else that you're keeping from me? Even the smallest of things? My dad's secrets nearly destroyed me, and they did destroy my brother. I can't let them destroy you. Us.”

  “I'm an open book. Promise.”

  “In that case.. there's something that I have to tell you.” I said, taking a deep breath.

  He brushed his thumb over my hand reassuringly. “Whatever it is, I'm not going anywhere.”

  “Well I should hope not.” I teased. “This is your baby after all.”

  “My.. what?” He said, the look on his face was priceless. Shock. He was in complete shock.

  “You're going to be a daddy.” I said, biting my bottom lip.

  “Shit. Wait? Should we be flying right now? Is it safe?-”

  “Relax.” I laughed, placing my finger over his lips. “Do you really think I would have planned this trip, if it wasn't?”

  “No.” He mumbled around my finger, as his smile began to widen. “I can't believe- when?” He stammered.

  “The doc says I'm only about four weeks.. so I'm assuming it was the random parking lot sex.”

  This time he was the one silencing me with his finger. “What if someone hears you?” He whispered.

  “Like no one else has ever had sex in a car before?” I scoffed, enticing laughter from the couple behind us. “See.” I said, tossing my head in their general direction. “They get it.”

  “You're impossible.” He said, shaking his head.

  “You're infuriating.” I said, inching closer to his face.

  “You're beautiful.” He said, doing the same.

  “You're a kiss ass.” I countered.

  “You're fucking perfect.” He whispered, before crashing his lips onto mine. I couldn't help but squeal, as he bit my bottom lip playfully, and before we knew it the couple behind us started to hoop, and holler. We laughed, but didn't break our kiss. I was celebrating, and in that moment I couldn't care less who was or wasn't watching.

  I didn't know what this pregnancy meant for my job, but I knew that as long as I had Noah it didn't matter. He was going to be an amazing father, and I was going to be nothing like my mother. This baby would grow up happy, and loved, surrounded by truth, and I couldn't ask for anything more than that.

  ~The End~