He takes my face between his large hands and kisses me. His lips gently caressing mine, his breath warm and familiar. “Love me Addison, forever, because, I can’t stop loving you. I don’t even want to try.”

Pulling away, I look deep into his eyes. “Can forever start now?”

His lids lower, and he pulls me tight to him. Sighing, he lifts me in his arms and carries me inside my apartment, shutting the door behind him. He finds my bedroom, and gently places me on the bed, his body hovering above me. “We have a lot of making up to do.”

“Maybe I should take the week off of work,” I suggest.

“Or the entire month.” His hands slide under the hem of my shirt, his fingers trailing up my skin as he removes it from my body. A slow ache begins between my legs as his eyes pool in desire.

“When did you rent the apartment next door?”

Shrugging, his lips pull my bra down over my nipple and he begins to run his nose around it in circles. “About three months ago.”

“This was always your plan?”

His face comes back to mine, his arms resting on either side of my head. “Addison, you asked me once what my end game was. It’s always been you. Whether you were on board with that plan or not, you’ve always been it for me.”

I trace his bottom lip with my finger. “Love me, Damian because I love you. I love you.”

“How exactly did the baby get inside Addison’s belly?”

I choke on a sip of water, my face flushed, my chest heaving with a coughing fit as I try to force the water back up into the right pipe so I can breathe again. Maybe if I make a big enough deal of choking, she’ll forget she asked the question.

I cough a few more times, take another sip of water and look into her big blue eyes. “Want to play a game of Battleship?” I ask.

Emily shakes her head. “No, I want to know how babies are born.”

I nod and look around the room for help. We’re having lunch at my parent’s house in Malibu, everyone is in town for the baby shower my mom is throwing tomorrow. Addison stands and kisses me on the head, “I need to use the ladies room. I’ll be right back.” The woman is seven months pregnant and she always needs to go to the bathroom. But right now, I’m thinking she’s using our baby as an excuse to get out of this conversation.

“My friend Macie says you have to kiss a boy, but Charlotte insists there’s a special hug and then the baby magically appears. Which one is it?”

Reed stands and clears everyone’s dishes, Mia and Paige following behind.

“Hey guys we’re gonna go catch a movie. We’ll see you later,” Mia announces.

“Reed, you’re not going anywhere. You need to help me set up for tomorrow.” I call behind his retreating back.

“Not on your life, Dude!”

Fucker.

I look at her sweet face and take her all in. Her blonde hair is growing in nicely. It’s short, but covers her entire scalp. If you didn’t know her story, you’d have no clue that twelve months ago she was lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life.

“They’re both right,” I say. “There’s a little bit of magic, some hugs and kisses, but most importantly Emily, there’s an abundance of love.”

She nods like she gets it, but her eyes tell me she’s still trying to figure it out. “But how does it get in there?”

I look around the house she now calls home, wondering how much information I’m supposed to divulge to a nine-year-old about sex. “You know how chickens lay egg—”

“I’m taking Emily to do some last minute shopping, Damian.”

I’m startled by my mother’s voice, but so damn thankful she just saved me.

“Sounds great,” I say quickly as I jump up.

Emily grabs her coat, conversation over, crisis averted and they leave out the front door hand in hand.

“Is she gone?” Addison is peering around the corner.

“You left me on purpose, didn’t you?” I ask as I begin to walk in her direction.

She shrugs and starts walking backwards. “I had to pee really badly,” pointing down at her beautiful round belly; she looks me in the eyes. “Your daughter likes to sit on my bladder.”

Shaking my head, I begin to move quicker in her direction. She’s laughing, and picks up her pace. There’s no way she can outrun me. When I’m right in front of her, I pull her into my arms, my hand resting against her belly and my heart soaring knowing the little girl in there is one we created together, a piece of each of us.

I run my nose along her jaw, her scent surrounding me, the feel of her in my arms never losing its effect on my body.

“We’re alone,” I point out.

She nods.

Leaning down I gently kiss her.

“It’s hard to find alone time when ten people live in this house,” I say.

“What are you suggesting, Damian?” Her hands run through my hair and gently scratch my scalp. Like clockwork, I shiver and close my eyes, feeling the need to be inside her and needing it soon.

Lowering my lips to her ear, I whisper, “Would you rather christen my childhood bed, or the shower?”

Her green eyes meet mine. “Bed,” she whispers.

I begin to walk her towards the stairs.

“Would you rather I rub your feet, or your back?” I ask as I lead her up each step.

“Start at my feet and move . . . up.”

We get to the door of my bedroom, and I stare deeply into her eyes, my heart quickening, and my body lighting up. Leaning down I kiss her before we enter the room. She wraps her arms around me and meets my lips. A small moan escapes her mouth and something moves against my stomach. I run my hands down the sides of her body and rest them on her swollen belly, feeling my daughter . . . our daughter do a slight dance inside her mother.

I lower myself to the floor before her and lift her shirt, gently kissing where our daughter is comfortably growing. Looking up into Addison’s adoring eyes, I do what I should have twelve months ago.

“Love me forever, Addison. Marry me.”

Her eyes widen, and her breath catches. She bends down and throws her arms around me. “Yes Damian. Yes, of course I’ll marry you. There’s nothing else in this world I’d rather do.”

Read other books by A. J. Pryor

Right Next Door was all over the place until I got it in the hands of my editor Chelsea Kuhel. Thank you for all your suggestions, your commitment to making this story the best it could be and for the numerous re-reads I made you endure. The weeks of synopsis writing - why is that so hard? I loved every second of working with you.

My beta team is amazing! Claire from Bare Naked Words, Marion from Making Manuscripts, Coral, Debra, Denise, Donna, Erica, Erica, Meg, Stephanie and Tammy, thank you for always telling me when I can do better and for sometimes reading multiple versions of the same story. You guys rock and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of you.

Thank you, Emily Hansen, for your beta comments, your synopsis help and all of your advice. I hope one day we get to meet in person and I can’t wait to read your work.

Jenny, you live too far away and I wish you’d come back to California, but I love you anyway. Thank you for always taking a last look for me. You put my mind at ease.

Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations for always creating a cover I love. I’m picky and never know what I’m looking for, but you never fail to get it right. Thank you.

Nazarea at InkSlinger PR for helping me spread the word. Your advice and hard work are forever appreciated.

Emily at E.M. Tippetts book designs for formatting this exactly the way I wanted. Thank you!

Mom, Dad, and Aunt Kate, thank you for always supporting me! Love you guys.

And of course my amazing husband and our beautiful children for allowing me to pursue this passion and always supporting me. Love you.