“There is something we can do.” This was the best time to talk about it. “We can adopt him. The kids that live with him, they asked for me to take care of him, and I want to. I want to look after him. Give him a home, love him.”
“We can do that?”
“Yes, I’m getting Shannon to draw up the paperwork. I’ll have to work from home, and take plenty of time with him. I’d want you there, by my side.” They came to a set of traffic lights, and he turned toward her. Taking hold of her hand, he kissed her knuckles. “This changes nothing to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want us to have a baby. I want us to be married, Anya.”
“Why wouldn’t we be?”
“I’d have a son.”
“Oh, you’d have an heir.” She smiled. “I didn’t even think of that.”
“I want you, Anya. I want us to have a family. I saw the way Logan leaned on you today. We could make this work, together, as a team.”
“Xavier, I get it. I’m not running away.” She patted his hand, releasing him long enough for him to follow her parents. “I always wanted a family. My parents, as you can see, started late in life, and they always regretted that.” She blew some hair out of her face. “I want kids.”
“When I asked you, you seemed shocked.”
“I was shocked of course. I mean, Xavier Leigh wanted to have kids. He wanted an heir, and I was there, and it was just surreal. If I didn’t want kids, I wouldn’t have said yes. I do love kids. Did I mention they eat a hell of a lot, and I love to cook?”
“You do love to cook.”
“I do, and Logan ate a lot of pancakes. I could do some really wicked experiments.”
Xavier couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He was in love with a woman with a kind heart, a beautiful soul. Now he just needed to tell her exactly how he felt.
“I just want to warn you that I don’t see a divorce in my future,” he said, and winced. How the fuck was that telling her how he felt?
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to divorce you. Besides, I wouldn’t leave Logan either. How long do you think we’ll have before he’s ours?” she asked.
“Providing nothing goes wrong, a couple of weeks.”
“That’s good. I like that.”
They were starting a family. He only hoped Anya realized exactly how much he loved her.
It didn’t matter if she realized it. He was going to show her.
Chapter Nine
Anya watched as Xavier spoke with his clients. It had been a week since he’d asked her about Logan. Things were moving slowly with Logan, but Shannon was reassured that they would be able to have him by next week. Until then, they both went and visited, getting Logan used to them.
The boys with Logan weren’t angry or upset that he was coming home with them. In fact, they were damn happy. She was shocked by the love the boys showed Logan, and she was proud.
The workplace gossip had died down now. No one was whispering behind their hands, looking at them, and laughing. It was the laughter she’d hated more than anything. Xavier wouldn’t let them hide their relationship anymore, and for that she was glad. She’d never enjoyed hiding that part of herself, and it never felt natural for her to.
“Here you go,” Lottie said, interrupting her.
“So sorry, I was away in a different land there,” she said, taking the mail from her.
“Marriage must really suit you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You’re practically glowing. You’re really happy, and it’s nice to see you so happy.”
Anya nodded. “I am happy. Last week we went and stayed at my parents’ place.”
“How was it?” Lottie asked.
“Kind of scary. We’re both adults, but still, he was meeting my parents, and that can be really scary.”
Lottie chuckled.
“It went well though. I had no complaints.” She glanced through the mail. “How was your weekend, and week?” They had been so busy with one problem and another with work that she hadn’t caught up with Lottie.
“Not a lot. My husband was poorly this week, so I nursed him back to health.”