The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 359

Chapter 176-2

Locke freezes mid-stride on his way to fetch the coffee pot. His sharp eyes snap instantly from Evelyn over to me, and then back to Evelyn. He lowers the pot slowly onto the stove trivet, his broad shoulders tightening as he squints at her.

“Evie…” Locke starts, then falters a bit. “What are you – what did you just say?”

Evelyn turns around, setting the pitcher down on the timber table, and rolls her dark eyes with affectionate exasperation. “Oh, come on, Rex. You think I didn’t see the way she was holding her stomach last night by the fireplace? Or the fact that you looked ready to throw her over your shoulder and into the truck every time she took a slightly deep breath at dinner?”

I blush, look over at Locke.

“I wasn’t born yesterday, and I certainly know how you act when you’re trying to guard something important to you.” She sets her hands on her hips, her eyes dancing with quiet triumph. “You’re a lot of things, Reginald Tanner, but subtle has never been one of them.”

A broad, genuine grin breaks across Locke’s face. He steps over to Evelyn and catching her up in a tight, fierce hug that lifts her clear off her feet for a second.

“You don’t miss a damn thing, do you?” he says affectionately, setting her down carefully.

“Not a single thing,” Evelyn says, swatting his heavy shoulder before turning to me with bright eyes. She walks straight over, stepping around the island, and pulls me into a long, fierce embrace. “I am so, so happy for both of you. Rex is going to be an incredible father, Zara. You’re giving him the family he’s deserved his entire life.”

At the electric surge of joy in the room, Titan gets swept up in the celebration. He lets out a loud, triumphant bark that shakes the kitchen windows, prancing forward on massive paws. He nudges his broad head right between Evelyn and me, letting out a series of deep, happy rumbles.

Locke laughs, dropping to one knee to wrap his massive arms around Titan’s thick neck, wrestling the huge dog affectionately. “Hear that, Titan? You’re gonna have a little one to guard.”

Titan lets out a happy huff, his tail beating like a sledgehammer against the wooden cabinets, before he trots over to me and rests his giant head softly against my stomach, pressing his nose right where my hand was resting earlier.

“See?” Evelyn says. “Even Titan knows.”

I smile, taking a small step toward the stove. “Here, let me take over the pancakes at least. Or grab the remaining plates.”

Before I can even lay a hand on a spatula, Locke steps directly into my path, his massive frame blocking the stove while Evelyn takes the spatula right out of my hand.

“Not a chance, baby,” Locke says softly, his broad hands coming to rest gently on my waist, steering me backward away from the heat. “You aren’t touching a pan today. You look absolutely radiant, Zara… sweatpants, messy hair, and all. Look at those cheeks. Rest.”

13

Chapter 126

“He’s right,” Evelyn chimes in, expertly sliding another pancake onto the platter. “You look beautiful. Glowing, truly. Now sit down and let us pamper you.”

+25 Printe

I blush again, leaning back into Locke’s chest as he pulls out my chair for me, Titan settling down like a furry sentinel right beside my seat.

“We actually weren’t planning on telling anyone just yet,” I admit quietly, glancing between the two of them. “I’m not even at three months yet, so we wanted to keep it close until we felt completely out of the woods. But honestly… I’m so thrilled you know, Evelyn. Having you share this with us makes it feel so much more real.”

“It is real,” Locke murmurs, pressing a lingering, warm kiss into my hair before sliding into the chair beside me. “And Evie is family. She keeps our secrets.”

We sit down at the table to a feast fit for a king. Locke fills my plate himself, piling it high with blueberry pancakes, crispy bacon, and scrambled eggs, and I dive in with a favenous appetite I haven’t had in weeks. Titan sits proudly at our feet, happily accepting a piece of unseasoned bacon from Locke’s hand with gentle precision.

“Look at you,” Locke says, watching me clear half my plate with a lazy, deeply satisfied grin as he leans back in his chair with his coffee mug. “No running for the bathroom today?”

“Not even a flutter,” I say happily, taking a bright sip of fresh orange juice. “I feel completely normal. Actually, I feel amazing.”

“It’s the Maine air,” Evelyn says knowingly, leaning over to top off Locke’s coffee from the pot. “Sea salt, pine needles, and quiet fix almost anything that ails a person. But once you two finish off that platter, you ought to put your coats on and take a walk down to the shoreline while the sun’s still out. The tide is turning, and the cove looks gorgeous in the snow.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Locke says, his heavy hand coming down to rest warm and solid on my thigh beneath the table, his thumb tracing slow, possessive patterns against my knee while Titan lets out a cozy, contented sigh on the floor beside us. “A walk will do us both good.”

“Yeah,” I agree as I cut into my fourth pancake. “I need to work off these calories somehow.”

Locke snorts, a low rumble of amusement vibrating through his chest as he shifts his gaze from Evelyn’s knowing smile down to me. His thumb doesn’t stop its slow, intoxicating rhythm on my knee… it just slides a little higher, his palm heavy and hot against my thigh.

“Don’t worry about the calories, baby,” he murmurs, his eyes glinting with a slow, wicked spark. “I’ve already got a few better ideas lined up for how we’re going to burn those off later.”

My cheeks instantly flare hot, a sudden, breathless laugh escaping my lips as I try – and completely fail – to keep a straight face in front of Evelyn. I nudge his heavy work boot beneath the table with the toe of my sock, though I don’t move his hand an inch.

“Locke,” I whisper-warn, my eyes darting toward the stove where Evelyn is busy wiping down the counter, her back turned to us with a soft, secretive chuckle. “Behave.”

“I am behaving,” Locke says, his broad hand squeezing my thigh just enough to make my pulse stutter before he finally pulls back, casually lifting his coffee mug to his lips. He takes a slow sip, his devastating smile making my knees weak. “Just making sure we get the full benefit of the fresh coastal air.”

27

Chapter 1

Right Purely for health reasons.”

25 Pouths

‘Purely,” he agrees, his deep voice thick with quiet satisfaction as Titan thumps his heavy tail against the rug, signaling his complete approval of the plan.

Comments

LUCK DRAW >

Vote

1 1K