The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 176: Chapter 176

Rohan POV
The chef came out silently with the appetizer and quickly placed it down, before coming back and filling up our champagne glasses. The water glasses were already filled. Josie thanked him and eagerly began to try the food, her eyes lighting up as she let out a long moan of satisfaction that went straight through my body and made my c**k twitch in response.
“It’s delicious,” she said groaning and I thanked Lauren again in my mind, knowing I would have to send her a gift of some kind as thanks once this was all over for all her help.
I never would have come up with this kind of menu on my own. I lacked the imagination that my cousin possessed. Or maybe because she was a female she understood how to do romance better than I ever could. I ate, but my eyes remained fixed on my mate, her loveliness just more pronounced by the sunshine that made her skin glow and the breeze that caused her luscious hair to gently sway around her perfect face. I would never grow tired of looking at her. I wanted to be looking at her for the rest of our long lives and I was determined to make it so that I could do just that.
“Oh,” Josie exclaimed suddenly, dropping her fork and turning to me with a wide grin “The baby is kicking, quick feel,” She grabbed my hand and pressed it against the small bump of her belly, allowing me to feel the sudden hard kick of our son as he moved beneath her stomach. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes and I blinked them back. It was such a momentous thing for me to experience, as a father and as a mate. It was helping me to bond with him before he even arrived. I hitched in a breath. Josie was beaming.
“He’s strong,” I said with a low growl, looking pleased “Just like his father,” I said smugly “but I bet he’s a handsome one cause of his mumma.”
Josie giggled. “I bet he looks like you,” she said with a wistful smile.
I hoped our son resembled her. But I was happy either way. I just wanted our son to be born happy and healthy. I was certain that Josie felt the same way. I reluctantly pulled my hand away.
The chef came and took our empty plates. “Josie,” I asked and she turned to me, her gentle lips parting in query “When are you going back for another ultrasound?”
“In a few days,” she said quietly, “the doctor said she needed to double-check something. Said she thought she saw something on the initial ultrasound and was afraid that she had missed something vital.”
“Oh, that doesn’t sound good,” I said without thinking.
Josie looked worried now “Do you think that it might have something to do with the baby?”
I automatically went to reassure her “No if it was something bad or dangerous she would have insisted that you go to the hospital immediately,” I told her and she relaxed, nodding thoughtfully.
But it begged the question, what exactly did the doctor think she might have seen on the ultrasound that could have been missed? I frowned, thinking about it, the chef coming out with the main meal and smiling as he placed them down.
The main meal was just as delicious and by the time we finished dessert, we were stuffed. Josie looked around, rubbing her stomach with smooth circles. “So good,” she said with a moan.
I grinned, my own stomach feeling distended and full. I could feel the small square box in my trouser pocket weighing heavily and felt my mouth becoming dry. Now that it was time, I was feeling more nervous than ever.
It’s time to ask the question. Don’t chicken out now Rohan. Not when you’ve come this far and gone to this much trouble. Look at our mate, she’s beautiful and carrying our pup. We have what we need.
What if she says no?
The only way to find out is to actually bloody ask her. Besides, do you think she would refuse us? I doubt it. She loves us. She got extremely jealous thinking we were with another woman. If that doesn’t scream love then I don’t know what does. Don’t let this opportunity slip us by.
Josie was looking at me with a slightly worried expression on her face. I had been a little too quiet maybe as I spoke with my wolf.
“Rohan?” she said puzzled “Is everything okay?”
I gave a slow nod. “Everything is fine,” I said gruffly “but there is something I need to do. I just need you to listen for a minute, okay Josie? Can you do that for me?”
She looked a little taken aback “Of course I can” she said nervously “But Rohan what on earth are you talking about? If something is wrong, then just tell me” she insisted.
I chuckled “Nothing is wrong sweetheart, in fact, something is very, very right,” I told her, getting up from the table as her eyes widened and she looked at me fearfully.
I was acting a little out of character. I slowly dug into the trouser pocket, feeling the hardness of the ring box, my fingers gripping it tightly, so tight that my knuckles turned white. I withdrew it and my mate let out a gasp, her eyes beginning to shine with tears. I fingered the ring box, giving my mate a slow smile, my eyes softening as I gazed upon her. I wanted to get the words right, to express how much she meant to me. She put a hand to her mouth, her lips parted, as I moved, to be in front of her, kneeling down onto one knee, the ring box in hand, my other hand reaching out to hold one of hers as I gazed into her eyes and began to speak from the heart.