The Baby Clause (The Contract #1.5) Read online

  She cupped my cheek. “Are you all right, Richard?”

  I swallowed, turning my head, kissing her palm. I knew if I told her, she would understand. She always understood me. “It’s just all . . .”

  “Overwhelming? Scary?”

  “Yes.”

  “We’ll handle it together.”

  She was right. We handled everything together now. My wife was my rock. Still, I was worried.

  I leaned closer. “I don’t want to fuck her up.”

  She arched an eyebrow. We’d already had the “stop swearing so much” conversation—many times.

  “Sorry. Mess her up the way my parents did me.”

  “You won’t. I won’t let you.” She grinned mischievously. “Jenna and Laura would kick your ass, too.”

  I arched my eyebrow, pretending to cover Gracie’s ears. “Now who’s swearing?”

  “Ass is different.”

  “I’ll remind you of that when she shouts that out in daycare.” I huffed. “Unless she’s telling some boy to keep his hands to himself. Then she can use the word ass as much as she wants.”

  Katy rolled her eyes. “Let’s get her eating solid food and walking before we start thinking about boys and dating, okay?”

  “Good idea. Walking I can handle. She can’t date until she’s thirty.”

  “Good luck with that, Daddy.”

  I sat down, cooing at Gracie who was watching us, her wide, blue eyes blinking and drowsy. “You’re Daddy’s girl, right? No icky boys for you.”

  Katy muttered a mild curse, making me chuckle.

  “I think Mommy is a little grumpy.” I pressed a kiss to Gracie’s forehead. “I think someone wore her out today.”

  “You wear me out.”

  “I like wearing you out.”

  “I’m aware—hence the baby you’re holding.”

  I laughed, settling Gracie into the crook of my arm. She fit perfectly there. I reclined in my seat, staring at my wife. The rounder she grew while carrying Gracie, the sexier I had found her, and the more I wanted her. The new curves and the way her body responded had been like aphrodisiacs to me—not that I needed much incentive, when it came to Katy. Whereas she thought she was fat, I found her sexy and alluring. I proved it to her—many times.

  Katy smiled lovingly at me, her voice gentle.

  “You’re going to hold her all night, aren’t you?”

  “Probably.”

  “I guess it puts your theory of not loving a child to rest.”

  I frowned, looking down at Gracie. How I could have ever believed that, now seemed so foreign to me. So wrong. I had fallen in love with her before I ever saw her on that ultrasound screen all those months ago. Then the first time I held her, I was encompassed with a love I never dreamed existed. As usual, Katy had been right.

  “It was an inane theory.”

  “It was how you coped.”

  I stood, laying Gracie in her bassinet. I focused on my wife, stroking back her hair, gliding my finger down her cheek. I lifted her chin, kissing her soft lips. “That was all I did before I found you. I coped. Now I live.”

  She beamed up at me. “You live well.”

  “I do. I have a great job, a bunch of crazy friends who are like family, and the most amazing wife in the world—who today, gave me the best gift I’ve ever received.” I kissed her again. “I’m very lucky.”

  “We’re the lucky ones. Gracie and me. We have you.”

  “We have each other.” Then I winked at her cheekily. “I think I may want a few more just like her.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “Um, maybe we can discuss that at a later date.”

  “Sure. You’re young. We have time.”

  Katy laughed. I always teased her about being younger than I was. In truth, although chronologically I had seven years on top of her twenty-six, she was far wiser than I would ever be.

  I dropped another kiss on her mouth. “Now, go to sleep. We can go home tomorrow, and I want you to get some rest.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’ll doze in the chair.”

  “The bed is pretty sturdy.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  She shifted over. “Lots of room for you and Gracie.”

  I paused, pursing my lips in thought. “I might get into trouble. If Shelly returns, she’ll order me out. She already thinks I’m trouble.”

  “You are trouble. I doubt finding you beside me will shock her too much.” Her tone changed and became serious. “I would rest better with you holding me.”

  That was all I needed. I scooped up Gracie and slid in beside Katy. I lifted my arm, letting her curl into my side with her head on my chest. I tucked Gracie against me and sighed in contentment. Once again, I had my family wrapped in my arms. Katy’s body grew heavy with sleep and soon her even breathing let me know she was resting. Gracie snuffled and squirmed, barely waking despite all the jostling. I was certain she’d be wide-awake soon enough.

  I was too wired to sleep. I lay, thinking of the past months. All the love, joy, and laughter my life now contained. All the great moments.

  I looked up toward the ceiling and winked.

  “You seeing this, Penny? I got your girls—just as I promised.”

  I knew, if she were here, she would smirk warmly at me and tell me she knew it all along. She’d say she wasn’t surprised it took me longer to figure it out, since Katy was the smarter of the two of us.

  With a grin, I tucked my family closer.

  She’d be right.

  MELANIE MORELAND LIVES A HAPPY and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-six-plus years. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.

  Known as the quiet one with the big laugh, Melanie works at a local university and for its football team. Her job, while demanding, is rewarding as she cheers on her team to victory.

  While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys travelling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.

  Melanie delights in a good romance story with some bumps along the way, but is a true believer in happily ever after. When her head isn’t buried in a book, it is bent over a keyboard, furiously typing away as her characters dictate their creative storylines to her, often with a large glass of wine keeping her company.

  Contact Melanie

  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads