Now? I'm used to it, but we've been keeping a secret the last three months.
Tomorrow, we're making an announcement, so for this afternoon and tonight, we'll be enjoying our privacy for a little bit longer.
"C'mon," I put my arm around her waist. "Let's head on out."
"I would normally argue with you, that we need to get a few things done for tomorrow, but it's going to be a big day. I could go for an evening on the couch watching some Christmas movies."
Reaching forward, I hook my arm around her neck, pulling her into me. She melts against my body, her arms circling my waist. Her head goes against my chest, and she inhales deeply, sighing.
"I could go to sleep right now."
Hitching my head back toward the place where this all started, I give her a grin. "We can hit the office and you can nap before we head home."
"While that sounds promising, and I would almost be willing to say yes, I'd rather go home to our big bed and curl up with Mistletoe."
I knew eventually that cat would take my place, but I can't help the way my chest expands with pride as she talks about our big bed. Three months ago, our house was finished and we've worked hard to turn it into a home. "You wanna curl up with him, but not with me? I see how it is. I'm the one who gets up with you in the morning and helps you breathe through the nausea."
"But he's the one who sleeps on my feet and keeps them warm when it's cold outside." She grins.
"I love you and if you'll remember correctly, it was because of the first cold night, this happened," I cup her slight stomach in the palm of my hand.
Her cheeks pinken. "I remember. It was a really good night," she grins up at me.
"It most definitely was. C'mon, babe, let's get outta here."
She's asleep as we pull into the driveway to our new house on Candy Cane Lane. This one has a bedroom for both of us and an almost-furnished nursery for the baby coming soon. Both of us said we shouldn't go ahead and decorate it because something could happen, but we also couldn't stop ourselves. We were too excited, and figured we might as well enjoy the pregnancy.
Turning the SUV off, I wait to see if she'll stir. When she doesn't, I get out and head over to the passenger side. She never wakes up as I unbuckle her and carry her inside. She's been so tired since the beginning of the pregnancy.
Mistletoe comes to the edge of the bed, meowing when I lay her down and cover her up. There are a lot of things I should do, but I choose to crawl in next to them, putting my arms around them both. In this moment I know that coming to Blizzard Bluff and working at For Goodness Cakes was the best decision I ever made.
Not being able to wait any longer, I reach over and grab my phone, posting the pictures we had taken last week to the bakery's Facebook page announcing our pregnancy.
Immediately the congratulations begin streaming in, and I know like I've never known anything that this is home.
The End
* * *
There will be more Blizzard Bluff in 2023!
Also By Laramie Briscoe
The Haldonia Monarchy
Royal Rebel
Royal Chaos
Royal Love
* * *
Heaven Hill Series
Meant To Be
Out of Darkness
Losing Control
Worth The Battle
Dirty Little Secret
Second Chance Love
Rough Patch
Beginning of Forever
Home Free
Shield My Heart
A Heaven Hill Christmas
* * *
Heaven Hill Next Generation
Hurricane
Wild
Fury
Hollow
Restraint
Bishop
* * *
Heaven Hill Shorts
Caelin
Christine
Justice
Harley
Jagger
Charity
Liam
Drew
Dalton
Mandy
* * *
Rockin’ Country Series
Only The Beginning
The Price of Love
Full Circle
Hard To Love
Reaper’s Love
* * *
The Nashvegas Trilogy
Power Couple
Breach of Contract
Platinum
* * *
The Moonshine Task Force Series
Renegade
Tank
Havoc
Ace
Menace
Cruise
* * *
Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team
Ransom
Suppression
Enigma
Cutter
Sullivan
Devante
Archer
* * *
The MVP Duet
On the DL
MVP
* * *
The Midnight Cove Series
Inflame
* * *
Stand Alones
My Confession
Sketch
Sass
Trick
Room 143
2018 Laramie Briscoe Compilation
2019 Laramie Briscoe Compilation
Declan - Chapter One
Declan
The night sky sparkles in the inky blackness as the snow crunches under my boots. The city is asleep, partly because of the late hour, and because the weather has been shit. Which is why I’m walking home from the bar tonight, and not driving my truck.
Stuffing my hands into the pockets of my jacket and ducking my head into the wind, I pick up the pace. I stayed out longer than I meant to and my morning wakeup call is going to come in just a few hours.
Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I check the temperature.
Fifteen degrees.
My face is about to freeze off. Luckily I only have a few more blocks to go.
“How am I going to get us out of this mess?”
The voice of a woman cuts through the night. It’s one of distress, and irritation. It’s also one that sounds familiar to me. Picking up speed, I hurry to where I heard the sound coming from.
Once I turn the corner, I see a little Toyota I recognize. A brunette is standing beside it with her hands held on top of her head. One I’ve always thought was beautiful, one who has been the star of so many of my adolescent fantasies. I haven’t seen her as much in the last couple of years. Not since she became a single mother, and stopped hanging out so much with my sister, Riley.
“Claudia?” I call out, not believing what I’m seeing.
“Declan!” The relief is palpable. “Did I conjure you up?”
Chuckling, I hurry over to where she stands. “No, I’m coming from the bar up the street. Decided to walk since the roads are shit.”
She blows out a breath. “I should’ve done the same, but couldn’t with him,” she points into the backseat.
“How’s the little guy?” I look in, noticing he’s knocked out, his head jacked to the side against his car seat.