“That’s good enough for me,” Sly said.
Carpenter nodded. “From now on, if we have issues with each other, let’s talk them through.”
“You have my word on that.” Sly raised Lana’s chin and kissed the tip of her nose. “So do you.”
“All this talk has made me thirsty.” Carpenter reached for the bottle opener on the coffee table. “Have a cool one with us, Lana? There’s a glass in the kitchen.”
“Um, I can’t.” She looked at Sly. “We should tell him.”
“Before your sister or your parents or Dani?”
She nodded. “After watching us get all mushy, it’s the least we can do. Okay with you?” When Sly nodded, she glanced at her cousin. “Do me a favor, and don’t contact the family for another forty-eight hours.”
Carpenter seemed surprised by the request but shrugged. “I guess I can do that. What’s this about?”
Before making their announcement, Sly and Lana stood up. She threaded her fingers with his, and he nodded at her to do the talking.
“Sly and I...we’re expecting a baby.”
Her cousin almost choked on his beer. “Say what?”
Sly nodded. “It’s true. The due date is early January.”
“That’s not long to wait,” Carpenter said. “Congratulations, you two. It’s a damn good thing we settled this cattle business.”
He shook hands with Sly and patted Lana’s shoulder. “I know how difficult your parents can be, Lana,” he said. “If you want me to be there when you give them the news, I’ll vouch for Sly.”
“You’d do that?” She smiled at him. “Has anyone ever told you you’re a nice guy?” Standing on her toes, she kissed her cousin’s cheek. Even his ears turned red. “Your offer means a lot, but Sly and I will do it together.”
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
“I haven’t beento the falls in ages,” Lana commented as Sly drove down River Drive early Saturday morning. “This will be fun—even if you did wake me up at the crack of dawn on my day to sleep in.”
Remembering exactly how that had gone down, Sly gave her a heavy-lidded look. “You didn’t seem to mind.”
“Only because waking up to your kisses is a lot more fun than an alarm clock.” Wearing the glow of a woman thoroughly loved, she smiled.
He grinned at her. Neither of them had slept much last night. They’d been too busy making love and talking. In the wee hours, he’d come up with the plan for a picnic breakfast at the falls, followed by visits to Lana’s sister and Dani.
He was happier than he’d been since... He couldn’t recall ever feeling this fantastic. He enjoyed having Lana in his bed and didn’t think he’d ever grow tired of waking up beside her. The very idea would have terrified him a few months ago. Today he felt like the luckiest man alive.
They headed into Prosperity Park, where woods and acres of manicured lawn surrounded the falls. “There’s the gift shopwhere Kate works,” Lana said. “Too bad it’s so early. Otherwise, we could stop in and visit her.”
He wanted Lana all to himself for a couple of hours, which was why he’d suggested the early-morning picnic. “We’ll catch her another time.”
“Who should we tell first—my sister or yours?” she asked, as he drove past walking and hiking trails, toward the falls.
“You know how swamped Big Mama’s is on Saturday mornings, especially during tourist season. Let’s talk to your sister first, then drive to the restaurant and grab Dani for a quick break. I think we should finish up by stopping in at your parents’—I’d hate to spring the baby on them during my first Sunday dinner.”
A week ago, the suggestion would’ve upset or worried her. Today, she looked calm and assured. “This afternoon it is.” She glanced at the clock on the dash. “It’s seven-thirty, and if I know Liz, she’ll be up. I’m going to call and make sure she’ll be home later.”
By the time Lana finished the call to her sister, Sly had parked in the large lot near the falls. Picnic basket and blanket in hand, they took the pathway that led to the falls, sauntering past beautiful flower gardens. As he’d intended, at this early hour they had the place to themselves. Birds twittered in the trees, and playful squirrels chattered and chased each other. In the distance he heard the unmistakable sound of a waterfall.
A quarter mile later, the path curved sharply south, revealing a stunning view of the falls. The sight of the steep rocks jutting several dozen yards up from the earth and the powerful cascade of water spilling over them in a thick curtain of spray never ceased to amaze him. He and Lana stopped to take in the sight.
“This view always takes my breath away.” Her chin tipped up and wonder filled her face. “How beautiful they are.”
