“You are on vacation,” she said, exasperation dripping from her tone. “You’re not supposed to be mentally arranging marriages while physically on a boat in Italy. For once in your life, could you just relax?”
“I am relaxed,” I countered. “Besides, I’m not arranging anything yet. I’m just assessing potential compatibility.”
Jane inhaled a deep breath, her eyes sliding shut like she was silently counting to ten. “My brothers are not part of the empire you’re trying to build.”
“No, but they could be.” I used my grip on her hand and tugged her closer to press a kiss to her sun-warmed forehead. “I love the way you still look at me like I’m capable of taking over the world and completely crazy at the same time.”
“Does that mean you’ll give it a rest?” she asked, smiling as she brought her eyes up to mine. “Promise me that the only thing you’ll think about for the rest of the month is which drink you’re having next.”
“Fine,” I said. “No more matchmaking for the rest of the trip. Unless someone expresses interest.”
Jane flopped back down on her chair and shook her head. “God, you desperately need a hobby.”
“I have hobbies.” I tried to think of one to mention, but nothing came to mind immediately. “Work, for example.”
“Work is not a hobby.” She let out a long sigh. “Maybe it’s time you worry about something else for a change.”
“I already worry about everything else,” I said lightly. “I’m an extremely balanced worrier.”
Cam shifted in my arms, fast asleep now, and I instinctively tightened my hold on him to stop him from flipping himself off the chair. Jane noticed, smiling softly as she watched us together.
As soon as I saw tears welling on her eyelids, I frowned. “Jane? What’s wrong? What just happened?”
She hesitated for half a second before she sighed and her gaze locked on mine. “I’m pregnant.”
For a moment, I genuinely thought I’d misheard. “Can you repeat that?”
Her smile widened, a single tear now clinging to the very corner of one eye. “I’m pregnant, Alex.”
“You’re…” My voice gave up as I stared at her, blinking too fast and incapable of saying another word for several long seconds. We’d been talking about it for a while. Trying. But I’d honestly thought that maybe Cam had been a miracle baby. “Are you serious?”
She smiled. “I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”
A disbelieving, joyful, almost overwhelmed laugh escaped me as I reached for her again, pulling her closer until she was tucked against my side. Cam stirred but didn’t wake. I pressed my lips to her temple and closed my eyes, my heart suddenly galloping.
“God, I love you,” I murmured. “When did you find out?”
“Last night.” She turned her head into me. Her eyes closed as she rested her nose along the length of mine. “I thought about telling you before I took the test, but I wanted to be sure.”
I slid the arm not holding Cameron around her hips, lifting my chin to bring my lips to hers. Our mouths met in a slow,grateful, maybe slightly incredulous kiss while the sun dipped lower, giving the air a magical, golden quality that perfectly matched what I was feeling right now.
Once Cameron woke up from was bound to be a brief nap, he was absolutely going to insist on going for that swim I owed him, but right now, Jane and I had this moment all to ourselves. Just a few quiet minutes to absorb the fact that our little family was about to expand, our lives about to change again.
In the best possible way.
Relief spiraled through me, tangling with the joy, gratitude, and deep sense of peace settling into my heart. I’d seriously never thought life could be this good, and now, somehow, it was about to get even better.
EPILOGUE
TRENT
It was one of those February afternoons in Texas that reminded me why I would never live anywhere else. The blue sky was so clean, it looked like it’d been freshly scrubbed, the sun a massive, glowing ball hanging on the horizon. Gravel crunched under my tires as I pulled up to the house, even the dust trailing behind me lingering a little in the calm air before it settled.
Charlotte was waiting on the porch, her dark hair tied up into a messy bun right on top of her head and the baby steady on her hip. Honestly, when she held him like that, he looked like an extension of her, both of them so comfortable that it was like she’d had him her whole life.
Tyler had his little face turned toward her chest, half asleep and completely content. That sight right there had become one of my favorite things in the world, coming home and seeing them.
Except today, I wasn’t the only one appreciating the view. My mother was on the porch too and I exhaled a heavy breath through my nose. A small but very reasonable part of me considered staying exactly where I was.
