Her lips twisted in amusement. “That’s what stencils are for. Plus, I had help from some of the ladies in town. And Cat! She spent forever helping me get the walls just right.”
A pang flared in my chest. I should have been here to help her with all of that. My face fell briefly, and she frowned, darting to my side.
“What’s wrong?”
I caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you myself.”
“You’re herenow,” she said, voice soft as she curled her hand against my cheek. I leaned into the touch. “And that’s all that matters. Plus, the room still needs some bits and bobs.” She turned, hand waving. “You know, the personal touches. Like building the crib.”
I noted the box leaning against the closet door and grinned at her. Obviously, she hadn’t deliberately saved the task for me, but I was sure glad it had worked out that way. My eyes caught on the collapsed mobile that was set on top of the dresser. It was strung with an array of small woodland creatures. “Is that to hang over the crib?”
She nodded. “Jo gave it to me. Apparently, my mom made it for her when her first grandson was born. She wanted us to have it for the baby.”
“That’s really sweet,” I said, a little in awe as I walked over, inspecting the tiny animals more closely. Each one looked hand-carved and painted. I imagined Aileen working for days to make it. Isla had probably been touched to receive a gift like that, and I wished I’d been here to see the look on her face. “Feels a little like your mum is looking out for the baby, doesn’t it?”
Isla’s breath caught. “Yeah, it really does.” She stepped closer and wound her arms around my waist, pressing up to kiss me. I caught her lips with mine, the two of us stumbling until my legs bumped the edge of a chair. I twisted, grinning.
“I’m glad this survived nursery renovations.” I plopped down in the E-Z Rocker we’d bought all those months ago.
“It’s still the comfiest chair I’ve ever sat in,” Isla said.
I carefully pulled her into my lap, conscious of her belly. My hand grazed over the bump as she curled into me, and—not for the first time today—I marveled at how much she’d grown in our time apart. I’d missed so much of her pregnancy, but no more.
“What is it?” Isla asked, stroking her hand through my hair. “You look thoughtful.”
“Just thinking about how much you’ve changed since I’ve been away.”
Her fingers scratched at my jaw. “You’ve changed too. Your beard is shorter.”
I huffed a laugh. “I don’t think that’s nearly as interesting.”
“I like it,” she mused. “And I like this.” We rocked gently. “You and me. Together.”
“Together,” I said as I caught her lips in another kiss. It was soft, gentle, but then Isla’s hand snaked up the front of my jumper, her fingers sliding against my skin, and heat coiled into my chest. It spiraled through my veins, dialing my senses up to eleven, and suddenly I couldn’t pull her close enough.
I kissed her like she was a feast set before a starving man, reacquainting myself with every inch of her mouth. Isla tiltedher head, deepening the kiss, and my arms locked around her, fingers tracing her spine like a ladder. She groaned as one of my hands moved to cup her backside, squeezing.
“I want you,” Isla murmured into my mouth.
“I want you too.” I kissed my way across her jaw and down her neck. “But not here.”
She pulled back slightly, a curious look on her face.
“I mean, not in our son’s room.”
She giggled. “He’s not even born yet.”
“We can’t do it on his chair,” I said flatly. I could feel her silent laughter as I stole another kiss. “That’s like…sacrilegious. Are there guests here right now?”
“I have no one booked in for the next two days,” she said. “We have the inn all to ourselves.”
“Good.” I locked my grip as I stood. Isla yelped, clinging to me as I set her on her feet gently, holding firm until I was sure she wasn’t dizzy. “Then let me take you to bed, woman.”
She shot me a cheeky grin. “Thought you’d never ask.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me out the door and down the hall to her room. I closed the door behind us. Isla turned a lamp on in the corner, bathing the room in soft yellow light.
“There are adjustments we’ll have to make. It’s going to be a little trickier than it’s been before,” she admitted, hands rolling over her belly.
“We better get to practicing then,” I said, giving her a teasing grin as I crossed the room. I reached around to pull the tie out of her hair, letting her long blonde waves cascade down herback. I pressed a kiss to her forehead as my hands drifted across her shoulders and down her sides, my thumbs tugging up the bottom of her jumper. Isla helped me tug it over her head.
