Page 42 of Arrivals & Assets

“Good.” He slid a hand down to my stomach. “We’ll have plenty of time to decorate the nursery. You’ll have an office, and we’ll still have room to grow.”

I shivered. Something inside me loved it when he rested his hands above where our baby was growing. “We’ll probably haveto have another celebration dinner in a few days and invite everybody. The house… my business starting… and both Adam and Taal finding their mates. It’s probably time for a dinner or something.”

He smiled. “Let’s get through tonight and the initial paperwork, then we can ask when everybody is available in the group chat.”

“Sounds good.”

He stood and sighed. “I really have to get back to the office. It’s busy with the summer interns leaving and some of the fall ones coming in.”

“I’ll see you tonight then. I love you.”

He smiled. “I love you too. See you tonight.”

I let out a happy sigh as he disappeared again. My life had only improved every day since meeting my mate.

Then I opened another tab and started on some paperwork for the potential new clients I’d meet the next day.

∞∞∞

~New Year’s Eve~

Dylan and I sat on the swing we’d put on the balcony outside our bedroom. We’d lucked out and had a fantastic view of the ocean. So we often sat out there.

The view was once again paying off as the fireworks show was set to be over the water.

We wore coats to fend off the chill and shared a blanket as we watched the traffic and lights from various celebrations. Between sips, I rested a mug of hot chocolate on my heavily pregnant belly.

“Our first New Year’s together,” Dylan said. “And this time next year our daughter will be almost a year old.”

I smiled, then yelped. I yelped a second time as hot chocolate splashed over my fingers.

“You ok?” Dylan asked, immediately taking the mug from my hand, setting it aside, and inspecting my hands.

“I think she kicked something.”

He turned my hands in his. “Ok. How do your fingers feel? I don’t think it was hot enough to burn, but…”

I retrieved one hand and licked the hot chocolate from my fingers. The heat of my mouth didn’t hurt. “I think they’re ok. It was hot enough to startle but not burn.”

“Ok.” He paused. “I’ll leave your mug on the table though, just in case she kicks again. Let me know if you want it.”

“Ok.”

I shifted and settled against him.

Dylan kissed my temple. “She’s probably wishing she could join the celebration.”

I chuckled. “Well, she should have come a few days ago, then. Heck, she missed Christmas too.”

“Only kind of,” he laughed. “We spent forever opening all the presents for her.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

We enjoyed the festive atmosphere for several minutes. Lights were still strung along the street, and several businesses had searchlights pointing toward the sky. The pre-fireworks drone show was in full force, though it was sometimes hard to make out shapes from our distance.

I gasped and doubled over as our daughter decided that it was the perfect time to be active and head-butt my insides. I whimpered as she kept up the pressure.

I breathed through it, then slumped against Dylan.