Page 73 of Contracted to the Bikers

I shake my head, laughing. “Well, I can’t wait to discover them all.”

“That will take years, he’s always finding new hobbies,” Rook grunts.

“Good job we’ve got the rest of our lives ahead of us then,” I say with a smile.

***

Jessy is sprawled on the floor playing with her toys when we get back. She looks up the second we walk in, scrambling to her feet and running straight at me. “Mommy!”

I catch her easily, lifting her into my arms, breathing in the familiar scent of sunshine and crayons and something uniquely her. “Hey, you,” I say, pressing a kiss to her hair.

“You were gone forever,” she complains.

“It was, like, an hour,” Cruz says.

“That’s forever,” she insists, sticking out her tongue at him, and he does the same back before pulling a silly face to make her laugh.

Her eyes land on the bags of goodies in Boone’s arms, and she immediately lights up. “Are those for me?”

I’m just about able to get her to say thank you and goodbye to Beth for babysitting before she dives into the bag like it’s Christmas morning.

When the excitement of her new gifts has worn off a little, she finally remembers why we were gone. She pulls back, studying my face. Smart beyond her years, she suddenly seems suspicious of the presents, recognizing them for what they are—bribes. “Why were you at the doctor’s? Beth said you aren’t sick, but only sick people go to the doctors. Did she lie?”

“No, sweetie, Beth wouldn’t lie to you. She was telling the truth.” I pick her up, pulling her into a hug, needing to feel her and reassure her that everything is okay. I glance at the guys. They’re all watching, waiting. “Mommy went to the doctor for some tests. We have some good news,” I say with a smile.

Her eyes narrow, she still can’t quite believe that the doctor’s isn’t a place that’s only for sick people. “What kind of news?”

I shift her slightly on my hip. “The kind where you’re going to be a big sister.”

She’s quiet for a second as she takes in the news. “What?” Her excitement explodes out of her. She nearly launches out of my arms, bouncing on her feet, eyes wide and shining. “Really? Really, really?! You’re not joking with me?”

“Really, really,” Boone confirms, smiling.

Jessy spins in a circle. “I’m going to have a baby!” she declares.

“We’re going to have a baby,” Cruz corrects.

“My baby,” she insists.

Rook huffs a quiet laugh. “We’ll share.”

She gasps suddenly. “I get to name it.”

The room goes still. “Oh no,” Cruz mutters. “That sounds dangerous.”

Boone’s mouth twitches. Rook raises an eyebrow. I laugh, shaking my head.

“It’s not!” Jessy protests. “I have great names.”

I grin. “We might need to workshop the names a little. Make sure we pick one that everyone likes.”

She narrows her eyes. “Fine. But I get to help.”

“You absolutely get to help,” I say.

That’s enough for her. She beams. “I’m going to be the best big sister ever.”

“You sure are, kiddo,” Boone tells her, hugging her tightly.