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“You okay?”
“I’m more than okay, baby,” I assure her. “It’s so okay that if I don’t leave soon, we might be taking this further than you’re ready for.”
“I’m ready,” she says, kissing my neck.
I believe her, but I’ve already made up my mind, I want her heart first. The magic is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. If Wren is mine, and I’m pretty sure she is, I’m not going to fuck this up. I might have the worst case of blue balls in the history of blue balls, but she deserves the best, and I’m going to give it to her.
“We both have to be up early for work tomorrow,” I remind her.
She sighs, sits up, then stands from my lap. She offers me her hands and pulls me from the couch.
“Baby, when I do make love to you, I need time. Lots of time. It’s going to be an all-night kind of experience. I don’t want it to be quick.”
She opens her mouth to reply, but no words come. She shuts her mouth and nods instead.
“Walk me out,” I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. With my hand on the small of her back, we walk the small distance to her front door. “Lock up when I leave.”
“Always do.”
“Night, babe.” I kiss her soft and slow.
“Night, Marshall.”
Chapter 18
Wren
“Hey, you,” Aspen says when I open the back door of her SUV. “Hi, Maddie,” she calls out to my daughter.
“Hi.” I smile and work to get Madeline’s car seat strapped in. Sliding into the passenger seat, I pull on my seat belt as well. “So, Sawyer’s?”
“Yep. Girls’ lunch with the kiddos, of course.” She grins.
“What’s the occasion?”
She shrugs, keeping her eyes on the road. “We don’t have one. We just like to get together and catch up as much as we can. Aurora and I are blessed to have Sawyer and Layla as our sisters-in-law. I’ve heard so many horror stories about terrible in-laws.” She grimaces at just the thought of bad in-laws.
“I have to agree with you there. They’re lucky to have you as well. How are you feeling?” I ask her.
“Good. I’m ready to meet him.”
“Do you have a name picked out?”
“We’ve been tossing around a few ideas—nothing concrete. Aurora says she’ll know when she sees the baby what his name should be. Grant’s on board with that. Conrad and I are more of the ‘let’s make a decision’ frame of mind. However, we can’t seem to settle on anything.” She chuckles.
“It will come to you. It took me months to decide on Madeline’s name. I think I decided a week before I delivered her. I kept second-guessing myself. I’d pick a name and wonder if Travis would approve. In the end, I named her after my mother. Family was important to him, and I knew, at least I hope that he approves.”
Aspen reaches over and places her hand on my arm. “He approves. You’re an amazing mother, Wren.”
“I hope so,” I whisper. Clearing my throat, I change the subject. “Are you sure there’s not something that I can bring? I feel bad that I’m always coming empty-handed. Maybe we can stop at the store, and I can grab some snacks or something?” I suggest.
“Positive. This is our thing.”
“I know, but my place isn’t big enough to have everyone over. I feel like I’m mooching off my new friends.”
“Never!” she says adamantly. “We love this, and we love that you’re joining us. Please don’t think that.”
“Next time give a girl some notice and I’ll whip up something. I’m sure it won’t be close to what you and your sister can create, but it will be edible.” I laugh.
“Fine.” She juts her hand over in front of me and we shake on it.
“Do you all really just spur of the moment have these get-togethers? You didn’t know before this morning that you all were getting together?” I ask her.
“Nope. The guys are at the office, working on a new project, so we decided that the five of us should spend the day together.”
“Thank you for including me. I know I’m not family, but I love hanging out with all of you.”
“We love having you,” she says, pulling into Sawyer’s driveway.
Before I can open my door, it’s being opened for me. Peering up, I see Grant’s smiling face. “Hi.” I wave awkwardly and climb out of the SUV.
“Hey, Wren. How are you?” he asks.
“Doing well. You?”
He grins. “I’m living the dream,” he says, glancing over his shoulder where his wife is standing on the porch waving at us. “Let me carry Maddie in for you,” he offers.
“I can manage.”
“I know, but I’m here, and I want to.”
“I thought you had a meeting?”
“I do. I was dropping Aurora off and was just leaving, but I have the time for Maddie Mae.” He grins.
