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“Come on.”
I stand and walk into the hallway, raising my finger.
“Sit, boy.”
He lowers his bum obediently, an extra glint in his eyes now that I’m giving him commands. I try not to think about what his old owner did to him, but part of me wants to confront the abuser, to scream in his face.
You didn’t win. Bones beat you.
“Okay, now… shell. No? Good. Shhhhherlock.”
His legs tremble and his forepaws twitch, but he remains where he is, eyes locked on me excitedly.
“Shame. Shave. Shaman. Freaking… I don’t know. Short.”
He grumbles, shaking his head. I know he’s probably just twitching in annoyance, but I almost want to think he’s telling me no.
No, Mommy, that’s not right.
“Show me!”
At the correct command, he turns and runs through the house. It’s almost four-thirty and while I only started practicing with him last night, I trust in his ability to get this right.
As I follow him through the house, my heart gives a warm tug when my gaze flits across a few of my sketches on the wall. When I showed Pearce my pad, he picked out his favorites and had them framed.
“Aren’t you going to frame this one?” I teased, pointing at the sketch I did of him when this all started before I could’ve dreamed he’d want me.
He chuckled. “It’s amazing work, like everything you do. But I see enough of my face in the mirror.”
I giggled, but there was a warmth in my belly too, a deep and content feeling telling me I’d made the right choice.
Despite Pearce’s steel-colored hair and his strong facial features, his bodybuilder’s physique, he’s not vain in the slightest, handling his handsomeness as though he’s not aware of it.
I round the corner to the kitchen, where Bones sits, the plastic bag on the floor in front of him.
Laughing in delight, I look at the counter, where the bag was.
“You were only supposed to show me,” I say, looking from the counter back to Bones. “How the heck did you ever get that?”
He just looks at me, a proud grin on his face.
“Well done, good boy.” I scratch him behind his ear and return the test to its spot. “Now we just need to wait some more.”
I return to the couch, pick up my sketchpad and try to focus. In the end, I turn on the TV and cuddle up with Bones.
I’m surprised I’m even capable of sleeping right now, but it must happen. One second my eyes are growing heavy and Bones is in my arms. The next Bones is yapping happily and I hear Pearce’s voice.
“What’s that, boy? What are you trying to show me… Oh.”
I jump up, rubbing sleep from my eyes, cursing myself for choosing this afternoon of all times to take a nap. Almost tripping as I run around the corner, I get there just in time for Pearce to look up, meeting my eyes as a smile threatens to take hold of his lips.
But he’s holding it back. It’s like he doesn’t want to let his full feelings fly until I’ve confirmed what he’s thinking.
“Is this…”
I walk over to him, struggling to keep my legs steady, knowing this moment is going to be imprinted in my memory forever.
“Are we…” He trails off, looking down at the test then back at me. “Is this right? Are we?”
I nod as tears fill my eyes. “Yes, Pearce. I’m pregnant. I had this whole special reveal planned. You were going to come in and I was going to tell Bones to show you and then, and then…”
“And then?” He smiles, walking over to me.
He’s still wearing his work gear, a sleek suit, his face sporting a five-o’clock shadow and his hair only slightly ruffled. He looks every inch, my man, handsome and strong. The person I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.
“And then we were going to have the most magical kiss,” I say.
“Well…” He leans down. “I think we can still manage that part.”
Our lips are drawn together, our mouths opening as we indulge in the love-tinged moment or maybe pleasure-tinged. It’s all a big beautiful mess with us, lust and love intertwining, making every moment new and exciting.
“I love you, Piper, so much. And your plan worked. This little guy couldn’t wait to show me.”
“Do you think he’ll get jealous?” I ask.
Pearce shakes his head, reaching down, giving Bones some attention. “No, he’s going to love his little brother or sister. He’s going to keep watch over them. I can’t believe it. A son. A daughter. A baby. A family.”
He beams, and I reach up, clasping his face in my hands. “You almost sound giddy, Mr. Judge.”
He grins. “It’s hard not to be when your life is so perfect.”
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
Pearce
“Sure, I think it would be great to have the baby at the wedding,” I say, as we walk down the park lane, the birds singing, butterflies zipping here and there, the air smelling fresh.
