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‘Why don’t we just go below decks?’
‘For what I’ve got in mind, we’re going to need a bigger bed.’ He grinned over his shoulder and fired up the boat’s engine. ‘Now sit down and grab a hold of something. I’m going to see how fast I can get this thing back to base.’
She did as she was told, impossibly pleased that his eagerness matched her own, before he whisked the steering wheel round and hit the accelerator. The rush of wind lifted her hair and made the sunburn on her nose tingle as the launch bounced over the swell, hurtling them back towards the dock below his house at breakneck speed.
Her heart pumped to a deafening crescendo as she held on for dear life and watched him steer with practised ease. And the tightness that she hadn’t realised had been making her chest ache for days released. Everything was going to be all right.
She faced into the wind, felt the spray of water hit her cheeks, and gave herself up to the excitement, the exhilaration pumping through her system.
She glanced back as the boat slowed to approach the small dock that stood below the back steps up to his property.
‘Tie her up,’ he shouted and she grabbed the thin nylon rope, climbed onto the dock and began looping the rope round the post while he switched off the engine.
His gaze locked on hers, telegraphing his hunger as she finished knotting the rope. Desire settled like a heavy weight as he stepped off the boat. The playful urge to tease hit her and she sped off towards the house.
‘Hey, where the hell are you going?’ he yelled, his feet hitting the deck behind her as he gained ground. ‘Come back here.’
Catching her, he swung her round in a circle. And cut off her laugh with a kiss that promised all sorts of delicious retribution.
Her tongue tangled with his as she opened her mouth to take the kiss deeper and dug greedy fingers into his damp hair. No more doubts, no more panicking, no more holding back, she thought as he broke the kiss to lift her into his arms.
‘Got you,’ he murmured.
Euphoria slammed into her at the possessive tone.
She clung onto his neck and whispered, ‘Hurry up.’
‘I am hurrying, damn it,’ he huffed, climbing the steps two at a time with her cradled in his arms. ‘You’re heavier than you used to be, pregnant lady.’
She beamed at him, impossibly pleased by the silly joke.
Everything would be okay with the baby now, because she understood where his insecurities were coming from and knew he was at least willing to try to work all those problems out.
And while they were doing that, why shouldn’t they see if there could be more? He’d given her a painful glimpse into his past—had let his guard down and let her in. And she’d done the same. Her heart stuttered painfully at the thought of all the possibilities that she hadn’t considered, hadn’t let herself consider. She’d been so cautious up to now, mindful of Ruby’s warning not to let her heart run away with itself. But was it really necessary to carry on being so careful? When they’d taken such a huge step forward today?
She clung to his shoulders and kissed the soft skin beneath his chin.
‘Behave,’ he growled as he staggered into the living room and headed for the stairs. ‘We’re not there yet.’
She laughed as he boosted her in his arms to take the stairs, the euphoria intoxicating as she imagined just how far they could go, now she was ready to take the leap.
ELEVEN
‘You smell so good.’
Strong arms wrapped around Ella’s waist from behind. She shivered as Coop nipped playfully at her ear lobe, then glared into the bathroom mirror.
‘For goodness’ sake, I’m trying to put my face on here.’ Slicking another coat of gloss on bone-dry lips, she gave him a not exactly subtle jab with her elbow, which only made him chuckle.
‘Stop freaking out, you look great.’ Warm palms skimmed over the light silk of the dress she’d found in a boutique shop in Hamilton after a fraught shopping expedition yesterday, then settled on the curve of her stomach. ‘How’s Junior?’
A little of her aggravation dissolved, pushed out by the feel of his hands, stroking where their child grew, and the tender enquiry in his gaze as it met hers in the mirror.
‘Junior’s fine.’ She smiled back at him. She knew he was still feeling his way, still nervous about stepping into a role he hadn’t prepared for, but he’d been eager and attentive during the scan five days ago, firing questions at the obstetrician.
When the doctor had asked them if they wanted to know the sex, he’d deferred to her, but she could see how keen he was to know the answer and had decided to go with it—maybe knowing the sex would make the baby more real to him. When the doctor had pointed out their child’s penis, she’d been glad she had, because she hadn’t been able to stop laughing when he’d whispered with stunned delight, ‘For real? The kid’s hung like a horse.’
She turned in his arms, pressed her hands to his cheeks. ‘But Junior’s not the one who’s about to meet all your friends for the first time.’ She dropped a hand to her stomach, the jumpy sensation nothing to do with the child growing inside her.
