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“For anything.”
She forced her arms down the sleeves and pulled her hair through the cowl neckline. She glanced at Santana. He was looking away from her and she sighed inwardly. The sight of his wide, muscular shoulders and smooth back that narrowed into a slim waist and taut buttocks, the cheeks of which might have had a few marks from her fingernails, made her blush a little at the memory of their lovemaking. She imagined their hungry, primal sex would last until her pregnancy got in the way or until it became routine. Stolen as their time alone was, the kissing and touching and stripping of clothes was almost frantic, their desire heightened by so much time spent apart.
Would it change once they were married?
Probably. It always did.
But for some, that physical connection never completely abated, and they kept their desire hot while their emotional bond deepened.
Maybe this time, she thought, searching for a missing boot, I’ll get lucky. She certainly hoped so. “I’ll call you later if there’s a change in plans,” she said, zipping up her boots and reaching for her jacket, which had been tossed carelessly over a ladder that stood near the top of the stairs.
“Do,” he said. “Hey, wait! You’re forgetting something.”
“What?” She smiled, certain that he was going to give her a kiss. To her surprise he scooped up the cell phone she’d dropped into the folds of the sleeping bag when she’d hung up.
“This.”
“Oh.” She extended her palm.
He dropped it into her outstretched hand and, slightly disappointed, she turned toward the stairs.
Strong fingers clasped over her wrist and he spun her back against him. “And this.” He kissed her then. Hard. Determined. His tongue slid past her teeth as she responded, opening her mouth and leaning into him. Memories of the night before and their heated lovemaking in the cold room flooded her head. Her heart cracked a little and she realized just how much she loved this man, the cowboy who worked with horses that she swore she’d never fall for. What an idiot she’d been, and probably still was.
When he finally lifted his head, a cocksure smile twisting his lips, she said, “That’s better.”
“Not better,” he returned as she started down the plywood steps. “The best.”
“If you say so.”
“I know so.”
“Egomaniac,” she called up the unfinished staircase and hurried outside where the sun was blazing, the snow a shimmering white, and her Jeep damn near frozen solid.
Montana in winter.
Glorious.
“What the hell’s wrong with you?” Alvarez demanded an hour later as Pescoli suddenly rushed to the bathroom from Alvarez’s office where the two partners had been going over new information on the case.
Upon her return, Alvarez eyed her closely. “You coming down with something?”
Pescoli, white faced, shook her head. “Santana and I celebrated a little too much last night,” she lied.
“What about the other times? All of a sudden you can’t view dead bodies without losing your lunch? Is it the flu? What—”
“I’m pregnant, okay?” Pescoli said through her teeth. She went to Alvarez’s office door and pushed it shut.
“Holy moly.” Alvarez stared at her.
“I know. My kids are grown. I could be a grandmother in a few years. I’m only telling you because we spend so much time together. I haven’t even confided in my kids yet. So far, just Santana knows. Now, you. It wasn’t planned. I wasn’t convinced that I’d even have another baby. Not with Santana. Not with anyone. My kids . . . are going to be dumbstruck. Worse than even you are.”
Alvarez shook her head. “Wow. You’re sure?”
“I took a bunch of in-home tests and they all turned out positive. I’m late, and feeling like crap, emotional as hell and tossing my cookies in the morning, so yeah, I’m pregnant. I go to the doctor next week.”
“Well . . . congratulations.”
“Thanks. You’ll keep this to yourself?”
