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Knowing the air would be crisp as I took my tea on the porch, I pulled on my winter coat, plopped a knit hat over my bed head, and slipped on a pair of fingerless gloves.
I frowned down at my winter boots. Bending over to lace them up had started to become a little uncomfortable, and I only wanted to be out for a few minutes to soak up some vitamin D while I sipped on my morning tea.
If I was lucky, I could hide behind the mug and sneak a glance at Duke as he worked on the farm. With a resolute nod, I slipped my feet into a pair of Duke’s old worn work boots.
His huge heavy boots were clunky as I charged out the door and onto the porch. I had slowly started decorating it for fall and was pleased when Duke didn’t seem to mind the subtle, feminine changes to hisverybachelor-like home.
The sturdy mums were still holding up, but the stocks of dried corn had seen better days. With yesterday’s Thanksgiving obligations over, I was taking that as my sign to start decorating for Christmas.
I wondered how Duke felt about Christmas lights. Did he prefer colored ones or white? I laughed. The grumpy farmer probably enjoyed a no-frills, no-lights Christmas.
Well, not this year, Oates.
I stood on the top step, looking out onto Sullivan Farms, one hand shielding my eyes from the bright morning sun. My heart clunked when I saw him. From his heavy boots to the way his thick thighs tested the limits of his denim to the thick canvas jacket he wore unzipped despite the wintry chill, Duke Sullivan was all man.
His strides ate up the distance between us as I lifted my hand in a shy wave.
He was coming after me, and fast.
I attempted a friendly smile. “Morning, I?—”
In three strides he was up the porch steps, and his mouth crashed to mine. One hand gripped the mug while the other balanced myself on his rock-hard bicep. Even under his clothes and winter layers, he was hard and demanding.
My bones went liquid. His teeth teased my lip, and as I gasped, his tongue swept over mine. I gripped him harder, leaning into the kiss. I wanted more—more of him, more of this, more of everything.
He was panting as he broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to mine. “Good morning.”
His deep voice sent shivers down my back. “I’ll say.”
A bubbling erupted just below my belly button. I pulled back, my eyes wide. Duke’s eyebrows cinched down the middle as my hand flew to my lower belly.
“I think...” I felt around, hoping to experience the fizzy sensation again. “I think the baby just moved.”
His eyes flew to my stomach and back to my eyes. His hand flexed as he tentatively reached out. “Can I?”
I swallowed hard but nodded.
Duke’s wide palm covered nearly the entirety of my lower belly, and I covered my hand with his. “I’m not sure. It’s not the first time I felt something like that, but this was... more.” I lifted my shoulders. “Different. The books I’m reading say it will probably be a few more weeks before anyone else can feel it too.”
“That’s okay.” His voice was barely above a whisper, awe laced through his words.
I let the warmth of his hand seep into me and prayed to feel it again. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I wasn’t really sure if it was the baby or a bubble of gas. I sagged into him, trying to keep my tea from spilling over the rim, and Duke’s arms wrapped around me.
“You shouldn’t stay out here too long. It’s too chilly this morning.”
I moved the open zipper on his coat up and down. “What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me.” Duke released me, and I smiled up at that beautiful man. “Did you eat?”
My smile turned shy. “I had pie for breakfast.”
He laughed, and it cracked in his throat like it was rusty from neglect. I fell in love with the rich, warm sound.
“That tracks.” He winked as his chuckle faded away. His hand moved from my shoulder down to my elbow before capturing my wrist. “Have dinner with me. I have work toget through today, but I would love to have dinner with you tonight.”
Giddiness danced through me, but I shrugged. “It’s a date.”
I had turned to walk back inside to escape the cold that had started to creep in when he landed a swift smack to my ass. I yelped and whipped my head around to catch his playful grin.
