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“That’s where it gets really interesting.” Again, he took another step toward me. He didn’t move to touch me this time. “I want you to run that part of my business. You know people who could help us. We need at least one person to get us started. Someone who isn’t tied down and might be interested in this weird version of house sitting.”
“So, watching houses while they’re for sale is an actual business?” I asked.
“Sure. It’s called live-in home staging. So, what do you say? You’d be my partner in business…and life.”
More than a decade of fear washed away as I stared at this man. I was safe with him. He’d protect my heart. As the last of my resistance eroded, I stepped toward him, putting my arms over his shoulders and pressing my chest against his.
“Yes,” I said. “I’ll be your partner.”
And with a long, passionate kiss, we sealed the deal.
EPILOGUE
JORDANA
Pregnant women weren’t allowed to use hot tubs. But while that kept me out of the water, there was nothing wrong with dangling my feet over the edge while Cruz enjoyed a soak.
It was Christmas Eve—our last Christmas Eve without a baby in the house. We were enjoying every single second of the peace and quiet. Tomorrow, we’d leave for Cruz’s parents’ house in Portland and wouldn’t return for a few days. I didn’t mind that, though. His family had become my family—the family I’d always dreamed of having, growing up.
“My mom’s already bought a stocking for the baby-to-be,” Cruz said as he watched me. “Mom said the baby is a part of the family too, even if she isn’t born yet.”
“You didn’t tell her we’re expecting a boy, I assume.”
He shook his head. The lights from the nearby Christmas trees gave him a glow. We’d talked about moving out to the suburbs, and maybe we would as our baby neared school age. But for now, we continued to enjoy being in the penthouse of the most popular condo complex in Pleasure Valley.
“I figured we’d break the news when we’re there,” he said.
“We should buy a blue onesie and wrap it up.”
“It’s a little late to be buying gifts, don’t you think?”
I winced. “I might have already bought a few blue onesies…and some other things.”
He laughed, sitting back. I kicked my feet in the water, enjoying the feel of it swishing around my calves. I couldn’t wait to be a mom, to nurse our newborn in the rocking chair we’d set up in the nursery upstairs. But for now, I’d just have to be content rubbing my bump and talking to my little one, getting excited every time I felt his kick.
Suddenly, Cruz pushed away from the bench and crossed the tub toward me. “I know we haven’t been able to do something in the hot tub for a while.”
He had that look on his face. I knew it all too well.
“When we were trying to get pregnant, I wasn’t allowed in,” he said.
“And now, I’m not allowed in,” I reminded him.
“And soon, we’ll have a baby in the house, so time like this will be rare.”
I smiled. “I’m sure we can sneak a few minutes here and there.”
But I was thinking it through, even as I said the words. Could we bring the baby monitor out here? Would I be comfortable enough being that far away? I had a feeling I was going to be a nervous parent.
“You’re in the perfect position for me to do something I wanted to do that first night,” he said. “We’ve been all work and no play lately.”
He was right about that. I was fully running the staging part of his business, while he was busy managing the properties he owned. Sometimes we traveled together, but most of the time, I had to stay behind to make sure things ran smoothly. I was, after all, not just managing our live-in staging assistants. I wasresponsible for ensuring each home was perfectly decorated and arranging moves for our stagers every time a property sold.
Cruz had arrived in front of me now, and he separated my legs and stepped between them. I knew exactly what he had planned, and the way my hormones were raging right now, I never passed up the opportunity to get naked with my husband.
“We really need to make more time for this,” he said as he tugged my shorts and panties over my thighs and knees. Once he had them off, he tossed them off to the side and knelt in front of me.
His mouth was on me before I had a chance to respond. All thought fled anyway. I could only focus on his tongue as it moved over me. He slid two fingers inside me, going straight to that spot he knew would give me the most pleasure.
