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His gaze shot to her swollen chest. “You are beautiful when you feed my daughter, Catherine.”
She felt like a great big whale, but Dean’s praise always made her feel beautiful. “Go, before you start something you can’t possibly finish.”
“Oh, I can finish all right,” he huskily whispered. “We’d just have to be a little creative since I can’t penetrate you for the next six weeks.”
She frowned. “How do you know how long?”
“I asked the doctor about it.” He grinned, totally unrepentant. “He said you need to wait until your six-week checkup. He needs to be sure you are healed properly.”
Her cheeks heated as she imagined that intimate conversation. “I can’t believe you asked him about that.”
“I look forward to inventing interesting things for us to do until then, sweetheart,” he murmured just before he turned and left the room.
She couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled over. The man was insatiable. As the door closed behind him, the phone rang. Catherine smiled, wondering if it was Mary. “Hello?”
“Uh, guess where I am.”
“Gracie? What’s going on?”
Her sister laughed. “I’m in the hospital, not too far down the hall from you actually.”
“Oh no, is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine, but the baby is insisting on being born.”
Catherine nearly dropped the phone. “You’re kidding me!”
Gracie laughed, but Catherine could tell it was strained. “Nope. The contractions started about an hour ago. It seems our babies were determined to have the same birthday. Is that something or what?”
Catherine grinned, happier than she’d ever thought possible. “I’m so glad, sis. I love you.”
“I love you too, but I need to go before I scream in your ear.” There was some rustling and then, “Hey, Wade wants to talk to Dean. Is he there?”
Dean came back into the room then, carrying a tiny bundle in his powerful arms, his face awash with pleasure. Catherine felt tears of happiness spring to her eyes. When he saw her, he frowned. “Is everything okay?”
“Better than okay,” she whispered, then she handed the phone to him. “Your brother has some news for you.”
Dean gave her the baby, then sat on the edge of the bed, watching her every move. Catherine pulled the flap of her gown down and began nursing their very hungry little girl. Dean’s eyes darkened and his free hand came up to cup her other breast in his hand, as if needing to take part in the experience. She knew the instant Wade delivered the happy news. Dean’s lips curved.
Catherine couldn’t imagine how she ever could’ve considered living without Dean. He was the best sort of man. Strong, yet gentle. Kind and loyal and every bit as devoted to her and the baby as she was to him.
She knew her life with the hardheaded man wouldn’t always be an easy road, but even their arguments were fraught with heat and passion. It was more than she’d ever dreamed of having.
Apparently taking a walk on the wild side all those months ago hadn’t been such a bad decision after all.
Dean stood tall and proud under the rose-covered arbor, love welling inside his chest as he watched his sweet Catherine walk toward him. Her pale yellow dress set off her straight red hair beautifully. He was a lucky man.
Audrey, their baby, clutched tightly to her very proud grandmom. Hell, between Deanna, Gracie, and his mom, the little squirt couldn’t make a peep without someone running to her aid. He was the worst of the lot, he admitted to himself with a proud grin.
Catherine had long since sold her parents’ home, and they’d been married going on six months. Still, his mother hadn’t been thrilled about the quickie wedding and had eventually talked them into a small summer ceremony in the backyard of the home he’d grown up in.
Dean was glad he’d held firm about having a small outside affair, at least, as it was only their close family in attendance. Gracie sat with her squirmy baby boy, Jacob, held protectively in her arms, with Wade close by her side. Deanna and Jonas sat next to his mom and her friend, Mac. Dean and Wade hadn’t been crazy about the man at first, but he treated his mom well and that was all that mattered to them. He looked at them all with pride as they watched on, pleased grins on their faces.
Yes, he’d definitely made the right decision when he’d insisted on a small gathering. It would make it so much easier for him to sneak off with Catherine later.
His wife fairly bloomed beneath the summer sun. Her hips swayed as she walked toward him, driving him wild with thoughts of what he’d be able to do to her once he had her alone.
As she reached him, Dean held out his hands and a jolt of possessiveness shot through him when she pla
