Page 93 of Stick Play

I nod. “We’re pregnant.”

“How…when…did you find out?”

I nudge him. “I think you know the how part. For the when part, I found out this morning when you went for a run on the beach. I had a bit of cramping, so I thought I’d give it a try. I was waiting for the right time to tell you.” I glance out at the warm waters of the Caribbean surrounding us. “I think this was the right time.”

He puts his arms around me and picks me up. “We’re having a baby.”

“We are.”

He stops hugging me and sets me down gently. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t hurt the baby, did I?”

I laugh, and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s going to be that kind of attentive, caring partner during pregnancy, and after.

“The baby is a peanut, Ash.”

He frowns. “Maybe you shouldn’t swim with the dolphins.”

“I’m swimming with the dolphins,” I tell him firmly and plant my hand on my hip. “This is a dream come true, and the baby.” I point to my tummy. “And the mommy.” I point to myself. “Are just fine, so daddy can relax.”

“Daddy.” He laughs. “I still can’t believe my little girl calls me that and I get to call her my daughter.”

The love shining in his eyes as he talks about Zoe wraps around my heart and hugs tight. They’ve grown so close, and she has discovered her love of hockey. So have the boys, naturally. Ash takes the three of them skating every chance he gets. Honest to God, he is the best man I’ve ever known, and I get to call him husband.

“Speaking of little girls.” I cup his cheek. “Will a tiny baby girl scare the hell out of you?”

He grimaces. “Oh, God, yes. She’s going to be so tiny and delicate.” He looks at his hands. “How will I even hold her without breaking her?”

I chuckle. “You’ll be fine, but perhaps you’re hoping for a boy.”

“Here’s the thing.” He goes so serious it’s amusing. “I’ve been giving this some thought.”

I arch a brow, anxious to hear this. “Oh, you have, have you?”

“Zoe really wants a sister. So, if we have a boy, and I’m okay with a boy or a girl, but if we have a boy, that means we’re going to have to keep trying until we have a girl. I kind of like the idea of that.”

“Ah, what if we keep having boys?”

“Then we keep trying.” He pulls me tight and snakes his hands around my back.

“But…when do we stop?” Just how many children does this man I call husband want? “I mean, just how big do you want this family to grow?”

The playful look on his face is so adorable, and if we were alone on this boat, I’d show him just how much I love him. “Let’s just say our house is probably going to be too small.”

“It has eight bedrooms,” I practically shriek, and he pulls me tighter against him and laughs.

“We don’t have to move. Some of the kids can share a room.”

I poke his chest. “Ohmigod, I get it. You want to grow your own hockey team.”

He shrugs casually, “Maybe, but what I really want is to grow old with you.”

“Yeah, with your own hockey team!” I smile up at him. “But seriously, I want to grow old with you too, Ash.” As the boat slows, I point down as his erection presses against me. “Now get that thing under control. We’re swimming with dolphins, and we don’t want them to think that’s a squid. Not if you want to make your own hockey team.”

He laughs, picks me up and spins me around, and as he kisses me with all the love and happiness inside him, I realize Camryn was right all along. Wishes really can come true.

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