Page 212 of Heartbeats & Highways

“Of course,” I said with a laugh. “You only live across the lawn.”

She chuckled. “It’s been convenient, hasn’t it?”

I nodded, my eyes misty with memories. Savage had bought the land from Duke and Willa behind their property and built us a beautiful two-story home. I’d gotten over my aversion to stairs and the house had been filled with laughter, joy and home cooked food for years.

Both our phones pinged at the same time.

I didn’t bother looking at mine because Willa already had hers open. “Old Lady group text. Poker night next week at Sutton’s.”

“Why do we continue to play? I lose every time,” I said.

“Because we can drink and gab and gossip.” She cocked her head to the side. “No drinking for you, I guess.”

I groaned.

“Screw it.” Willa reached for the pie and uncovered it before getting two forks from the drawer. “The kids are having ice cream before dinner. We can have pie.”

We’d eaten a quarter of it by the time Savage and Duke walked through the door. Without a word, they grabbed forks and dug in too.

“It’s missing something,” Savage said.

“It is not. It’s perfect,” Willa said, reaching up and flicking Savage’s forehead.

“I meant, we have ice cream,” Savage drawled, rubbing his skin. He went to the freezer and pulled out a carton of strawberry ice cream. He frowned when he saw it. “This won’t be good with apple pie. Where’s the vanilla?”

“I didn’t buy vanilla,” I said.

“You never want strawberry,” Savage said slowly. He looked from the strawberry ice cream to me. “The last time you wanted strawberry was—wait, you aren’t . . . are you?”

I swallowed. “Yeah.”

“Unless you’re what?” Duke asked, completely oblivious.

Willa set her fork down. “Duke, let’s go.”

“Go? We’re in the middle of?—”

She yanked his arm and all but dragged him toward the front door.

“I’m taking their fork,” Duke said. “Let me give it back to them.”

“Later,” Willa commanded.

The front door shut, and Savage stood at the open freezer holding the pint of strawberry ice cream.

“You’re pregnant?” he asked finally.

“Yeah.”

“Buthow?”

I raised my brows. “Seriously?”

He shoved the ice cream into the freezer and closed it. “I know how it happens. But we’re so careful.”

“Not always,” I said.

Emotion played across Savage’s face and his expression cleared. “It was the night we?—”

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