Page 83 of A Montana Fake Marriage

Sammie hummed softly. “That sounds nice.”

“I know. I’m beginning to think we should start to schedule time together so we can get our place started. I’m thinking we need to plan for a barn, too. Knowing you, you’re gonna want as many animals as we can fit on our property.”

“You know me so well,” she whispered. “It all sounds like a dream.”

“It does,” he agreed.

“There’s just one thing missing.”

He pulled back, concerned. “What’s that?”

Sammie studied him, her eyes not giving anything away. Then she tilted her head. “The house we had planned on only had three bedrooms. I’m beginning to think we need to make something a bit bigger.”

“Why? I thought?—”

She placed a hand on her stomach and looked down. “Because I can already tell that I’m going to want more than two kids, and you’re going to need an office?—”

Caleb’s eyes widened, and he scooped her up into his arms before swinging her around in a circle. Her trilled laughter filled the room, bouncing off the walls and sparking joy in every inch of his body, filling it with vibrant energy. When he placed her on her feet, he pressed his hand to her stomach. “Really?” Caleb whispered in awe. “You’re actually pregnant?”

She nodded, her eyes shining bright with emotion. “I realized I was late yesterday, so I picked up a test.” She shrugged.

He let out a whoop.

“You’re okay with it?” There was a small hint of concern in her eyes. “I know we hadn’t planned about when we wanted to start a family?—”

Caleb placed both of his hands on her face and waited until her eyes locked with his. “I didn’t think you could make me any happier than you’ve done already. But I was wrong.”

A tear dragged down her cheek, and he swiped it with his thumb before kissing her forehead.

He reached down and placed a hand to her belly reverently. “This is the best news you could have possibly given me. I’m going to be a dad.”

She nodded, an emotional laugh spilling from her lips. “You’re going to be a dad.”

“We’re going to need a bigger house.”

Once again, she nodded. “The bigger, the better.”

He jumped in the air, whooping again.

EPILOGUE

Nine MonthsLater

“What do you think you’re doing, hon? You shouldn’t be carrying that.” Tana hustled over to Sammie as she hobbled down the back steps toward the barbecue get together. The bowl of potato chips wasn’t anything to be worried about. It wasn’t heavy in the slightest—more just awkward to carry when she was trying to work her way down the steps.

Sammie nearly brushed off her mother-in-law and told her to go hover over someone else, but she didn’t have the heart. The woman had become like a second mother to her—something Sammie had desperately needed as she neared the end of her pregnancy.

She offered the woman a grateful smile and placed a hand beneath her large bump to ease some of the weight she carried.

Concern wrought Tana’s face, but it mingled with excitement. Any day now. That’s what the doctor had said.

Any day.

Well, she wasn’t about to let up, despite everyone around her telling her to slow down. They’d put the finishing touches on the house three weeks ago. The barn was nearly complete. But there was still so much to do to prepare for their little girl.

A pain sliced through her lower back, and she stilled, sucking in a deep breath. In seconds, Caleb was at her side.

“What is it? Contractions? Should we go to the hospital?”

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