“Don’t mind him,” she told the vicar. “He’s easily amused.”
The vicar studied them for a moment. “So, when do you two want to start a family?”
“Straight away,” Josh said as Caroline said, “In a year or so.”
They looked at each other as the vicar patted his belly, obviously pleased with himself.
“You want to try for a family straight off?” Caroline seemed terrified at the thought.
“I’m not getting any younger.” Josh wanted to add and neither are you, but thought better of it.
“You’re only thirty-five; you have years ahead of you to make babies.” She blushed. “I mean have children. I thought we’d spend some time getting to know each other first before we added children to the mix. Men don’t have a deadline—there’s no hurry for you.”
Josh inclined his head and gave her a searing look through his lashes. She bit her bottom lip as she watched him. He hoped her thoughts had gone in the same direction his had gone—south. Very south. Straight to the baby-making part of this discussion. He eyed the curve of her hips and wondered how fast he could get her out of her clothes.
She nudged him. “Are you listening to me?”
He ran his palm down her thigh. It was encased in another Teflon-coated grey skirt, but it still felt sexy as hell, especially when his touch made her wriggle in her seat. “How about we start trying in six months?”
Her eyes went wide. “I can do six months.”
The vicar cleared his throat to get their attention. “Have you decided where you’re living yet?”
Caroline looked up at Josh. Her eyes were softer, less guarded than usual. The way they were when he was kissing her. It took his breath away. He made up his mind on the spot. “We’re going to live in the castle.”
Her face lit up. “Really? I thought we had to live in LA?”
“We can travel.” He shrugged like it was nothing, but seeing the look on her face made him want to concede to everything. To give her everything, just so he could see that look every day.
“Of course. I keep forgetting you’re rich. You can afford to travel back and forth.”
Josh felt that statement sear through his chest. After all the women he’d known who had only seen his money, the fact Caroline saw everything except it, was a miracle. “We can afford to travel, baby,” he reminded her.
She smiled up at him again. The kind of smile that made a man want to beat his chest and roar.
“Okay.” The vicar stood. “This is getting a little nauseating. I think we’re done with the counselling. I’ve got better things to do with my time. You two are free to go. See you at the wedding.” He left the room, banging the door shut behind him.
They stared after him. Caroline reached for Josh’s hand. Josh warmed as their fingers entwined. Her eyes were still on the door the preacher had disappeared through, and Josh wondered if she was even aware she was touching him. “Do you think that means we passed?”
Josh really couldn’t care less. He winked at Caroline. “Want to practice more kissing for the big day?”
Caroline gave him a playful smack on his chest with the back of her hand. As she left the room, she stopped to look over her shoulder at him. “Maybe we could practice some more at my house.” Her voice was a sexy rasp he hadn’t heard before.
She batted her eyelashes at him as a blush crept up her cheeks. She was beautiful.
“Anything you say, Caroline.” Josh reached for her hand. “You’re the boss.”
They walked home in the warm evening air, with the sun low in the sky. It made the whitewashed houses of Invertary gleam golden. Josh draped his arm over her shoulders, and Caroline had no choice but to wrap hers around his waist. He snuggled her into his side as they walked down the hill towards her house, and she was overcome with the notion that she’d never fit anywhere so perfectly. As they walked, Josh told her tales from his music career. They turned into Muir Street, and Caroline was laughing at the story of him falling off the stage in Italy when Josh sucked in a breath.
“You have got to be kidding me. Just when I’ve sorted access to the bedroom.”
Caroline frowned. Access to the bedroom? She followed his gaze and saw Josh’s father sitting on her front stoop, and her stomach sank. Great. Josh dropped his arm from her shoulder, and she felt unreasonably cold. Ignoring the shivers, she straightened her back and prepared for the worst.
“There’s no room at the inn,” Josh’s father said.
Josh looked around them.
Caroline followed his gaze. “What are you doing, Josh?”