One to Take (One to Hold 8)

“I didn’t forget.” Reaching for her, I pull her to me, rolling us so her back is against the mattress. “Let’s see your bump.”

She laughs, looking down. “Good luck finding it.”

Scooting down, I spreading my palm flat over her stomach, I circle her small navel with my thumb. “You said you have an ultrasound appointment?”

“Not yet. I have to make one. I was supposed to do it today, but I didn’t want you to miss it.” She props up on her elbows looking down at my hand on her stomach. “The website said it’s about the size of a lime right now.”

A lime. I look at her body and try to imagine that size compared to her stomach. Curiosity flares in my mind. I want to see it. “We’ll call first thing in the morning.”

“I didn’t bring my phone.” She looks up at me grinning. “No interruptions tonight.”

Shaking my head, I move to a sitting position on the bed. “We’re not sleeping here.”

Her face breaks into a frown. “What? Why not?”

I frown right back. “This place is a dump. You’re pregnant. I’m not risking a snake getting in here.”

At that she does a little shriek, hopping up and pulling her knees under her, looking all around the floor. “You’re lying!”

“I’ve found a snake in here before.”

Her eyes narrow, and she looks over at me. “You’re just trying to scare me. You love this place.”

“For me. Not for my pregnant wife.” Stepping off the bed, I lean down and pull my jeans over my hips.

“I’m not your wife yet. We’re only engaged.”

Reaching for her ankle, I catch it and pull her to me. She falls onto her back with a little squeal, and I lean over her, kissing her soft breast. “We can speed up the timeline on that.”

Slim arms loop around my neck, and she kisses the shell of my ear. As sated as I am, her nude body is still turning me on. “But I wanted to go for a swim in our hot spring.”

“We can do that without staying here.”

“And I wanted to sit out by the fire in an Indian blanket.” Her voice is sweet and pouty.

“It’s too warm for that.”

“Not if we’re naked.”

She’s got me. My lips press into a thin line, and I study those hazel eyes and full lips a moment. “One night.”

“Yay!” She jumps forward and kisses me before hopping off the bed. And crossing to the small bathroom. “Start the fire. I’ll grab the blanket and meet you.”

The door closes, and I stand for a few seconds looking around the small cabin I once considered mine. The mineral spring only walking distance from here also was once only mine. They made up my fortress of solitude, as my little sister Amy liked to call it.

Mariska came in and transformed all of it to ours. Now when I look at this place, I see all the ways she’s in danger here, most of all the lack of a telephone and our distance from the main house. We’re going to have to find a new place.

7

Names

Mariska

It’s too warm for a fire in the little stove, but I asked for one anyway. Lying on my side in the cabin, I watch the flames dance through the small grate content and happy with the way this evening went.

Stuart’s reaction to the news was sweet and sexy and absolutely silly. He treats me like I’m made of glass—something I never would’ve expected. As if I’m the first pregnant woman in the history of mankind. As if pregnant women haven’t endured harsher conditions than I’m likely to ever face in the coming months.

Still, it’s sweet. We shared the delicious picnic dinner Winona made us of fried chicken and corn on the cob, and while I expected to have one sip of sparkling wine to celebrate, he wouldn’t even let me have a taste!