Who's the Daddy (Crescent Cove 3)

I slipped my hand under the tails of my shirt and cupped her bare ass. “Don’t distract me or we’ll end up naked again.”

“Naked brinner isn’t a bad idea. We can make it our anniversary thing.”

I groaned and turned her toward the door. “You are dangerous.”

She threw a smile over her shoulder. “Really? I kinda like being dangerous.”

I rolled my eyes. She had no idea just how appealing she was on every level. I pinched her ass and she yelped and ran down the hall. She got to the banister just before I caught up with her. I hauled her back against me, my arm tight around her waist. “Careful on the stairs.” I nipped the skin between her shoulder and neck. “Precious cargo—both of you.”

She laced her fingers over mine. “You kill me when you say stuff like that.”

“It’s the truth.” I followed her down the stairs and we immediately fell into a familiar rhythm. We didn’t bother with bacon, and I cracked her up with the goofy animals I drew on the griddle with the squirt bottle I used to make shapes for Wes.

She fed me a star for the newest addition to the crazy circle of people I called friends. Then I made a silly heart with our initials. She blushed and dipped the corner of the D into our little joint saucer of syrup.

I lifted the bottle again and she giggled, then covered her stomach. “I’m stuffed.”

“You will be.”

Her eyes heated and she drew closer to play with the strings of my sweatpants. “Is it like swimming? I have to wait twenty minutes after I eat?”

“I don’t think that’s a rule.” But I carefully drew a few words on the griddle. The batter bubbled lightly as she glanced away from me and to my question.

“Marry me, again?” Her words were soft and questioning. “We’re already married. Shouldn’t you be asking that after we’re celebrating ten years or something?”

I held up my pinkie. The simple band with four small diamonds winked in the kitchen light. “I bought this a little bit ago, but I couldn’t figure out how to give it to you. I guess it was just because we had to wait for the right time. Patience isn’t my virtue.”

She covered her mouth with her left hand, her eyes brimming with tears. That gold band already made her mine. This part was for her.

“I don’t always get shit right. And sometimes you’ll probably want to strangle me, but I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy, Kel. And I know our little wedding wasn’t what you need.”

She shook her head and the tears spilled down her cheeks. “I have everything I need. I swear I do.” She crashed into me, her arms sliding around my neck. “I have you and Wes and this baby. I have everything.”

She meant it. I knew she did, but I also knew she deserved the fairytale. To be the center of attention for one day.

I eased her back and slipped the ring down next to her wedding band. “We’ll do it up right with all our family and friends. Might even be able to get my brother Gage into town for it. I want it too. I’ll even wear a monkey suit for you.”

She wiggled her finger, making the diamonds flash. “One for each of us. You, me, Wes, and whomever is still cooking.” She pressed her hand to her belly and I covered it with my own.

“A little bit of perfect.”

“No, a lot perfect.” She rose onto her toes and kissed me. “Perfectly perfect.”

Epilogue

Kelsey

“I can’t believe I’m doing this again,” I whispered into the mirror, touching the sparkly crown that sat atop my hair.

Okay, it wasn’t a crown. Not exactly. More like a tiara-ish thing with a filmy veil in back. It still shimmered like a crown. Like the thin layer of diamond-like snow that I knew covered everything outside.

Everything was glimmering tonight, even me.

Especially me.

“That pregnancy glow is really working for you, sis.”

I smiled and gripped my tiara as I turned toward my ridiculously beautiful little sister. Rylee was wearing a dark blue crushed velvet wrap dress and her dark hair was piled high with those little tendrils hanging down. Effortlessly beautiful, like she always was.