At one point I stopped because I felt the baby moving. Bran dropped to his knees like he was worshiping me and the baby, giving my belly a kiss.
When we arrived back at the house, Bran asked, "How about a skinny dip?"
"If that means you're going to be naked and wet, then yes. I'm in."
He grinned and the beauty of it took my breath away. We walked into the house and through the gym to the pool. Bran grabbed a couple towels and robes that were kept in the gym area.
I undressed and then walked down the steps into the cool refreshing water. Bran stripped and dove in from the other side, gliding until he came up next to me, his arms wrapping around and holding me to him.
"Are you happy?" he asked.
"I've never been happier. What about you?"
His light blue eyes stared straight into mine. I hoped our baby had his eyes.
“Blissfully. I feel whole in a way I’ve never felt before."
"God. Are you two never not fucking?"
Both our heads swiveled to see Harper standing at the edge of the pool, her arms crossed, her brows narrow as she stared down on us.
Bran and I both tensed, knowing that an argument was about to come.
Bran turned us and moved me behind him as if he were protecting me. "If you've come to harass us —"
She rolled her eyes. "I didn't come here to harass you.”
He studied her for a moment, and then he said, "Why don’t you ask Mr. Joseph to get you some coffee and something to eat, if you want. Anne and I will get out and join you."
"Fine." She turned on her heel and strode out.
Bran turned to look at me, his blue eyes studying me.
I wondered if he worried that seeing Harper might change my mind about being with him. I slipped my arms around his neck and pulled us together, fusing my lips to his, letting him know that we were together.
No one, not even Harper, would get between us again.
We exited the pool, drying off, and put on our robes. Instead of meeting Harper in robes, we went upstairs and changed into clothes.
Once dressed, we headed downstairs, finding Harper sitting out on the terrace drinking a cup of coffee.
Bran pulled over a chaise chair and helped me down into it. Then he pulled over a regular chair and sat. "So what brings you by?" He wasn't terse, but I wouldn't say that he was friendly either.
Before she could answer, he tilted his head to the side. "You're wearing the necklace."
Harper’s fingers went to the round locket hanging against her chest. She fiddled with it for a moment. "How long have you had this?"
"Since mom and dad died. It's been locked in the safe."
I smiled at Bran, thinking it was sweet that he’d given her a locket he’d kept since their parents died.
Her eyes narrowed. "And I'm only just knowing about it now."
Bran turned his head away looking out over the yard. The tension in his jaw told me he was trying to bring his irritation in check.
Finally, he turned back.
"Is that why you're here? To bust my balls about the locket. Maybe you forgot about how after they died, you didn't want to deal with any of their stuff. So, I did it. I saved a few things I thought you might want someday, locking them away for safekeeping. I'd hoped giving it to you the other day would remind you that we were family, in a good way. But —"