Page 115 of Enticing Her Love

“Three times,” Indi said.

Sutton felt another pang of longing as they chatted about babies, and Joey and Hadley went back to coloring.

Leni lowered her voice, asking Tara, “How’s Levi taking it? Were you guys trying?”

Tara shook her head. “I was afraid to tell him, but I couldn’t not tell him. One night we were sitting on the deck, and I just blurted it out. He got teary eyed, and I thought he was upset.” Her eyes teared up. “But he was just overwhelmed with happiness. He wants a big family, too. I’m glad Joey is just as happy as we are.”

“Oh, honey. We all are.” Their mother hugged her, and everyone chimed in with their support.

There was a knock at the door, and everyone froze.

“Can we not say anything until after the wedding, please?” Daphne pleaded. “Jock would feel horrible if he took any attention away from Archer.”

“Same with Levi,” Tara said.

“Of course. Mum’s the word,” their mother said as she went to the door.

Their father stood on the other side, handsome in a dark suit with a coral tie that matched their mother’s dress. He whistled, raking his gaze down their mother’s body. “You are even more beautiful than the day I married you.” He leaned in for a kiss, and there was a collective, “Aw.”

Sutton warmed at the love she’d never tire of seeing between her parents.

Hadley and Joey popped to their feet, and Joey said, “Grandpa, do you like our dresses?” They twirled in circles.

“They’re almost as pretty as you are.” He scooped Hadley up and pulled Joey into a one-armed hug.

“We’re gonna be big sisters!” Hadley exclaimed. “Mommy and Aunt Tara have babies in their bellies!”

Shock and joy lifted his features. Tara gasped, and Joey said, “Hadley! That was a secret!”

“It’s my fault! I should have talked to her.” Daphne rushed over to them. “Hadley, honey, we’re not talking about the babies tonight. It’s time for Indi and Archer’s wedding, and the babies need to be our special secret until tomorrow, okay?”

With a mask of seriousness only a grandparent could pull off, her father said, “That’s an awfully big secret for such a little girl to hold in. I’m not sure Hadley is big enough to keep a secret like that.”

“I am big enough!” Hadley insisted. “I’m gonna be a big sister. I can keep a big secret.”

“I don’t know, Had. You’re going to see a lot of people tonight,” he said. “Are you sure you can lock it up and throw away the key?”

She nodded and pressed her lips together, then twisted her fingers beside them like she was locking them and pretended to throw the key away.

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t tell anyone,” Joey offered.

“Thank you,” Tara and Daphne said in unison.

“Now that that’s settled, who’s ready for their grand entrance?” her father asked as he put Hadley down, and she and Joey cheered, “Me!” and jumped up and down.

As Indi and the others decided the order for descending the stairs, Sutton sidled up to her father. “Dad, please tell me the guys didn’t do something horrible to Flynn.”

His expression warmed. “Darlin’, that fine young man is downstairs waiting with bated breath to see you.”

“No bruises or kick-me signs on his back?”

“Not that I saw. Just a look of something pretty special in his eyes. You look beautiful, angel.”

She warmed with the endearment, but a worry crept in. “Thanks, Dad. Are you disappointed in me for getting together with my boss?”

He looked at her with disbelief and compassion. “Darlin’, I have never been disappointed in you a day in your life. I know you wouldn’t be risking everything you’ve worked so hard for if you didn’t think he was worth it.”

She got choked up, but managed, “Thanks, Dad.”