Page 18 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

Somehow he picked her up, twirled her all the way out of Demi’s room without hitting anything or shouting loud enough to wake the little one.

Sheer delight shone on his face as he lowered Ginny to the ground in the kitchen. “Oh my God, that’s perfect. I’m stoked. I’m over the moon.” He kissed her then, hands firm on her body as he held on tight, and yet with such tenderness, Ginny felt tears welling up.

He pulled back far enough to touch their noses together. “You didn’t say anything tonight when Kelli and Luke announced.”

“Of course not. I hadn’t told you yet,” Ginny said with a laugh.

Tucker paused, his face twisting before he nodded. “Okay, I guess that makes sense.”

He was obviously still catching up with the news. She patted his cheek for a moment. “You’re a nut.”

“You feeling good? Everything okay? When’s the baby due?

“I’m feeling great, but morning sickness is still a possibility. So far I’m not nearly as nauseous as with Demi. I didn’t make a doctor appointment yet, because I was waiting to tell you tomorrow.” Amusement bubbled up. “And as far as the online trackers tell me, I’m also due mid-August.”

“Get out.” Tucker squeezed her again. “When can we tell the others?”

She should have seen this one coming. “The others? You mean Luke, don’t you?”

Tucker had the grace to look sheepish. “Well, yes, him. And everyone else, of course.”

Laughter, sweet and welcome, filled the kitchen, filled the house.

Filled her heart to overflowing. “We’re having a baby.”

“We’re having a baby,” Tucker agreed.

He pulled her into the bedroom then, stripping her down with tender hands and heated kisses. He slipped over her on the bed and covered her with his hot, hard body briefly before teasing and taunting his way down her neck.

He cupped her breast carefully. “They sensitive?”

“A bit,” she offered breathlessly as he licked her nipple then blew, a gentle breath of air. Moisture painted her skin, and pleasure rose as he kissed and lapped until she wiggled under him. “More. I need more.”

He gave her more. Hands on her body, mouth on her sex. Tongue and teeth and hands all adoring her. Tucker brought her up to the breaking point then eased them together. As he pushed into her, his eyes locked on hers in a moment of such intense connection that her heart swelled up, nearly painful with love.

He caught her right hand with his, linking their fingers together before pinning her hand to the bed beside her head.

They rocked together, a smooth and simple dance that brought pleasure and joy and a quiet intense need that grew and grew.

Tucker slipped his free hand between them, teasing slowly, fingers slick over her clit, and she was gone. Ginny gasped as her body tightened on him, dragging a moan from him as he froze over her, buried deep.

Perfect.

When they were done, they lay in each other’s arms, breaths easing, hearts slowing from their rapid beat. The quiet of the house settled around them like a warm embrace.

Love lived here.

5

Lisa placed Nathan’s car seat on the floor beside the wall and settled with a sigh into the nearest chair. Buns and Roses was quiet at the moment. She’d managed to hit the lull between pre-office breakfasts and post-school drop offs. The quiet murmur of adult voices was exactly what she needed.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. In and out, slow counts.

For this moment at least, Nathan was asleep. Josiah was home with their other two kids. Zoë and Mason were amazing, and Lisa loved being a mom, but for some reason, she’d been dragging the past few weeks.

Yes, she knew it was a lot taking care of three kids who were four, eighteen months, and a baby, but still.

She’d always been the energizer bunny, at least in her mind.