EPILOGUE
“NICK…” Josie’s groan echoed around the large bedroom and Nick slowed his pace even more, loving the sound of her pleas, loving her. For almost six months now they’d been married and living in what he still called Granddad’s house—and Nick knew he couldn’t have been happier.
“Tell me what you want, sweetheart.”
For an answer, she dug her fingers into the muscles of his shoulders and tried to squirm beneath him.
“Uh-uh-uh.” He pressed down, making her gasp. “You promised to hold perfectly still.”
“I can’t, Nick.”
His lips grazed her cheek. “You always say that, honey. I always prove you wrong.” He chuckled softly at her low moan. “Trust me. You’ll enjoy this.”
He slipped his hand down between their bodies and pressed his thumb where she needed it most. “Easy…” But this time his words did no good. Josie arched off the bed, her head back, her cries deep and real and she took him with her as she climaxed.
Long minutes later, he managed a dry chuckle and a mild scolding. “You’re too easy, Josie. And you need to learn to slow down. I’m going to get conceited if you don’t stop trying so hard to convince me what a wonderful lover I am.”
Without bothering to open her eyes, she lifted a limp hand and patted his cheek. “You’re the very best.”
He laid his hand on her belly and watched her shiver. “I love you, Josie.”
A smile tilted her mouth. “I’ve been thinking about cutting back at work some. With the way Granddad and Grandmom run things, I don’t need to make my rounds to visit nearly so often anymore. No one is lonely, not with those two always throwing a party of one kind or another.”
Nick still had a hard time thinking of Mrs. Wiley—now Mrs. Harris—as Grandmom. But he called her that because she asked him to and because he loved the way she pleased his grandfather, doting on him and putting the glow back in his eyes. She doted on Nick and Josie, as well, treating them as if they were her own grandchildren. The elders had married about a month ago, and were the epitome of lovesick newlyweds.
Nick dragged his fingers down Josie’s belly to her hipbones. He explored there, watching gooseflesh rise on her smooth skin. “If you want to work less, you know I won’t complain. But why the sudden decision?”
She turned to look at him and she caught his hand, bringing it to her lips. “Susan is pregnant.”
He stared at her for a long minute, then broke into a huge smile. “Well, I’ll be damned. Bob hasn’t said a thing.”
“Susan was going to tell him tonight.”
“He’ll be thrilled. And Susan will make a wonderful mother. Maybe it’ll keep her from checking up on you so often.”
Josie smacked at him. “You know she’s cut way back on that since we got married. She even likes you now.”
“Yeah, but she pretends she doesn’t. I think she just got used to hassling me.”
Josie shook her head. “She knows how much you enjoy arguing with her.” Then she bit her lip and tucked her face into his shoulder. “Nick?”
“Hmm?”
“What would you think about having a baby?”
His heart almost punched out of his chest. It took him thirty seconds and two strangled breaths to say, “Are you…?”
“Not yet. But I think I’d like to be.”
He fell back on the bed and groaned. “Don’t do that to me. I almost had a heart attack.”
Josie didn’t move. “So you don’t like the idea?”
He came back up over her and rested his large hand on her soft belly. He stroked. “I love you, honey. I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way about a woman, and now I can’t imagine how I ever got by without you.”
“Oh, Nick.”
“And I’d love a baby.” His rough fingertips smoothed her skin, teasing. “I’d love three or four of them, actually. God knows this house is big enough for a battalion, and nothing would make Granddad happier.”
She chuckled and reached her hand down to his thigh. “Let’s concentrate on just one, for now. I promise to make the endeavor pleasurable.”
“I await your every effort.”
Josie laughed at his hedonistic sigh. “You’re so bad.”
With one move, he flipped her over and pinned her beneath him. “You just got done telling me how good I am.”
She lowered her eyes and flashed an impish grin. “Hmm. Then that must mean it’s my turn to show you how good I can be.”
“You’re not done experimenting yet?”
She trailed a fingernail over his collarbone. “Nick, I’ve barely just begun.”