“I held you in my arms right here in this spot as I looked up at a falling star.”
I became aware of every single sound. My breaths . . . Jase’s . . . the sound of the wind blowing the wind chimes outside, and even the woodpecker searching for his lunch.
My hands rested on his broad chest as I found the words to speak. “What did you wish for?”
I’ll never forget the look in his eyes as he slowly shook his head and gazed down at me with so much love I could feel it in the room.
“For a little girl.” He dropped his hand and slid it behind my back, pulling me in closer to him. “But don’t worry sweetness, you’ll always be my number one girl.”
Laughing, I reached up on my toes and kissed the man I loved.
“I love you, Jase Morris.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “And I love you, Taylor Morris. Now come on.”
Reaching for my hand, he laced his fingers in mine and pulled me to our bedroom. “I’m making love to you until the sun goes down and the stars come out.”
I reached up and pinched myself.
Nope. Not dreaming.
Layton
Six Years Later
Whitley sat in my lap as we watched the kids playing in the pool. I couldn’t help but think what a lucky man I was to have the woman I loved in my arms and my family surrounding me.
Liza splashed around in the pool with her daughter, Corinne.
“I’d give anything to have an ounce of that energy,” Courtney said with a chuckle.
Agreeing with her, Reed wrapped his arms around Courtney while we all gazed out over the beautiful site in front of us. Nothing made me happier than all of us being together like this.
“I cannot believe how fast they are growing up,” Whitley said with a sigh.
My stomach felt like a rock. I’d give anything to freeze time.
“Dad!” Nickolas yelled. “Can I teach Lacy how to cannonball?”
Walker stood at the edge of the pool. “You mean like this?” He jumped and tucked his legs in and hit the water hard. Splashing everyone around the pool.
“Walker Moore! You got my Kindle wet!” Ava yelled out.
Courtney and Reed were so happy to have Ava and Ryder in town. They had been here almost two weeks and would be leaving tomorrow to head back up to Montana, and I knew it was killing both of them to have them so far away. I couldn’t imagine having Liza and Jase in another state.
Walker laughed his ass off as he climbed out of the pool and shook his hair, wetting Ava again. She tried to get up but had a harder time than normal. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Damn, that girl is so much like you, Court, it’s unreal,” I said.
“You have no idea,” Reed injected while Courtney shot him a dirty look.
Walker walked up to Ryder and lightly slapped him on the shoulder. “I hope you’re ready for baby number two.”
Beaming with pride, Ryder replied, “You better believe I am.”
Looking between Ava and Ryder, he poked more fun. “I would bet the ranch it’s a girl.”
Ryder’s smile dropped as he looked down at his daughter sleeping. When it was naptime, little Kate would drop wherever she was and sleep. Today it was on the lounge chair next to her daddy.
Reed had taken her for a horseback ride this morning. She had been beyond the moon happy she was having a date with her granddaddy.
Reed laughed. “Leave him alone, Walker.”
Holding his hands up, Walker shrugged. “I’m just saying, I think with three girls in the house, Ryder might feel outnumbered.”
Ava set her Kindle down and stared at Ryder. “Is that true? Do you wish it wasn’t a girl?”
Ryder went to answer, but quickly closed his mouth. “Wait. What do you mean do I wish it wasn’t a girl?”
Whitley quickly stood up and took Courtney’s hand in hers. “Don’t freak out yet, Court. Stay calm.”
“I’m trying. I will . . . stay calm. How could she keep that kind of a secret from me?”
Ava smiled and waved her hand like she was trying to brush off what she just said. “I mean . . . um . . . well, I um . . .”
She looked at her father who said, “Don’t look at me, princess. I can’t pull the foot from your mouth.”
Ryder skillfully maneuvered around Kate so he didn’t wake her. “Ava, how do you know?”
Ava’s eyes quickly began looking around at everyone. Liza and Corinne had moved over to the other side of the pool closest to Ava and were now waiting anxiously for her to spill the beans.
My chest felt as if it would burst. I loved having my family together and for knowing Ava’s slip up was going to make Courtney beyond the moon happy. I hoped it eased the pain of them leaving tomorrow.
Chewing on her thumb, Ryder reached his hands down for hers and pulled her up. He placed his hand on her round seven-month belly. “You little sneak. You got the doctor to tell you, didn’t you? And worse yet, you’ve been hiding it!”