Page 123 of A Little Naughty

A naughty grin curls his lips, and he leans down to kiss the space on my neck below my ear. “Maybe one of them would have long blonde hair, a sassy little attitude, and a voice like an angel.”

A tickle is in my stomach, and I stretch with a happy sigh. “One?”

“And another one might have a little James Dean outlaw in him.”

Pushing his shoulder, I rise up on my elbow. “Are you saying we might have a little bad boy just like you?”

“I’m not so bad.”

“No, you’re sweet, and I would love him so much.” I cup his cheeks, kissing the growl off his lips at being called sweet. Resting my hand on his cheek, I trace my thumb along his lips. “I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure, but it’s possible we have a new beginning on the way right now.”

His expression changes, and his eyes light. “Jemima… Are you?—”

“It’s very early. I haven’t even seen a doctor yet, but I think maybe… yes.”

I’m still speaking as he’s moving down my body, sliding his hand over my flat stomach that doesn’t look any different than it ever did. Still, I never miss a period, and it’s been three weeks.

Soft lips touch my skin, and he wraps his arms around my lower back, resting his cheek above my navel. Reaching down, I thread my fingers in his hair loving this man so much.

“Jemima…” He says my name with such reverence. “The idea that you might be my wife was a dream too big for me to have. Now this? I’ll do everything to be sure you and this baby and our family are always safe and proud and have everything you need.”

I pull on his arms, and he slides up in the bed, pulling my back to his chest and sheltering my body with his the same way he did a little while ago, when I couldn’t think about anything new.

“I have everything I ever need right here. My hero, my husband, my strength. You fill my broken pieces with golden sunsets and love.” His lips trace the line of my jaw, and the heat rises between us. “I love you so much.”

As we move together, our bodies becoming one, I realize the pain is gone. The things we’ve lost have become a part of our story, and I can’t wait to see all the new things we make together.

EPILOGUE

RAIF

Martha’s new deck is lit with twinkle lights wrapped around the posts and in the trees, and citronella lanterns are placed along the eaves.

She stands beside me in her usual, long-sleeved fatigue-green shirt and brown cargo pants looking over her daughter and all her extended family.

“You did good here.” She nods. “It’s exactly what I pictured. The whole family together, and more on the way.”

I look over at Jemima with Cass, the two of them just starting to show, comparing the size of their stomachs and trying to figure out if they’re each having a boy or a girl. I can’t stop a proud grin—something I’ve been doing a lot these days.

“We need more girls,” Jemima says. “Pinky needs more members on her team.”

“I don’t care as long as it’s healthy.” Cass toes the party line, but Alex is more decisive.

“I’d like a girl.” They look at him, and he shrugs. “I grew up in a house full of boys. Girls keep things interesting.”

“You can say that again.” I wrap my arms around my wife, sliding my hand over her round belly.

She kisses my cheek, and Deputy Doug fires up the karaoke machine. “Here we go,” he says, waggling his eyebrows and looking over the crowd. “I know we want a duet from the Dixon gals, and of course, I’ll be doing my usual.”

As if on cue, Terra Belle walks in wearing her platinum blonde wig and red lipstick. Her niece Julia, Dr. Henry, and Julia’s daughter Crimson are right behind her, and while Pinky runs with that little pink poodle under her arm straight to her friend, Terra walks straight up to me.

“Raif Jones!” Her voice is stern, and I straighten, wondering what the hell she’s about to say. “I wanted to say this in front of God and everybody.”

“Okay?” I square my shoulders, preparing for the worst.

“I’d like to apologize for accusing you of destroying my pickle patch. You didn’t do it, and I shouldn’t have assumed you did. I was wrong.”

My shoulders relax, and I put a hand in my pocket. “You don’t have to apologize, Ms. Belle, everybody thought we did it.”

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