Page 58 of Ride a Cowboy

That caught her attention.

Her gaze connected with his, and she gave him an innocent look that didn’t fool him for a minute. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Did you take a test yet?” he persisted.

Macie narrowed her eyes. “You realize you’re ruining everything.”

He grinned, her words the admission he needed. “What was your plan?”

“I was going to put a pacifier around Sally’s collar and see how long it took you to notice.”

“Holy shit.” A wave of pure joy crashed over him. He drew her into his arms, hugging her tightly. “You can do that next time.”

She snorted. “There won’t be a next time. I feel like dog crap. I’m not doing this again.”

Hank kissed the top of her head. “Mmmhmmm,” he said, knowing he’d convince her otherwise.

“I mean it, Hank.”

“I know you do.”

“You’re happy, right? I mean, you said you wanted this. But damn, talk about a honeymoon baby. Or, more likely, a pre-honeymoon baby. Cause this probably happened before Vegas, now that I think about it.” She was rambling.

He released her, surprised to find her nervous. “Macie. My God, baby. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am right now. I never—” He had to clear his throat as his emotions started to clog it. The reality of what she’d just told him was truly setting in. “I never thought I’d get the chance to be a father.”

Macie, astute as ever, noticed the impact her news had on him. She cupped his cheek and smiled softly. “You’re going to be a great one.”

Hank forced himself to take a couple deep breaths. Jesus. He was on the verge of blubbering like a fool. He needed to get his shit together.

“I love you, Macie.” The words were simple. Words he’d said to her several times a day, every day, since the wedding. They weren’t enough to cover what he felt right now, but they were all he had.

She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him. “I love you too.”

“Are you’re okay with this? Happy? I know I’ve been going on about it a lot. It’s what you wanted too, right?

Macie rolled her eyes as if he’d just said something utterly ridiculous. “I know how to stop a pregnancy, Hank. When I realized I was late on my shot, I wasn’t freaked out. Not even a little. I was actually sort of excited to think…well…you say you’re not getting any younger, but neither am I. There’s that clock-ticking thing.”

Hank snorted. “You’re only thirty-one, Whiskey. I’m pretty sure nothing’s ticking yet.”

“Maybe not, but I purposely didn’t call Tyson to get another shot or the Pill. So really, when you think about it, I trapped you.”

He laughed. “We trapped each other.”

“Besides, if we’re serious about a big family, we need to get started.”

“Thought you weren’t having another one?”

She lifted one shoulder casually. “I talk shit all the time. You know that.”

“So you weren’t kidding about wanting a big family?”

She nodded. “I’d love that more than I can say. Although I’m not sure what kind of mother I’d make. In addition to learning how to cook, I’m going to have to practice curbing my foul mouth. And God help us all when we’re buried in dirty diapers and soiled bibs.”

“I’ll start looking for a housekeeper now. And we can get a swear jar. My language could do with a bit of cleaning up too. We got this, Mace. It’ll be okay.”

Macie wrapped her hands around his neck and he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“I know,” she said. “Feels like there’s nothing I can’t do now that we’re together.”

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