Page 39 of Chasing His Bride

Jack's sister, Greta opens the door to the house and strides to our car, cooing as she looks at Arabella, sleeping soundly. Jack slings the baby changing bag over his shoulder and gently takes Arabella out of her seat. He refuses to allow me to pick up anything; I’m sure he thinks I’ll smash into tiny pieces if I carry anything.

“No risk taking,” Jack says as I try to take the baby bag from his shoulder.

We had a scare eight weeks into my pregnancy with Arabella, and now Jack is super cautious with everything. I realized just how much he loved me then; it brought us closer than I ever could have imagined.

And now I’m three months pregnant with our second child. He’s still super cautious.

“Can I take her?” Greta asks, holding her arms out to Arabella.

I love my sister-in-law. I know she’s desperate for her own love story, and I want it for her. She’s in her early thirties, and time is running out (her words) for her to find the perfect man.

I refuse to believe it and can’t understand why she hasn’t got it on with Harvey Gold. They’ve been on a few dates, but nothing seems to come from them. I can’t work it out. On paper, they’re perfect.

But Greta is like my friend Charlie. She’s fun on the outside, but she’s as deep as an ocean, and I suspect losing her parents has had a profound effect on Greta’s life. A little like me, and probably why I love her so much.

“Pregnancy suits you; you’re blooming,” Greta says, looking over my belly.

My heart aches for her. I take her hand and squeeze it.

“That’s why I’m going to keep her pregnant forever,” Jack says, snuggling up behind me and stroking my little bump.

I glance over my shoulder at Jack and laugh.

He’s perfect, but sometimes he can act like a caveman. But I can’t deny that I love this life I have with him and I love more that I’m building a family with him. A family he adores; he can’t do enough for me or our little girl.

Jack wants lots of children, whereas I want to go back to work, and I know that will be harder and harder with each child we have. But to be truthful, nothing is as important as my family now, knowing that at the end of every day we’re together.

“Are you handing her over?” Greta asks, her eyes wide as she stares at Jack. “I thought you had something to do before the party started.”

Jack kisses Arabella’s head. He waits for Greta’s arms to be in the right place before he cautiously places our precious daughter in his sister’s embrace.

He turns to me. “I have a surprise for you.”

“You’ve done nothing but surprise me since the day I met you,” I counter.

“You’re right. This is the beginning of something new. We’re going for a walk.” He takes my hand and squeezes.

“Go on. My niece is safe in my arms.” Greta grins at me as she holds Arabella against her. Rocking gently from side to side.

“Come on, Mrs. Clark.” Jack’s voice is low and sexy. “I want to spend some time walking on the beach, just me and you.”

I tilt my head to one side and stroke my tiny bump. “You know I’m already pregnant, right?”

Jack is ravenous; he could take me somewhere for a quickie for all I know. Not that I would stop him; pregnancy hormones make me horny for him.

He winks. “Later sexy.”

I drop my head against his arm as we walk hand in hand.

“This is nice,” I say as we hold hands for the entire walk, glancing out to the sea, the sunlight glistening on each silvery wave.

“Stop here,” he says.

I do as he asks.

He walks behind me and covers my eyes with his palms before turning me around.

His heated breath ghosts over my cheek. “I think the apartment is getting a little small for our growing family. We can upgrade in New York or... we could live here,” he says, unfolding his fingers away from my face and planting a kiss near to my ear. “Quieter than New York, but the fresh air and space for the children would be fantastic. What do you think?”

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