Page 296 of Steamy Ever After

“Good Lord, Peyton. Where did you come up with that craving?”

“Blame her.” Peyton pointed at Alex, who shrugged.

“Thank you for inviting us to your home, Mrs. Wolf.”

“Sorcha, please call me August. You know my husband, Jamison?”

“Laird, Sorcha,” Peyton’s father greeted Brodie’s mother and father. “Can I bring something to drink?”

“Whatever’s open, Jamison.”

Her dad returned with an unmarked bottle of red, and poured everyone but Peyton a glass.

Her head throbbed with their formality. Soon, no one would be so cordial.

“I have something to tell you,” she began.

When Laird’s phone pinged, he apologized and took it from his pocket.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I have to take this.”

Peyton took a deep breath when he left the room, then leaned forward and held Sorcha’s hands.

“Oh, thank the Lord,” they heard Laird shout from the kitchen. He rushed into the living room, where his wife waited with Peyton, her parents, and Alex. “They’ve found him. He’s alive! Sorcha! He’s alive!”

Hearing Brodie’s father’s news, Peyton felt the darkness pull her under.

“Peyton?” Alex tapped her face. “Peyton!”

She opened her eyes and looked over at Brodie’s parents, who were handing the phone back and forth.

“They’re talking to someone with the search party. Apparently, Maddox radioed that they’ve located the crash site, and by some miracle, Brodie is still alive. They’re trying to determine his condition now.”

A few minutes later, Sorcha wiped her happy tears and sat down next to Peyton. “What did you have to tell us, lass?”

She looked at her mom, who nodded through her own tears. “Go ahead, Peyton. Tell them your news.”

She took a deep breath, not convinced this was the right time. However, if she didn’t tell them now, when would she? “Sorcha, Laird. I’m pregnant. And Brodie is the father.”

At first, Peyton thought Sorcha might faint, as she herself had only a few minutes earlier. She didn’t, but she didn’t say anything either. Instead, she reached for Laird’s hand and gripped it hard enough that he winced.

“I told you,” she whispered before standing and leaving the room.

Laird sat down next to Peyton and hugged her.

“Is she okay?”

“Oh, yes, she’s fine. Overwhelmed, of course. You see, she told me that Maddox and Naughton were going to find Brodie. That when they did, you would tell him he was going to be a father.”

Peyton felt light-headed again, which Alex noticed. “What do you need, Peyton?”

“I’m okay.”

“You sure?”

“I should lie down.”

“I’ll help you upstairs.”

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