Page 97 of Taming the Boss

“Now?” he asked excitedly, obviously echoing my frenetic nows. So much for keeping my voice down.

But this was the best day ever. How could I be expected to be quiet?

“Definitely not now,” Maddie said with a laugh. “More like spring of next year. Ish.”

Owen frowned. “That seems long.”

“It’ll go by fast. Promise.” Maddie kissed the top of his head and eased him out of my arms so she could give him a giant hug. “Are you excited like we are?”

“Yeah!” His enthusiasm was obvious though I didn’t know if he even understood. We’d have to get some kids’ books on having a baby to add to our bedtime rotation. Rather than trying to explain in other ways, which seemed rather horrifying. There had to be decent books that could do the heavy lifting.

Please let there be good books with non-terrifying pictures and easy-to-understand explanations.

“You’ll have someone to play with who lives with us too. Not like your cousins who have to come visit. I mean, not at first, because he or she will be too little to play, but in no time, the baby will be running around with you.” Maddie continued talking conspiratorially to him as she went to the stove to poke at the casserole and then she started setting the table for dinner. He asked to get down because he loved to help her with that task, and he ran around to set the silverware bundles she’d already wrapped up at every seat.

He was her smart, sweet little helper. And now we would have another.

After the table was set, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her forehead. “I have to ask you something.” Before she could rush off to do some other task, I hurriedly dropped to one knee and fished out the ring I’d put in my pocket earlier before Sydney had arrived.

She cupped both hands over her mouth. “Jude, you don’t have to now. We can wait if you aren’t ready?—”

“I’ve been fucking ready since that day at the florist.” Then I winced, realizing Owen was still close by.

Of course he was, because we’d already practiced how we would ask her when the time was right. It was a bit of a leap hoping a three-year-old could keep a secret, but he’d done a surprisingly good job.

At least as far as I knew.

Instantly, he trotted over to my side, making me grin a little mistily. Once I gave him the ring box, he held it out to her. “Baddie, will you marry us and stay with us forever?”

“God, yes. Yes, yes, yes, my smart little man.” She held out her hand and he managed to get the ring out of the box but he couldn’t quite get it on her finger, so I took over there.

Truly a team effort.

“Oh, it fits. Even with room for swelling.” She sniffled and laughed as her eyes filled. “Aww, a claddagh. How did you know my favorite stone was emeralds?”

“Your mom and dad told me it was your birthstone so lucky guess. A claddagh ring means love, loyalty, and friendship. Thought the meaning worked pretty well. They don’t have any with additions for hot s-e-x.” I grinned and kissed the ring on her hand. “Looks good on you.”

“It’s stunning. Oh, Jude.”

She shut her eyes before she cupped my cheeks and gave me a big kiss before she did the same to Owen, which he accepted though afterward, he made a face.

“Three going on a teenager.” She only laughed as the bell rang, singling the first wave of our horde had arrived.

Already, I could hear my brothers squabbling on the veranda as I pulled her against me. “Are we never going to get any peace again?” I asked in an undertone as Owen ran to the door with Fergus on his heels.

She sighed. “Good chance we will not.”

I kissed her once more. “I think we will make do. What about you?”

“I’m kinda used to having a huge family, so yes, I can handle it if you can.”

I cupped her belly as she leaned her head on my shoulder. “You bet I can.”

Epilogue

Maddie

I was getting married today.

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