Page 93 of Yuletide Acres

Epilogue

Poppy

“Sunshine, you ready?” Dylan calls up the stairs, but my gaze is transfixed by the pregnancy test in front of me.

The positive pregnancy test.

I knew I was pregnant almost immediately. Some women claim they have no clue, but I felt all the slight nuances changing in my body. But I kept quiet, fearful for Dylan’s reaction.

It might seem silly, but I’m terrified of what he will say when he learns we’re having a baby. That niggling doubt in my brain is difficult to eradicate, even with my husband’s constant affections. He likely won’t be too shocked, considering we have sex almost every night of the week and we haven’t used protection once.

“Poppy, are you okay? I don’t want to miss our reservation.” Dylan pokes his head in the bathroom door, and I snatch up the pregnancy test, hiding it behind my back.

“I’m fine. Almost done.”

Those brown eyes sparkle at me as he closes the distance between us. He frames my face with his hands, pressing a kiss to my lips. “Are you?”

“Yep,” I manage, squeezing my fingers around the test. “I’ll be down in a second.”

His hands drop to my waist, but his gaze never wavers. “What are you hiding?”

“Nothing.”

Dylan chuckles as he grabs both my wrists, bringing them—and the test—in front of my body. His smile falters as he uncurls my fingers, one by one, from the test. “Poppy?”

I shrug, a nervous laugh escaping my throat. “Surprise,” I whisper.

He stares at the test, but his face is unreadable. With every passing second, my heart threatens to seize.

“Dylan?”

Silence.

“It might not be accurate,” I manage, feeling the tears brimming. “Let’s forget about this and go to dinner.” I take a step around him, but his arms encircle me, holding me fast.

He spins me around, and for the first time, I see the smile lighting up his face. He picks me up, pulling me into the tightest hug I’ve ever felt, his face buried against my neck. Then I feel the dampness against my skin and force his chin up to meet my gaze.

His eyes are bright with tears as he kisses me. “You’re pregnant.”

“Yeah.”

He sets me down, pushing the hair from my face as he beams at me. “We’re having a baby, Sunshine.”

His happiness unleashes my own as the tears spill down my cheeks. “You were right. You do have super sperm.”

“What I have is the most exquisite pregnant wife in the world.” Dylan sinks to his knees in front of me, lifting the edge of my sweater and pressing kisses to my stomach. “I can’t wait to meet you. I’m going to take such good care of you. You are so loved.”

There’s no chance of holding back the emotion now. I kneel next to him, capturing his mouth and letting our kiss convey all the feelings they haven’t invented words for yet.

He rests his forehead against mine, both our eyes misty. “My Sunshine Girl is having my baby.” Dylan fishes his phone from his pocket, punching in some numbers. “Hi, this is Dylan West. My wife and I have a reservation for seven. Can you make it eight? Something has come up. Thank you.”

My eyes widen at the sudden change in plans. “You know I need to eat more now, right?”

Dylan lifts me from the floor into his arms, dripping kisses along the column of my throat. “Oh, I’ll feed you, Poppy. But first, I’m making sure we both work up an appetite. I need a private celebration with my wife. Clothing optional.”

As he carries me to our bed, I grasp his chin, staring deeply into his eyes. What I see staring back is pure, unadulterated love. For me, for our family, and for our future.

“I like the way you think.”

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