Page 30 of Bargain Match

HADLEY

I’ve never been this tired.

Not on our honeymoon, when we barely slept for forty-eight hours while we made good use of the King-sized bed in our suite at the inn before heading back to Alaska.

Or when I bet Burke I could carry the heaviest equipment pack on a hike from Skagway up the Chilkoot Pass Trail.

Not even the time our boat tipped over on another H&B Alaskan Adventures excursion and we had to walk—against the current—to drag it back to camp.

The tiredness I feel at this moment puts all those others to shame.

But as the baby girl bundled up in my arms stirs and stretches her mouth in an oversized yawn of her own, I know every ounce of exhaustion is worth it. She is worth it.

“Have I told you lately that you’re incredible?” Burke asks from his chair next to mine.

“Mmm… not in the past twenty minutes.”

“Well, let me tell you, you’re fucking amazing.” He pulls a face, and darts a worried glance at our daughter. “Sorry, you’re freaking amazing.”

“That’s better.”

“I promise, I’ll curb my language before she starts repeating everything she says.”

It’s a nice promise. I have no doubt he’ll do his best. But I also won’t be surprised the first time our daughter spills a cup of milk and drops the f-bomb.

“Do you need anything?” he asks.

“I’m good right now.” I could probably use a nap, but that would mean ending this time together. So I’ll wait.

“I do have a little surprise.” He stands and crosses the room.

“What’s that?”

“Her honorary grandma and aunties and uncles back in Scotland have been busy.” Burke brings out a box that I hadn’t noticed was tucked away in the corner of the room.

Carefully moving Hadley from one arm to the other, I make some room in my lap to help him unbox our gift.

“First, we have some hand-carved toys from Uncle Malcolm.”

I admire the small stained animals. We’ll have to save them until she’s older, but they’ll make a perfect addition to the nursery Burke and I recently put together.

“And there’s a blanket.” He pulls out a piece of tartan, made out of a wool so soft, it’s like a cloud. “Glynis says it’s made in our family colors.”

We waste no time unwrapping the blanket and folding it around our daughter. Before I can even think to ask for it, Burke retrieves the broach she gave me before our wedding and carefully pins it on the plaid.

It’s perfect.

“It also came with this.” He holds up a piece of paper and turns to read it.

“Oh, did they write us a letter?” With our baby snuggly wrapped in the tartan, I reach for it. “What do they have to say? Is it best wishes for us and the baby?”

“Among other things.”

My hand freezes mid-air. “What other things?”

He lowers the paper and arches an eyebrow. “For one, they’ve included a list of suggested baby names. Good for—and I quote—‘whether the bairn be a lad or a wee lass.’”

I giggle a little at that. “Well, since we have a lass, what did they suggest?”

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