Page 161 of Gracefully Yours

I looked at Charlotte, who avoided my gaze. “We’d always said we wanted a big family. But we’ve had our hands full with this one, so…”

“We’ve been talking about it,” Noelle chimed in, her cheeks flushed. I wasn’t sure if it was just from the cold. “Being an only child was lonely for me. I think I’d like another one.”

Matthew leaned down, kissing the top of his wife’s ginger head. “Hopefully, the next one gets your hair.”

I played with Abigail’s hair in my lap, thinking the same thing. How much I’d love a little girl with Charlotte’s blonde locks. I was perfectly happy being a girl dad, even if we had a whole brood of them. The little girl in my lap was everything I’d ever wanted.

The snow was coming down harder, and it was getting colder. “Think we should call it a night?” I asked the gang.

Gabbi nodded as she yawned, sleepily.

“I should get her to bed, anyway,” Hunter laughed.

“It’s notthatearly,” Gabbi protested. “We still have time. We could watch another episode of our show.” She fluttered her eyelashes, and I knew Hunter would cave.

Just like any of us would.

“This little one needs to go to sleep, too,” I said, tickling my daughter, before looking up at Charlotte, who had a warm expression on her face.

* * *

We’d putAbigail to bed in her big kid’s bed, and then I planned on thoroughly showing my wife how much I loved her. And… maybe we could start on baby number two.

“She’s asleep,” Charlotte said, sliding into our bedroom and wrapping her arms around my waist from the back.

“Mmm. Good.” She settled her chin on my shoulder. “So… What do you think if we gave her a sibling?”

I hadn’t stopped thinking about it since everyone had mentioned it earlier. I turned to face her, my eyes roving over her body, wearing a t-shirt she’d stolen from my closet and a pair of leggings.

“Yes. One hundred percent, yes. You want to start right now?” I smirked, my hands coming to her waist as I pulled her closer to me.

“Actually…” Her cheeks pinked. “I took a test this morning.” My throat choked up as Charlotte placed her hand—and mine—over her stomach.

“Are you?”

She nodded. “Surprise.”

I laughed, lowering my forehead to hers. “And we didn’t even have to try this time.”

“I haven’t exactly been very good at keeping track of my cycle. Blame it on the two-year-old I’ve been chasing all over this house.” Charlotte leaned in close. “But I did miss that part, you know.Trying.”

My blood heated, thinking about all the cycle tracking and baby-making sex we’d had last time. When we’d gone from faking everything to being a real couple.

“Mmm. I think I’m willing to make a compromise.”

“What?” She lowered her pretty little lashes, fluttering them as she looked up at me.

I put my lips to her ear. “We try again next time.”

“Next time?” Charlotte giggled. “A little presumptuous there, Mr. Bradford.”

“For you? Always, Mrs. Bradford.”

I’d be happy to spend the next ten years with her barefoot and pregnant, if that was what she wanted. However many kids she wanted, that was what I wanted too. Two, three, five—it didn’t matter to me. As long as she was happy. After all, she looked so gorgeous when she was pregnant, carrying our baby. I already couldn’t wait for her to show again.

“How far along are you?” I asked, looking at her stomach. Pretending that if I squinted enough, I could see the faintest of swell to her belly.

“Five weeks.” Her eyes trailed down to where I was looking. “I’m not showing yet.”

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