Page 94 of Flare
Ward wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked back to his truck.“To Wildflower?” he asked. He’d surprised her earlier with the news that he’d made dinner reservations for them.
Emily nodded.“I can’t wait.
∞∞∞
Wildflower had been Emily’s favorite special-occasion restaurant since college, tucked away in a renovated Victorian house with intimate lighting and locally sourced ingredients. It felt a little strange to be here with Ward instead of Andrew, but she wanted to make new, better memories here with the man she truly loved.
When they arrived, Emily was surprised to be greeted personally by Chef Artemis, a tall woman with wildly curling salt-and-pepper hair beneath her paper hat.
“Emily,” she said warmly, clasping both of Emily’s hands in hers.“It’s been too long. Your husband called ahead and told me that the two of you are celebrating your honeymoon. I prepared a special tasting menu for you both.”
Emily glanced at Ward, who looked slightly embarrassed but pleased.“You did this?”
“I wanted tonight to be perfect for you,” he said simply.
They were escorted to a secluded corner table lit by candles, with a bottle of sparkling local cider already chilling in an ice bucket. She wondered why Chef Artemis had subbed the cider for champagne, but it didn’t matter. The tart, dry cider paired perfectly with course after course of exquisite food. Ward watched with obvious pleasure as Emily savored each bite.
Hours later, they returned to their hotel room, Emily feeling pleasantly full and emotionally at peace. As Ward closed the door behind him, he beamed at her.
“Em,” he said.“I have some wonderful news to share with you.”
Emily returned his smile. Whatever it was, he was clearly overjoyed.“What? Tell me!” she demanded, intrigued.
Ward stepped closer, his eyes brightening with an intensity that made her heart skip. He placed his hands gently on her hips, then slid one up to rest on her belly.“You’re pregnant,” he whispered.
“What?” Emily gasped, her hand automatically covering his.“Are you sure?”
Ward nodded, a smile breaking across his face like sunrise.“I’m sure. My bear can smell it. We’re going to have a baby, Em.”
Emily felt her knees weaken as the reality of his words sank in.
They’d agreed they wanted to try for a baby right after their engagement. She hadn’t noticed any changes yet, but the certainty in Ward’s voice left no room for doubt.
“A baby,” she repeated, her voice breaking.“Oh, Ward.”
He pulled her into his arms, his chest vibrating with that deep, rumbling sound that emerged when his bear was happy.
“I can’t imagine anything I want more than to have a family with you,” she breathed, tilting her face up to his.
Their kiss was tender at first, then quickly deepened with passion fueled by their shared joy.
They made love with exquisite slowness, Ward treating her body with reverent care, as if she had become even more precious now that she carried their child. Through their bond, Emily could feel his wonder, his pride, his fierce protectiveness—emotions so powerful they brought fresh tears to her eyes.
Later, as they lay curled together in the hotel bed, Ward’s hand possessively splayed across her belly, Emily marveled at how much had changed in just a few weeks.
The Brunborn case, which had loomed so large in her life since last spring, had ended with unexpected swiftness. Andrew, faced with the overwhelming evidence from the files Emily had copied, had struck a desperate plea deal for a reduced sentence with federal prosecutors.
His testimony had brought down his grandmother and her entire criminal organization. And Emily had been spared the ordeal of testifying, of facing Andrew across a courtroom.
And then, in a final twist that still felt surreal, Andrew had died in custody. It was officially ruled a suicide, but Emily had to wonder whether his grandmother hadn’t gotten her revenge for her favorite grandson’s betrayal.
Emily felt a complicated mixture of relief and sadness about a life so thoroughly wasted. But she couldn’t deny the peace that came with knowing she was truly, finally safe from him. That her child would grow up in a world where the Brunborns held no power, posed no threat.
“What are you thinking about?” Ward asked, his voice drowsy as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
Emily snuggled closer to him.“Just how lucky I am. How different everything is from this time last year.”
Ward’s arms tightened around her.“We’re both lucky, Em. You and this baby are everything to me.”
