Page 41 of Sassy Surrogate
“Would that be okay with you?” I query before letting Hannah down.
“Yeah, sure. No worries.”
He holds onto the goat’s collar while Hannah tentatively strokes a tiny hand over the animal’s flank. Her giggle has all of us adults smiling while the animal laps up the attention.
The man sticks a hand out to Heath. “Chance Bateman.”
“Heath Bailey.” Pointing to Hannah and me, Heath continues, “This is my wife, Danica. And the little tyke petting your goat is our daughter, Hannah.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you.”
Smiling up at him, I reply, “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“I best be getting this little bugger home before he causes any more consternation.” Turning to the goat, he continues, “I bet you almost gave this nice couple a heart attack, thinking you were dead.” Picking the leash up, he turns back to Heath and me. “My apologies, folks. I know how stressful that can be. Bugger’s done it to me before.” Briefly checking his watch, he says, “Well, guess we best be off before the missus comes looking for us.”
With a cheery wave, he wanders off down the beach, the small animal trotting happily alongside him.
All I can do is stare after them. Heath, on the other hand, isn’t so silent.
“Damn it. What am I supposed to do now?”
“What? Why?” His words snap me out of my trance.
“That damn goat made off with my wallet. That’s why I was chasing it. Now I have no idea where it is.”
“Did you look?” Knowing my husband, I have to ask.
“Yes, of course.”
“Hmm.” My reply is noncommittal.
My gaze tracks the path they followed in the game of chase, and I notice a clump of driftwood and seaweed a little way from the spot Heath stopped to pick up the shell. Pointing, I continue, “How about over there? Did you check there?”
He’s silent for a moment, then, “Yeah, sorta.”
“So, in other words, no.” Shaking my head at him, I walk over to the bundle and poke at it with the toe of my flip-flop. A chunk of driftwood shifts, and I spot the black leather lying nestled in a fork in the wood. “Found it,” I call.
Heath bends down to retrieve it, a sheepish look on his face. “Thanks, angel.”
His expression makes me laugh. “Come on, it’s time for us to get Little Miss home for her nap.”
I have news I’m dying to share with Heath, and Hannah’s naptime is the perfect moment to do it. I’d also like to tell him before my family arrives since this is something I think he deserves to know first. And I’d love to savour the moment with him before we share it with our loved ones. He nods, swooping in to pluck Hannah up into his arms, pretending she’s an airplane. Dipping her low and lifting her high, the sound of her sweet giggles once again brings a smile to my face and contentment to my heart.
It’s a short distance to the rental house where we’re staying, and it doesn’t take long for us to get Hannah settled. Tired from playing on the beach and the excitement of getting to pet a real goat, she goes down easily.
Placing the book I was reading to her quietly on the nightstand, I go in search of my sexy husband. I eventually find him sitting out on the back patio, laptop in hand.
“Just what do you think you’re doing, mister?”
“Damn. Busted.” His chuckle still causes butterflies in my stomach. Setting the device aside, he pulls me onto his lap, and I go happily. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I rest my head on his shoulder.
“I have a gift for you,” I say after a long moment of simply enjoying this quiet moment.
“Yeah? What is it?”
I dig into the pocket of my shorts and pull out a small, roughly wrapped parcel, handing it to him. He turns it over and over in his hand, a frown creasing his brow.
“You know, if you undo the wrapping, you’ll find out what it is,” I quip, nerves now starting to creep in.
