The girls scurry out, and I can hear Holly asking, “Babies? Plural?”
Baylor looks over at me, his tone dry. “Are yousureyou want to be a part of this family?”
I laugh. “With those two playing Starsky and Hutch? I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
Chapter 46
Dream home for dream girl
“Areyousureyoudon’t want to have a big extravagant wedding, babe? We can always do it after the babies come.”
Reno is driving my 1967 VW bus, Betty, down a country road. I have no idea where we’re going because it’s apparently a surprise.
Smiling over at him, I turn my voice into a tease. “Are you trying to get out of marrying me tomorrow, Mr. Swain?”
He rolls his eyes. “Psssht, you know I’m not. I just don’t want you to regret it.”
“For the millionth time, I don’t need ice sculptures and shoes that cost more than Betty to get married. I just need a groom. Awillingone.”
“I’m more than willing, dream girl. I wanted to make sure I’m not rushing you, but I’ll shut up about it now.” He slows to take a curve and protectively crosses my body with his thick forearm—even though I’m wearing a seat belt—before dropping his hand to my belly.
It’s really sticking out there now. I’m almost four months along, and I’ve had to start wearing maternity clothes to contain my baby bump. Reno can’t keep his hands off it. Or offme.I’d worried the changes in my body would make him see me differently, but he’s as voracious as always.
“It was nice to see the Pineapple Island crew at lunch today,” I say. “Thank you for inviting them to surprise me.” Fourteen of our vacation friends arrived today to witness our nuptials, including Kat and her husband, Jevaun.
Reno slides his hand up and strokes the side of my face. “I thought it would be nice since they were like our own personal cheerleaders when we were there.”
Strong oak trees line the packed dirt road, and sunlight dapples through them, forming patterns on the dusty surface. It’s an unseasonably warm day in early December, and tomorrow is going to be just as beautiful.
A perfect day for a wedding.
Reno proposed at a Brewers’ home hockey game… after he served his two game suspension for beating the crap out of my ex.
The twat muffin had threatened to press charges, but Reno’s agent, Carly, put a stop to that right quick. She told him if he insisted on pressing assault charges, then she’d be happy to inform the world that Collin Shively enjoyed long walks on the beach and domestic violence.
He quickly declined that generous offer and shut the fuck up.
Carly is scary as hell, and I’m glad she’s on our side.
Reno turns the vehicle onto a concrete driveway that swoops up toward a house on a grassy hill. It’s a beautiful log structure that’s too large to call a cabin, with a wraparound porch that makes me want to drink lemonade and listen to windchimes. A huge stone fireplace rises to the sky on the right side.
“Reno, what is this?”
He drives slowly so I can take it all in. “It’s our new home, if you want it.”
“For real?” I squeal. I’m already halfway in love with it.
“For real. It sits on fifteen acres, about half of it wooded, so the kids will have plenty of room to play.”
He stops the van in front of the house, turns it off, and comes around to help me out. “Let’s go inside and look around.”
The home is laid out in an open floor plan. We enter into a spacious living room that stretches all the way to the right wall with a kitchen straight ahead. On the left side, there’s a formal dining room and a hallway leading to the back.
Reno taps the hardwood floor with the toe of his loafer. The wood is a gorgeous honey color that’s rich and warm.
“This is quarter sawn oak flooring that’s newly installed. There’s porcelain tile in the bathrooms. I’ve talked to a contractor, and he said his crew can make any changes like cabinets or countertops within a month if there’s anything you don’t like.”
I wander into the living room, my eyes falling on the gray stone fireplace. I can picture our little family sitting on the hearth for Christmas photos beside a ten-foot tree decorated with strands of popcorn and homemade ornaments.
