Page 110 of Irresistible
“I am, actually. A more important question is if you’re ready to be Da?”
Dougal froze. Then he pivoted to face her, his hands clasping the undersides of her forearms. “Are you with child?”
“I think so. It’s probably a wee bit early—your Scottish is wearing off on me—but I felt confident enough to tell you. That, and I am terrible at keeping secrets from you.”
“You didn’t use to be,” Dougal said wryly.
She looked both horrified and amused. “I thought you forgave me for that!”
“Of course I do. It was a poor jest.” He looked toward his brother’s monument. “Did you hear that, Alistair? You’re to be an uncle again, and I’m to be a father. Who would have thought?” For a man who’d long stifled his emotions, the joy streaming through him was almost insufferable.
Sweeping Jess into his arms, he let out a happy cry and kissed her. She held on to him, laughing, until he set her down.
“I should be more careful with you now, I suppose,” he said, offering her his arm.
“Not too careful, if you don’t mind.” She gave him an openly suggestive and seductive look.
“Noted. My father is going to be so pleased.” That only compounded Dougal’s happiness. His father’s health was holding steady, likely due in no small part to Jess’s care. When she’d learned he was ill, she’d written to physicians and learned all she could about his condition. Then she’d ensured he followed a specific diet and got just the right amount of exercise. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that he will get to meet his next grandchild.
“I know,” Jess agreed, beaming. “But I don’t want to tell him yet. Soon. When we’re absolutely certain.”
“It will be difficult to contain, but you’re right.”
“I often am.” She gave him a playful wink.
“I wouldn’t have you any other way, my hummingbird.”
“How I love you, my stag. Now, kiss me again.”
Chuckling, he pulled her into his arms once more, where he planned to keep her forever.
