Page 45 of Size Doesn't Matter

Now actually seemed like the perfect time to have a baby.

Just as the thought made itself comfortable in her mind, there was a yelp from the other end of the table.

“Rafe!” Jane stood there, wide-eyed and white as a sheet, clutching at her very pregnant belly. “I think it’s time!”

Her uncle Rafe, one of the most steadfast and sensible men she’d ever known in her life, swallowed hard and looked like he was about to vomit. “But… it’s too early.”

“Early is normal for twins,” Ulysses said. “You were told that.” Others at the table nodded in agreement. “I’m actually surprised she’s lasted this long.”

Rafe stared at his wife like the first-time dad he was—completely clueless. “You’re absolutely sure?”

Jane glared at her husband, then grabbed his shoulder and snarled through gritted teeth like only a woman in labour could. “Get me to the hospitalnow, or I swear to all that is holy I will shove your balls so far up your own arse, you’ll think you’ve grown a second pair of tonsils!” Then she doubled over and made a sound like a wounded banshee, obviously in the grips of a contraction.

“It’s definitely time,” Ulysses said, throwing Jane a sympathetic glance even as he chuckled. “I’ll drive.”

Suddenly, there was a flurry of action as the bride and groom hurriedly thanked everyone for coming, in particular thanking Jane for the beautiful cakes, before Rafe, Ulysses, and Jane’s parents stole her away to the local hospital, a good thirty-minute drive away.

“Do you think they’ll be okay?” Jack asked, frowning as they watched the soon-to-be parents being whisked away in her grandfather’s Kombi van. “Should I have called for a helicopter or something?”

“A helicopter?” Sophie chuckled, then kissed his cheek, appreciative of his concern for her family. “Do you happen to have a helicopter parked nearby?”

“Not currently.”

“Then driving is probably the quicker option. Besides, Jane’s dad is a doctor, and Uly drives like a bat outta hell.” Jack’s eyes widened with concern. “A very safe bat outta hell,” she quickly reassured him. “They’ll be fine.”

Jack slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close, brushing his nose along the side of hers. “What should we do now?”

A quick glance around her told her Mia and her minions had clean-up well in order, but she’d been raised to offer a helping hand whenever she could. “Mia,” she called. “Do you need us for anything?”

“Yeah, nah.” The retired Army major smiled wearily but shook her head as she approached, leaning heavily on her walking cane. “It’s all under control. Get out of here while you still can,” she said.

“And we’ll keep you posted about Jane and the babies,” Oliver added, joining them. He slid an arm around Mia’s shoulders before pressing a kiss to her temple. “It’s after ten. You should be resting,” he murmured.

“I have a job to do,” she protested, stifling a yawn.

“And a bunch of people more than capable of finishing it for you.”

Mia scowled at the big man until he caught her up in his arms, cane and all, and wished everyone a good night. After that, her half-hearted protests were silenced by threats of a ruthless tickling.

Sophie laughed at their antics, even as that pang of loneliness flickered behind her ribs again. But then she felt Jack’s hand grip hers, felt him intertwine their fingers and the warmth that emanated from him permeate her flesh. Felt that warmth spread higher until it reached that stupid annoying pang and smothered it in hope.

She squeezed his fingers. “Didn’t you say something earlier about a hotel?”

He nodded. “I did. I thought it best to get a room for the weekend—” He grinned, and her knees threatened to give out on her right then and there. “—just in case I managed to convince you to give me a second chance.”

A small smile tugged at her lips as she slid her hands over his chest and straightened his shirt collar. “Consider me convinced, but we should probably make the rounds and say goodnight to everyone before we make our escape. Goodness knows when we’ll all be in the same place at the same time again.”

“Then let’s go,” Jack said, the corner of his mouth kicking up in that sexy half grin that made her panties melt right off her body. “The sooner we say goodnight, the sooner we get to the hotel.”

“And the sooner we get to the hotel…?” she whispered, her voice hitching with glee.

Jack slid his hand to the base of her throat and stroked his thumb over her pulse, his playful grin firming into something fiercer, more intense. More…him. “The sooner I make you mine.”

17

“So… Toby and Lucy are in the lifestyle, huh?”

After nearly half an hour of warm hugs from the women and bone-crushing handshakes from the men, Jack finally stole Sophie away from her family. And if he was being completely honest with himself, he wasn’t sure what to do next.

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