Page 19 of Redemption in Misty Mountain

Dawson groans, his head tilting back in sheer agony. “Rosalie. When I tell you there is not a chance in hell?—”

Laughter bubbles out of me, but I loop my arms around his neck and let my fingers play with the hair at his nape. “Fine. But I reserve the right to call you Daddy Dawson.”

His hands tighten at my waist. His expression darkens, his lips just a breath from mine. “Say that again, sweetheart, andwe’ll be working on baby number two before this one even gets here.”

Heat whips down my spine and anticipation curls low in my stomach. I bite my lip, ready to test that theory?—

Boom. Boom. Boom.A sharp knock at the front door shatters the moment.

Dawson groans, dropping his forehead to mine. “You invited your sister, didn’t you?”

“She doesn’t need an invitation.” I grin and pull away, already hurrying toward the door. “Maisie!”

I yank it open to find her bundled in her thick coat, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold. But it’s not just the chill in the air giving her that glow. There’s something softer in her face, something hesitant and full of quiet excitement. Her hand rests protectively over her stomach.

The sight makes my heart squeeze just like it has from the moment I found out. “Come in, come in. We’re just getting ready to start a fire.”

She gives me a knowing smile and steps over the threshold. Then she turns to Dawson with a shrug. “Looks like the cousins wanted a playdate.”

“Perfect timing.” He shakes his head with a chuckle as he takes Maisie’s jacket for her and hangs it. Then he turns his attention to lighting the log in the fireplace.

Cat slinks around her ankles. “I brought you cookies,” she says lightly, tossing him a smirk.

Dawson grumbles something under his breath, but I catch the way his lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile. I pull Maisie into a hug. Then we settle into the living room, our chatter filling the space as Dawson gets to work stoking the fire.

An hour later the warmth wraps around us, cozy and familiar. A quiet kind of joy settles in my chest as I think aboutthe way our lives will change a year from now. Emotion clogs my throat when I think of the life Dawson has built for us.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Cat lets out an ear-splitting yowl at the sound of another knock on the front door. There’s only one person it could be and we all know it. I look at Maisie and she gives me a faint nod that makes me bite back a smile. Dawson’s jaw ticks and he looks from Maisie to me.

I hold up my hands. “I didn’t know.”

Maisie chews her bottom lip. “You two are going to love each other soon enough. He won’t be here long, but I might have mentioned that he should stop by.”

“Damn ranchers.” Dawson mumbles as he pulls open the front door. “Kingridge, I didn’t know you’d be joining us tonight.”