“Dance with me again?”she asked, slightly breathless.
“Always.”Ewan set down his cup and took her hand, leading her back onto the floor just as the musicians struck up a slower tune.
This time,they moved together with the ease of long practice, Ewan’s hand at her waist, Maia’s resting on his shoulder. Around them, other couples joined in, but Ewan barely noticed them. His entire world had narrowed to the woman in his arms.
“Thank ye,”Maia said softly.
“For what?”
“For all of this. For makin’today perfect. For everythin’.” Her eyes shone with tears, but they were happy tears. “I never thought I’d have this. A weddin’, a husband who loves me, a clan that accepts me. I never thought I’d be this happy.”
“Ye deserveall of it and more.” Ewan pulled her closer, not caring that they were supposed to maintain a proper distance. “Ye deserve the world, Maia. And I’m goin’ to spend the rest of me life tryin’ to give it to ye.”
“Ye already have.”Maia smiled up at him. “Ye gave me freedom. Gave me love. Gave me a family again. What more could I possibly want?”
“I can think of a few things.”Ewan’s voice dropped lower, more intimate. “Starting with gettin’ ye alone so I can properly celebrate our weddin’ night.”
Maia’s cheeks flushed pink.“It’s barely evenin’. We cannae leave our own celebration yet.”
“Watch me.”
“Ewan!”But she was laughing, that joyful sound he’d do anything to hear. “We have to stay at least until the feast is served. It would be rude to just leave.”
“I’m the laird.I can do what I want.”
“Aye,and I’m the lady now. Which means I have a say in this.” Maia’s smile turned mischievous. “Besides, I have somethin’ I want to tell ye. Somethin’ important.”
Ewan’s attention sharpened immediately.“What is it? Are ye alright? If someone said somethin’ to upset ye, I willnae take it lightly.”
“Nae, nothin’like that.” Maia glanced around, then pulled him toward a quieter corner of the hall where they could have a moment of relative privacy. “I’ve been waitin’ for the right moment to tell ye, and I think—I think now is perfect.”
“Tell me what?”Ewan’s heart was starting to race with something that might have been anxiety or excitement; he wasn’t sure which.
Maia tookhis hand and placed it on her stomach, covering it with her own. “I’m happy, Ewan. So incredibly happy. And I cannae wait for us to meet our new family member.”
Ewan stared at her,his mind processing the words, the gesture, the gentle pressure of her hand over his.
“Are ye—"His voice came out rough, choked with emotion. “Are ye sayin’ what I think ye’re sayin’?”
“I’m pregnant.”Maia’s smile was radiant, glowing with joy and hope and love. “We’re goin’ to have a baby. Ye’re goin’ to be a faither.”
For a moment,Ewan couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. Could only stare at the woman—his wife—who’d just given him news that felt too big, too wonderful to be real.
“A baby,”he finally managed. “We’re havin’ a baby.”
“Aye.”Maia’s eyes searched his face, suddenly uncertain. “Are ye—are ye happy about it? I ken we havenae been married long, and maybe it’s too soon, but I want this and I want to ken if ye want it too. It’s just…”
Ewan cuther off with a kiss. Deep and thorough and full of every emotion he couldn’t put into words, joy and love and wonder and a fierce protectiveness that made his chest ache.
When he pulled back,he was smiling so wide his face hurt. “Happy? Lass, I’m—I’m beyond happy. I’m—" He laughed, unable to contain the pure joy bubbling up inside him. “We’re havin’ a baby. Christ, we’re havin’ a baby.”
He sweptMaia up in his arms, spinning her around despite her laughing protests, not caring that half the clan was probably watching them.
“Ewan!Put me down! People are starin’!”
“Let them stare.”He set her down but kept his arms around her waist, his hand splaying over her stomach where their child was growing. “Me wife just told me I’m goin’ to be a father. I’m allowed to celebrate.”
“Ye’re impossible,”Maia said, but she was beaming at him.
