“Sure?” I could barely get that word out, my throat was sohoarse.
“Definitely.”
“Thank God.” I huffed out a breath full of relief, leaned over the table and kissed her like I’d never let her go. There was no better taste in this world than her lips. After probably way too long, I pulled back, squeezed her hand, and smiled. “I was worried I’d have to run for mayor to get youback.”
Epilogue
Veronica
Sixteen months later…
“Oh my God, babe, that smells ridiculous.” I leaned over my husband’s shoulder as he pulled the turkey out to baste it for about the bazzilionthtime.
“In a good way,right?”
I snorted. “Yes, yes, give it to me.Now.”
“Good lord, you are ravenous.” He shut the oven door andstraightened.
“Have you forgotten about this? It’s like you don’t realize how much more of me there is to feed rightnow.”
His hand settled on my belly and he did that little sigh thing I’d become addicted to recently before turning to whisper in my ear. “Oh, I haven’t forgotten. I’m crazy about thisbelly.”
He nipped me and I had to lean into him—just for a second or two—before my phonerang.
“Weirdo,” I whispered with asmile.
“Mm hm. No way. You can say whatever you want, but your pregnant body is the hottest thing I’ve felt in my entirelife.”
I shivered, because it was true. I’d been on fire for the past four months. Well, between the bouts of sickness. But in the sack… my God, these hormones made mewild.
My phone rang again, shaking me out of what would probably have ended in someone getting oral sex. And, if it had been anything like the last time, that someone would have beenme.
“Dammit, where’s my phone?” I pushed away from him, toward the dining room, where the table was already set for eight people. And there it was, beside a place setting. I glanced at the phone… Not a number I knew, but I answeredanyway.
“HoneysuckleFund.”
“Oh, good. I didn’t know if you’d answer on Thanksgiving. But I knew you’d want toknow.”
My nerves went wild. “Hang on.” I leaned over and stage-whispered to Zach. “It’s Marian, from theschool.”
He walked over and stood beside me, so I put the speakeron.
“We’re both here, Marian, goahead.”
“You did it!” She was gleeful. “I mean, this isn’t official, cause nobody at the Capitol’s working today, but I talked to Bruce Herndon, and we’ve got approval. With your funding and support, the school lunch program’s happening and—” Marian paused while I whooped and jumped into Zach’sarms.
I thanked her and got off the phone, turned to my man and told him with tears in my eyes, just how much I lovedhim.
“Every kid in the state,babe.”
He smiled and wove his fingers into the hair at the side of myhead.
“Nobody goes hungry.” He leaned in and kissed me hard. “Thanks to you,” he said against mylips.
“No,you.”
“No,you.”
