He made a low, hungry sound. Lifting his head, he frowned down at her.
She reminded him, “Dillon’s upstairs. If he wakes up and comes down…”
With a slow nod, he shifted away from her. “You’re right—and that reminds me of another important issue we need to consider…”
“What issue?”
“When and how to tell the kids.”
“Whoa. I hadn’t even thought about that yet…” For months, she’d been operating under the assumption that her little boy would never have a clue that his mom and Shane’s dad had once been more than good friends. Now she had to find a way to tell him that she and Josh would be giving him—and Shane—a new brother or sister.
“Hey.” Josh put his arm around her again. “You okay?”
She let him pull her close and even rested her head on his shoulder. “It’s just that, well, everything’s going to change, you know? I don’t have a clue how to deal with it.”
“We’ll work it out, you’ll see.”
“I’m exhausted just thinking about it…”
He brushed a kiss at her temple. “I probably should go, then, huh? Let you get some rest…”
She made a soft sound of agreement but made no move to get up or say good night. It felt so good, sitting here in the quiet living room with Josh’s strong arm around her. “In a minute…” She closed her eyes.
* * *
Josh could have sat there on that sofa forever just holding Riley close.
Yeah, he should get going. But he didn’t really want to leave her.
She was always so strong, so self-assured. Riley Thompson was a take-charge kind of person. She did what had to be done. And she did it with a smile on her face.
But even a strong woman needed someone to lean on now and then. And he was discovering that he didn’t mind at all being the man Riley leaned on.
“Rile,” he whispered.
She didn’t stir.
Carefully, he shifted away from her. Rising, he guidedher to lie down. She made a muffled, sleepy little sound but didn’t wake.
He stood above her, waiting in case she stirred. But she didn’t.
So he grabbed a throw pillow from the end of the sofa and eased it under her head. She slept on as he spread the sofa quilt over her.
As quietly as possible, he went around the room turning off the lights, leaving only the floor lamp by the side window on low. The lamp provided just enough of a glow that she wouldn’t wake up in the dark.
At the door, he grabbed his coat and hat off the hook and put them on. Then, very quietly, he went out into the chilly spring night.
Pausing on the welcome mat, he locked up with the key Riley had given him a couple of years ago so he could get in any time the need arose. Smiling to himself, he crossed the porch and descended the steps.
Halfway down the concrete walk, he slowed to a stop, swept off his hat and tipped his head up to the sky. The Wyoming night was cloudless, awash in a million stars.
Staring up at all that beauty, he thought about Riley, about Shane and Dillon. About the new baby, too.
Yep. Everything was changing.
And that was just fine with him.
Chapter Six
