Page 145 of Wilde Flame

“Me too,” I agreed.

My father moved from Caden to me, giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “You’re going to love having a girl.”

By the time everyone offered their congratulations, and Vivianne brought out a cake for everyone to eat, I was ready for a nap. I leaned my head against Caden’s shoulder and felt my eyes slowly closing.

“Caden, take that poor girl home, will you,” Ensley said, as I opened my eyes and tried to smile.

“I’m so sorry. I’m struggling to keep my eyes open.”

My mom and Vivianne both stood and went to get our coats.

“Time to get home and rest,” Mom said, as she hugged me once more. “Congratulations again, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

We said our goodbyes, and the next thing I remembered was Caden carrying me into the house and to our bedroom. He lay me down, and I snuggled into the pillow. I felt him removing my shoes and socks, then felt the bed dip. He drew me against his body, kissing the back of my head.

“Go back to sleep, Lili.”

Smiling, I closed my eyes and drifted off, feeling safe and loved.

Caden

Week 24

Lilibeth stood back and clapped.

“Oh my gosh, Caden, it’s even more beautiful than I thought it would be!”

The nursery was finally done, and I had to agree with Lilibeth. The outcome was even better than what I’d envisioned.

Gatlin and I had put wood planks on one wall, which Ensley had then painted white. The rest of the room was painted a soft creamy white. The crib was placed in front of the windows, with a pink mesh canopy hanging around the sides and back.

Opposite the plank wall, I painted branches of a tree, and with the help of Rhett, Katie, and Jimmy, we all painted woodland creatures I’d drawn onto the wall. Lilibeth cried when she saw the four of us painting them and declared she’d never paint that wall ever again.

“It looks good. You happy?” I asked, as Lilibeth lifted the hem of her shirt and started scratching her stomach. She’d been doing it all day. I read in the book she’d given me that Mom’s belly might get itchy from the skin being stretched.

“Itchy?” I asked, walking up behind her and rubbing her stomach.

“So itchy!”

I stopped moving my hands and started to kiss along her neck. She hummed, and I was about to move my hands up to her breasts…when I felt something.

We both stilled.

“Caden—did you feel that kick?”

I gasped, and Lilibeth spun around to face me, a wide smile on her beautiful face.

“You felt it, didn’t you?”

“Holy shit! I felt it. I felt our baby!”

Lilibeth had been feeling the baby move for a few weeks, but I never could feel a thing. I dropped to my knees and put my hands on her belly again. Moving my mouth close to her stomach, I began talking to our daughter.

“Hello, princess. Can you let Daddy know if you can hear me?”

Another kick.