Page 125 of Talk Wicked to Me

She thought about it for a minute. “Paper lanterns?”

“Harmful to marine life. I have something better.” He withdrew two enormous plastic bubble wands and big round trays from the bag.

“Bubbles? How fun! I haven’t used bubbles since I was a kid.”

“These are the really big ones. Ash used to love them.”

Brennan started fussing.

“Right on time,” Baz said, turning to get him out of his carrier. “He doesn’t want to miss the fun. Do you, buddy?” He kissed Brennan’s head and crouched to fill their bubble trays.

“I can hold him.”

“I’ve got him. I can multitask.” He filled their trays, and then he handed her a wand. “Ready?”

She nodded, wide eyed, and they pressed their wands into the tray, then waved them high above their heads, leaving paths of enormous shiny bubbles that filled her with joy. Brennan kicked his feet, making happy noises as they made bubbles.

Emerson watched the bubbles float up to the sky, laughing. “This was a great idea. I feel like a kid again, like one chapter is ending, and—”

Baz dropped to one knee, holding Brennan with one hand on his belly and a gorgeous diamond ring in the other. “The next chapter in our love story is just beginning. Emerson, you blew into my office like a tornado, and you became my wind. I know I’m going away, and that scares you, but I’m in this for the long haul. Marry me, darlin’. Let me be the man who writes you love letters and makes all your dreams come true. Let me be the father Brennan deserves. The man who will teach him right from wrong and show him how to treat a woman by loving you wholly and completely.”

He rose to his feet, and her heart was beating so fast, she could barely think, barely see through the blur of tears.

“Baby, from the moment I first saw you with lettuce in your hair and crumbs all over your shirt, you were the most beautifully real person I’d ever seen, and I haven’t stopped thinking about you, or falling for you, since. I love your sass and your strength, and the way you love Brennan and the way you love me. I love the way you blush and the way you claim me when we’re alone.” He looked at Brennan, then back at her. “And I’m pretty sure I’ve loved Little B since the second he slid into my hands, and that love has multiplied a hundred times over. I want it all with you, Em. I want to be yours and Brennan’s family, and when you’re ready, I want to give him brothers and sisters, and help each one, and each other, through their rebellious stages and revel together in the sweet ones.” He stepped closer. “Emerson, my love, will you do me the honor of being my wife? Of letting me support your every whim and endeavor and love you until the end of time?”

“Yes!” tumbled out with tears as she threw her arms around him and Brennan and kissed him.

“She said yes, buddy!” He kissed Brennan’s cheek, and Brennan kicked his legs happily. “Ollie’s going to be so happy.”

Emerson laughed as he slid the most gorgeous round halo diamond ring she’d ever seen onto her finger.

“I love you, darlin’, and I want you to move into my place while I’m away so you’ll have family next door and always feel safe.”

“Moving will have to wait.”

“My brothers and cousins are ready to help. We can have you moved in tomorrow, and I made arrangements to have my kitchen inspected so you can start your business there.”

Her heart felt like it was going to explode. “Okay, maybe we don’t have to wait, but I won’t be living there long.”

“What do you mean? I don’t understand. I want you to live there while I’m overseas.”

“I know you do, but I’ve lived a small, safe life long enough. You taught me to embrace a bigger life and to live while I have the chance. We know better than anyone that tomorrows aren’t guaranteed, and I don’t want to waste a second of the time we have together. I don’t want to spend our first holidays apart. I want to be with you today, and all of our tomorrows. Brennan and I are coming with you to Indonesia.”

“What? Baby! That’s fantastic!” He swept one arm around her, lifting her off her feet and spinning them around, earning giggles from Brennan, more laughter from her, and as he set her on her feet, they sealed their vows with a kiss.

Chapter Thirty-Six

EMERSON SAT AT the desk finishing a chapter she was editing in the villa they’d rented on Gili Trawangan, the small Indonesian island where Baz was volunteering at the cat clinic. The villa wasn’t fancy, the area was hot and humid and it rained often, and Baz came home smelling like cats most of the time. But she wouldn’t care if they’d stayed in a tent and he smelled like that all the time, because the last few months had been the best of her life. They’d celebrated their first Christmas together last week, and they’d had a wonderfully relaxing day and a steamy, sensual night. They’d decorated the villa and had made a big deal for Brennan, even though he’d probably never remember the way they’d sung to him and he’d tried to join in. But it was a day she and Baz would never forget. The only downside to being so far away was that they missed everyone and Ollie, like crazy. But they kept in touch with texts, phone calls, and video chats. Sid and Gunner were taking care of Ollie, and when they video chatted with them, they got to see all the dogs, which Brennan loved as much as they did. Emerson had even been able to keep up with the book club using the online forum, and she’d almost gotten Gwen to join. But now that Gwen’s parents were trying to take a more active part in her life, Gwen didn’t have much downtime for reading.

The kitchen timer went off, drawing Emerson from her thoughts.

She saved her document and went to take the cookies she’d made out of the oven. It was Sunday, and Baz had been called into the clinic for an emergency. Tomorrow was New Year’s, and he’d have the day off, so she made putri salju, an Indonesian crescent-shaped vanilla cookie, also known as the snow princess cookie for the powdered sugar topping that resembled snow. She’d been trying a lot of new recipes lately and looked forward to making them for everyone back home. Baz’s kitchen had been approved for a permit, and she was excited to get her business up and running.

She set the cookies on the cooling trays, and as she headed back to the living room, she heard Brennan waking from his nap. She glanced at the monitor and saw him pushing to a sitting position in his crib. It was hard to believe he was six and a half months old. He was changing so fast, sleeping almost through the night, nursing less often, wanting to eat everything they did, and mimicking sounds and voice inflections.

She headed into the bedroom, and Brennan reached for her. “Mamamama.”

The thrill of hearing that, and hearing him call Baz Dadadada, was beyond anything she thought possible. “How was your nap, Little B?” She picked him up, earning the sweetest grin. He had two tiny bottom teeth, and he had more hair now, too. It still stood straight up in the middle and was cuter than ever.