Page 66 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

When June had left this morning, everything had been put away, the house was neat and tidy as a pin and she had the strangest awareness—there was nothing she absolutely had to do right that minute. That had never happened to her before. There was always a list, a plan, an appointment, but Sarah Lewis had taken over all her appointments for the time being, and for right now she could actually just relax.

Jumping up, she headed to the shower. Carson had said they were all having dinner at Hayden’s and Laura’s tonight. She didn’t even have to think what to cook for dinner.

In his bathroom, she stared at herself in the small mirror Carson used to shave himself. She was here, with no plans for the rest of her life and she wasn’t freaking out because of Carson.

He’d stepped in while they were still in Seattle, helped her pack what she’d needed here. He hadn’t pressured her to sell her apartment. He’d organized flights for them, had food delivered while she’d talked to Sarah Lewis.

She quickly got undressed and opened the shower door. As she opened the tap, the door opened behind her. Turning her head, she smiled. “Hi, cowboy, fancy meeting you here.”

“Hi, beautiful.” Carson pulled her closer. “You look rested.”

“I slept the whole afternoon, and I don’t even feel guilty about it.”

Taking the soap, he moved behind her and washed her back. “Have to make sure you’re clean,” he joked before his hands slipped around her waist to rest on her tummy. “How’s Peanut?”

She leaned against him. “Oh, you’ve given our baby a name now? Glad you’re home.”

As his hands moved up to cup her breasts, he buried his face in her neck. “I love coming home and knowing you and Peanut and George are waiting here.”

When those stupid tears started falling, she didn’t even try to stop them. She had a fiancé, a dog, and a baby growing inside her.

For the first time in her life, she was part of a family.

*

As Carson helped Abby from the car Wednesday evening for dinner, happy noises from inside Hayden’s and Laura’s house reached them even before they’d entered the house.

“That’s Arlene’s car.” Carson put George down. “I’m glad she’s here as well.”

The front door burst open, and all the women with Arlene in front stormed out to envelope Abby in a hug. At their heels were the dogs, yapping as they charged toward George. Overwhelmed, the schnauzer lay down and turned on his back.

Laughing, Carson stepped aside to watch his soon-to-be wife. This kind of love, this kind of family wasn’t something he’d known as a child, and he knew neither had Abby and June.

Minutes later when they entered the dining room, the men were waiting for them.

Dylan was the first one to congratulate Abby. “Welcome to the family,” he grinned as he hugged her. “And congratulations with the new Weston on the way! We haven’t been able to celebrate the good news with Carson yet, so we’re going to steal him away after dinner if you don’t mind?”

“Of course not.” Abby grinned.

Dinner was loud and noisy, the dogs barking and yapping and everyone was smiling.

As they finished, Dylan, who was sitting next to Carson, touched his shoulder. “You happy about the baby?”

Carson grinned. “Oh, yeah. Neither of us knows what we’re doing but I’m sure with everyone’s help, we’ll figure it out.”

“I’m always there for you, bro, but I have to warn you—no dirty diapers for me. Those things are nasty!”

Laughing, Carson shook his head. “I guess it’s different when it’s your own flesh and blood.”

Dylan’s smile slipped. “We didn’t have the best of mothers, but at least we had one. Your wife will need a lot of support. You up for it?”

“I love her, so, yes I am. I may not do everything perfectly right but I’ll do anything to make her happy.”

“As long as it’s not a dirty diaper, you call me, okay?”

“What diaper?” June asked as she leaned across Dylan.

“He’s warning me that he’s not up for diaper-changing duty.”