Bargaining for Baby(32)

"News? I wonder if it's as good as mine. But you first."

She met his gaze. He looked so enthused, she smiled and tipped her head. "No, you."

"Snow and I've come up with an idea to turn Leadeebrook into a sheep   station museum. We can dress it up for the public, have sheepdog shows,   shearing displays, outback extravaganzas. You were right. This place is   too special, has too much history, to let lie around and decay."                       
       
           



       

Maddy beamed and hugged his neck. Jack was kept busy enough with his   investment portfolio as well as being a great dad to Beau, but some days   she caught the restlessness in his eyes. This museum plan was exactly   what he needed.

But they spent a good deal of time in Sydney now, coming back here to   Leadeebrook for quiet times in between. It wasn't a compromise on either   one's part. They were simply enjoying the best both their worlds had  to  offer.

"Does that mean we'll be spending more time here than Sydney now?" she asked.

He dropped a kiss on her inside wrist. "We'll spend as much time here as   you want." He grinned. "Although Beau's social calendar is pretty full   in Sydney. Play groups, swimming classes."

"He's a popular kid."

"With a popular and extremely beautiful mother." His forehead rested   upon hers but as he rocked her around to the music, the laughter faded   from his eyes. What replaced it made her heart swell and cheeks heat   with that familiar desire she could never get enough of.

"Thank you for bringing me back to life," he murmured as wedding guests   danced around them. "I love you so much, I just want to grab on and   never let you go. In fact … " Taking her by surprise, he gripped her high   on her waist and swung her in a circle so that her feet left the ground   and her train flew out in a glittering white river around them.

She was laughing, out of breath, when he set her down. Giddy, she   righted her diamond-and-pearl tiara. "We might need to go a little easy   on that kind of spontaneous stuff for a while." When his brows knitted,   questioning her, she teased, "Just for seven or eight months."

Jack's pupils dilated. Then his chest expanded to a breadth and width   she hadn't witnessed before. He drove a hand through his hair and again.

"You mean you're … " His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. "You and I … Maddy … we're having a baby?"

She bit her lip but couldn't contain the ear to ear smile. "Uh-huh."

He whooped then dipped, about to grab and spin her around again. But he stopped then stepped back.

His smile disappeared. "Do you need to sit down?"

A flicker of unease brushed her stomach but she quickly assured him.   "I'm fine. Fantastic. The doctor says everything's better than good."   She held his hands, searched his eyes. "But if you want to postpone our   honeymoon in Paris …  I mean, if you're worried about me flying right now   or anything … "

I'll understand.

He blinked slowly and a line creased between his brows.

"We've been to New York," he said, "Hawaii and New Zealand with Beau. I   don't see why this little one can't experience France-" he settled his   warm palm over her belly and grinned "-even if it's from in here."

Maddy flung her arms around him. He wasn't going to wrap her in cotton   wool? Wasn't going to even hint that they should hibernate here at the   station, at least until after the birth?

She pulled back. "Are you sure?"

"No. I'm positive." His strong arms gathered her in. "Know what I love most about you?"

"I think I do." Playful, she craned up and skimmed her adoring lips over his.

He chuckled and the rumble vibrated through to her bones. "Besides that."

"Tell me."

"I love that every day I discover something new and wonderful that only makes me love you more."

A surprise tear escaped and rolled down her cheek as his head slanted   over hers. Their lips brushed again and again. After she murmured how   much she loved him, too, she rested her cheek on his chest and   contemplated their fabulous future together.

A cry of "Dad-da!" brought them to attention.

They turned. Cait was holding Beau. "Your son wants to dance."

Laughing, Jack scooped Beau onto the swing of his sleeve and Beau   clapped his hands while Maddy welcomed the wonderful sense of   completeness.

Contentment.

She'd always wanted to belong, but no one belonged to a job or address.   Dancing with Jack and their son on their wedding day, with another   beautiful baby on the way, Maddy knew exactly who she was and where she   needed to be.

With her heart.

With her family.

Wherever their love was, God willing, so was she.