“I just can’t believe it,” Alice was saying, apparently midthought.
“Can’t believe what?” Holly asked and glanced at Jacob as he took a swallow from his beer bottle. What had he told Alice while she was gone…?
“This place,” Alice said, gesturing to it dramatically. “It’s like some kind of dream ranch.” Holly’s nerves settled back into her skin. Ever since Alice had stepped off the plane yesterday to pay Holly a visit and see the new addition, she hadn’t been able to stop taking about the ranch.
“Been in the family for generations,” Jacob said.
“It’s something else, right?” Holly said, falling into easy girl talk with her best friend. “I think I fell in love with the ranch before I fell for Jacob.”
Alice broke into laughter and Holly couldn’t help but join in, even when Jacob shot her that dark You’re in trouble, missy look. The look that usually landed her over his knees with a blushing bottom.
“Is that right?” he said, amused.
Holly shrugged coyly. She liked pushing his buttons, but she didn’t want to get into too much trouble. She knew just how talented he was at making it impossible for her to sit still.
The sound of screeching broke through her thoughts. “Holly, I think Jane wants you.” Trish appeared behind Holly suddenly, holding a squirming bundle in her arms.
“Oooh, let me see her,” Holly cooed, easing the baby into her arms. Jane, tiny, pink, with her daddy’s dark eyes and Holly’s inquisitive stare, settled down into her mother’s arms, blinking big eyes back up at her. “What’s wrong, princess?” Holly asked as she cupped the baby’s face, brushing away tiny tears, soothing her.
Jacob leaned over, gave an animal growl, and nibbled her tiny toes. Jane suddenly burst into shrieks of laughter, little legs kicking. Just when Holly thought she couldn’t fit any more love inside of her, her heart swelled another size.
“I think she’s just tired,” Holly said, glancing up at Trish. “Maybe put her down if you can, when you get a chance.”
“Sure. I’ve got her crib all set up in my room.”
“God, she’s so precious,” Alice cooed, reaching out to touch the soft hair on top of her head. “I could just eat her up.”
Jane, who was used to large crowds of people and her big, affectionate clan and family, kept her big eyes trained on her mother. Holly leaned down and pressed a kiss to her soft head as Jane’s eyes grew heavy. “I love you,” she murmured.
Jacob, too, leaned over to kiss his girl goodnight. “I love you, acorn.”
Trish scooped little Jane back up in her arms and murmured, “C’mon, little cub,” as she carried her off.
Jacob lifted his eyebrows to Holly and nodded in Trish’s direction. “What’s that about?”
“Trish said she’d babysit Jane tonight.”
“Pro bono?”
Holly shrugged. “Someone’s got to put that girl through college. Elmswood isn’t cheap.”
“You guys working on another yet?” Alice asked, ever nosey.
Holly shrugged, but her smile gave her away. “We’re not…not working in it.”
“So, the sex is pretty mind-blowing, huh?”
“Alice!” Holly laughed, hand over her mouth.
But then her eyes caught on Jacob and her laughter quieted and died. He was looking straight at her, light grin playing on his lips, when he said simply, “Best I’ve ever had.”
Holly felt a warm, crimson blush crawl up her neck and bloom in her cheeks. She hoped the dying sunlight might hide it, but then she saw that look in Jacob’s eyes, animal and predatory. For half a second, she feared he might launch himself at her, pin her down to the porch, and put a second child in her right then and there. She squeezed her thighs together and felt her panties already grow damp. She feared she might let him.
“That’s a good man,” Alice said, breaking Holly out of her daze. “You know, to this day, Brad still swears his best sex was some floozy he went to prom with. Love that man to pieces, but sometimes he can be so thick. Like, hello, wife here.”
“Alice,” Holly said, squeezing her friend’s hand, “I hate to do this, but I’m exhausted from teaching all day…I have to hit the sack.”
“Fine,” Alice sighed. “Abandon me. I get it.”
Holly got up and squeezed the other woman tight. “This is amazing,” Alice whispered in her ear. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you,” Holly said and squeezed her friend tighter. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”