He tugged her head back and murmured, “Beautiful woman with the beautiful heart,” and planted his mouth on hers, kissing her with the tenderness and possession he did so well.
She sighed when he finally ended the kiss. “Sorry for leaking all over you.”
“I don’t mind. It’s part of the deal with a pregnant wife.” He paused. “When’s the baby due?”
“How’d you know?” Not fair that the man always figured it out before she had a chance to tell him.
“You’ve been testy. And horny as hell.”
“That means I’m pregnant?”
“Two signs I’ve seen five times before. And Caro, you were cryin’ during a baby food commercial last night. That’s sort of a giveaway.” He stroked her arm. “You okay with it?”
“I don’t know. I’m not…not okay with it. I just never thought I’d have six kids. Especially not after seeing how it affected my mother’s health. Then again, she didn’t have her first baby until she was thirty-three.”
“It’s ironic that’s how old you’ll be when you have your last baby.”
Carolyn lifted her head and looked at him. “We’re done after this?”
“Ain’t your life’s work to pop out kids until you hit menopause, no matter what the pope says. I won’t take the risk that you’ll end up like your mother because I’m selfish; I want lots of years with you after the last kid leaves the nest. You’ve been lucky with every pregnancy, but that ain’t always how it goes, especially the older you get. After this one, we’re done. Don’t care which one of us gets snipped or clipped, but it’s gonna happen.”
“Okay.”
“So I want you takin’ it easy this go around. It’ll be over four years since you had Carter. You don’t take any chances; the boys are old enough to help you out a lot.”
“I agree. As long as we’re on that subject, I want the boys to start having household chores in addition to ranch chores.”
“I got no problem with that. Was that the issue earlier?”
She hedged. “Teaching them life skills is my responsibility too.” She rubbed her face in his chest hair and breathed him in. “Speaking of, I need to check on them before I conk out.” She pressed a lingering kiss on his lips. “I love you. Even the days when I look around and see messes everywhere in this house, and boys who’d rather roll in manure than bathe in water, and endless chores for both of us…then I see you and I know I’m exactly where I want to be and I can’t imagine my life any other way.”
His eyes softened. “Same goes, sugar. Now go check on them boys before I decide I need another helping of you before we hit the hay.”
The boys had been on their best behavior during her pregnancy. A few minor incidents, including an escaped calf in the dining room during calving season, but they were trying to help out more.
But she’d reached the stage of her pregnancy where nothing was clean enough. She’d been scouring the kitchen when the first contraction hit. As strong as it was, it wasn’t her first rodeo so she ignored it and finished scrubbing the refrigerator.
She’d made progress wiping down all of the cupboards when another contraction squeezed her midsection.
Okay. That one got her attention. As did the next two. But Carolyn was determined to cross every chore off her list today. Besides, the baby wasn’t due for two weeks and in five other pregnancies she’d never gone into labor early.
She alphabetized her spices and breathed through the contractions that were coming closer together.
Who knew this false labor stuff could feel like real labor?
With a small squeegee in one hand and the spray hose from the sink in the other, she contemplated cleaning the window above the sink, versus how much it’d bug her if she just let it stay dirty, when angry footsteps came up behind her.
“Carolyn, what in the hell do you think you’re doin’?”
“Trying to figure out the best way to wash the windows. I realize climbing on the counter and standing in the sink isn’t an option. So I figured I could spray the glass with hot water and squeegee it fast.”
“Huh-uh. Not happening. Step away from the cleaning supplies.”
Carolyn whirled around, aiming the hose at him. “Back off. I have a list to complete. Don’t you have chores of your own to finish without trying to tell me how to do mine?”
“Listen to yourself. And look around. The house sparkles from top to bottom. You’ve been nesting the past two weeks and, sugar, give it a rest.”
Carter’s head popped up beside Carson’s hip. His blue eyes were enormous. “Who’s mama makin’ a nest for?”