Indecent Proposal (40 page)

She was like a watering can these days and her taciturn husband, who was constantly acting like a cheesy Hallmark movie, was not making it easier on her.

“The purpose is
us
,” she said. “The three of us. We are the purpose and the point of everything. But, I have another proposal for you.”

“Can’t wait.”

“The second you think you want to run for mayor, or congressman or President of the United States, let’s talk about it. We can decide together.”

“The same for you. You want to be mayor or senator or President of … you think I’m kidding, but I’m not.” She was blushing and crying and swollen and needed to pee, but she sat still while he kissed her. “You can do anything you want.”

She groaned against his lips, pressing a hand low on her belly where the uncomfortable throb she’d been
feeling off and on for the last few hours turned sharp. Painful.

“You’re having contractions, aren’t you?” he asked and she nodded, gripped in the teeth of a bad one. She’d been having Braxton Hicks for the last few days, false contractions that sure as hell didn’t feel false.

“Off and on all day, but it’s worse since dinner. I think … I think this might be actual labor.”

All the calm of her polished husband vanished and he looked stark raving terrified. “This is real?” he asked, leaping to his feet, pulling her up carefully with him.

She could feel him getting ready to take the situation in hand; he was already reaching for his phone to call the doctor and looking over to the door where her hospital bag sat waiting.

But she stopped him, took his beautiful face in her hand, and cherished this moment before everything changed. Before their world of two became three. It was beautiful what they had, and what they would have. And sometimes she could not believe her luck, but then she reminded herself that she and Harrison had each other because they were brave.

Well, that and a faulty condom.

She pressed a kiss to his lips, tasting her own tears there.

This is real
.

With incredible respect and gratitude for their patience and hard work, I would like to thank everyone at Random House whose careful hands are placed on my books. Especially Gina Wachtel, Sarah Murphy, Jin Yu, Shona McCarthy, Lynn Andreozzi, and, with great affection—Shauna Summers.

* D P G R O U P . O R G *

B
ANTAM
B
OOKS BY
M
OLLY
O’K
EEFE

Crooked Creek Novels
Can’t Buy Me Love
Can’t Hurry Love
Crazy Thing Called Love

The Boys of Bishop Novels
Wild Child
Never Been Kissed
Between the Sheets
Indecent Proposal