He got up and ambled mindlessly about their bedroom. They’d ditched the beach house as soon as they returned to L.A. from Montana. With Marsh’s property expertise at their beck and call, they’d purchased a newly renovated home dating from the 1870s that had it all. Four bedrooms in the main house plus private in-law quarters on a two-acre lot far enough from L.A. proper that no one bothered with them. In short, the perfect place to start a family.
“Come on, wife. We’re going to be late,” he called out. He knew it wouldn’t make any difference. She’d appear when ready and not one second before.
A script was tossed on the low table set between two armchairs where he and Paige often relaxed together. Having the quaint ambiance of a fireplace in their bedroom made this one of their favorite spots. Eyeing the script, he felt … nothing. And that was probably the biggest change to come into his life.
Oh, he was still an actor by all accounts, but something shifted inside him when all that fuckery happened before they got married. The surprise awards had given him the status. Though he’d worked on a couple of projects, mostly he placed distance between his real life and what he did. Paige had turned over her Team Shaw duties to Caro, who it turned out was more than just some changing hair color. There was that and the way his new PA handled Marsh. Those two got on like oil and water, but only a blind man couldn’t see the underlying attraction between the two. As far as that part of the tale goes … to be continued.
Mostly, when it came to working, he was in neutral. It wasn’t so much that he had a dim view of the business and more like he’d just outgrown it. His life was so much more than what project he had going on and how many hits his name generated on social media.
This, right here, was his happily ever after. Sometimes, it really was as simple as that. He didn’t need drama and attention. There were no shady dealings or lunatic stalkers shadowing their happiness. He didn’t need rehab, and if he never saw his name in the gossip rags ever again, wouldn’t boo hoo over it.
Playing make believe was still exciting, challenging, and yes, damn hard, but the last eighteen months had shown him that there was so much more. You never knew where your happiness would come from—you just had to hang in there and have faith.
He had, and he did. And look where he was …
Five more minutes of rambling thoughts and then he gave in. Marching to the bathroom door, he knocked softly.
“Sweetheart. Everything okay?”
Nothing. Not a sound. Hmmm.
Carefully opening the door, he peeked first hoping not to catch her at an inopportune moment. He found her sitting on the toilet—thank god the lid was closed—clutching her stomach and doubled over with her head almost hanging between her legs. Fright and worry shot into him as he burst in.
Dropping to her side, he asked questions in a rapid-fire hurry.
“What’s wrong?”
“Are you hurt?”
“You aren’t crying, are you?”
“Baby, talk to me.”
She raised her head and met his gaze. She wasn’t crying so much as glowing. Only with unmistakable tears sparkling in her eyes. He was relieved that blood wasn’t pouring from her eyes because, in that second when he found her in distress, every horrific scenario he could imagine burst into his mind.
Trying to speak, she sort of gasped and moved her mouth but nothing came out. Making matters worse for him, she was visibly shaking and hadn’t stopped grabbing her middle.
He jumped to his feet shouting, “I’m calling for help.” He’d never known such panic in all his life. Not even on the battlefield.
Her hand shot out, and she slapped him on the leg, gesturing for him to give her a minute. Finally, when he was sure his head was about to explode with fear, she looked up at him and smiled.
Then she held out a hand that was gripping something white, waving it so he could see. What? What was he supposed to be seeing?
His hands went numb as all the blood rushed from his head. If she didn’t say something soon, he was going to hit the floor.
“Sweetie,” she choked out as a big fat tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m pregnant. We’re having a baby.”
He either fell to his knees or all the wind was knocked out of his sails because there he was, kneeling in front of her as they both stared at the white stick.
“Holy fuck.”
She smiled.
“Holy fuck.”
Her smile got bigger.
“I’m going to be a father!” he yelled. “Oh, my god, Paige. For really real?”
She grinned and nodded. Good lord. They’d made a baby together.
His eyes snapped to hers. “If it’s a boy, there’s no goddamn way we’re naming him Gideon.”
She giggled, then chuckled, and then roared with laughter.
“I love you,” was all she said.
Yeah. Sometimes it was just a simple happy ever after.
THE END
Other Books by Suzanne Halliday
The Justice Brothers
Broken Justice
Fixing Justice
Redeeming Justice
Family Justice
Always
Desert Angel
Wilde Women
Wilde Forever
Wilde Heart
Ella Fox
“Medieval woman…”
Jenny Sims
I learn something new every time
Stacey Blake
Champagne for everyone!
Do you have a fangirl sign-up?
Jennifer G. Wenstad
Thank you times a hundred
Suzanne Halliday writes what she knows and what she loves – sexy adult contemporary romance with strong men and spirited women. Her love of creating short stories for friends and family became a passion for writing romantic fiction with a sensual edge. She finds the world of digital, self-publishing to be the perfect platform for sharing her stories and also for what she enjoys most of all – reading. When she’s not on a deadline you’ll find her loading up on books to devour.
Currently a wanderer, she and her family divide their time between the east and west coast, somehow always managing to get the seasons mixed up. When not digging out from snow or trying to stay cool in the desert, you can find her in the kitchen, 80’s hair band music playing in the background, kids running in and out, laptop on with way too many screens open, something awesome in the oven, and a mug of hot tea clutched in one hand.
Visit her at:
Twitter @suzannehalliday
Website http://www.authorsuzannehalliday.com
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