Chapter Sixteen
Joe felt a buzzing start in his head as he tried to come to grips with what she said.
A baby? Holy shit. Just from that one time. He almost snorted. Of course, it only took one time.
He was thinking about all that needed to be done and then looked at her face. He could tell he had screwed up again when tears filled her eyes.
She sniffed. “It’s okay. I was planning on moving to town. That way, you can see the baby whenever you want. I also thought if you would be okay with having me around, I’d come and clean once a week and make you some meals.”
She stopped abruptly when he held out his hand.
“Come here.”
She inhaled and shuddered before she walked over to him.
He gripped her hips and brought her in between his spread legs. “I don’t want you to move anywhere. I want you here very much. I’m surprised, but I’m in no way upset about the child. In fact, the more I think about it, the more excited I get.” He thought back to what his mother had said. “My mother knows?”
Naomi nodded. “I think so.”
“How?”
“I got a pregnancy test at the drugstore. The clerk asked me some questions, and I just said it was for a friend. But then she saw me with you in the diner.”
“I wondered what that was about. I’ve known Ginger for a long time, and I can guarantee most of the people in town know we’re having a baby.”
There was a long pause, and then his grin grew. “We’re having a baby.”
Naomi started to relax and nodded. “Yes.”
“I’m trying to think back to see how far along you are.”
“I think I’m over eight weeks along.”
“That’s about right,” he said. He pulled her against his chest and held her tightly.
“Are you sure about this? I don’t want to pressure you into anything.”
He smiled at her gently “Sweetheart, I’m absolutely thrilled. I’ve wanted a family for a long time.”
“I’m glad.”
“We’ll get married as soon as we can.”
“Wait. What? No, we don’t have to do that…”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Yes, we do. I want this child to come into the world the right way. With both his mother and father together. Besides, do you really think the town won’t say anything? That’s not to mention my mother.”
“I don’t want you to regret…”
“Stop. I don’t regret anything.” He chuckled. “I never thought I’d find a woman like you that is perfect for me, and now we’re having our first baby.”
“First?”
“Yes. I want as many as you can handle.”
She sputtered. “I’ve always wanted a large family so we might have enough for a basketball team.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “I’ll take it. Listen, I need to get cleaned up. How about we eat dinner and then watch a movie together? We can talk about everything tomorrow.”
“I’d like that.”
“Now, I need a kiss.” He lowered his head and started to kiss her. The heat rose exponentially as the kiss went on. He tore his mouth from hers.
“This is where we got in trouble the last time,” he growled.
She inhaled a few times and stared up at him.
“I want us to be a couple, Sweetheart. If you want to wait until after we’re married to sleep together, we can.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to wait.”
He lay his forehead against hers. “Good, I’m glad. I’ve imagined you in my bed since the beginning. The very first night.”
Her eyes were closed, but he saw the small smile on her face.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be right back down after I shower.”
She nodded.
He walked out of the office to see her bags by the door. He snatched them up and started walking up the stairs. He grinned when he saw her confused expression. “I thought I’d help you get these to our bedroom. I don’t want you lifting a lot.”
She nodded, and then her mouth snapped shut, making him smile.
He put her things on the bed and walked into his bathroom. After showering and getting dressed, he pulled everything from her bags and put the clothing in the closet so she could organize it later. Her shampoos and women’s items were on the counter in the bathroom.
When he walked back into the bedroom, he grabbed the empty bags and put them on the top shelf in a closet in another room, making it nearly impossible to get to them.
When he was satisfied, he walked downstairs to the kitchen and saw her at the stove stirring something. Joe walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He smiled when she jumped a little and then leaned back against him.
“I hope you can get used to me touching you because it’s going to happen all the time. Every chance I get, I want to bond with you.”
She tipped her head back. “I want the same things.”
He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on the back of her head. “I can’t believe how much I screwed up.”
“But we’re over it, right?”
He nodded and then grinned. “Yeah, I want you to kick me if I say anything else stupid.”
She giggled.
He tipped her head back with his finger. “I’m not kidding. The last thing I want is to make you sad or doubt how much I love you.”
He saw the surprise on her face, and then she turned. “You love me?”
He smiled. “Yes. Very much.”
He started to worry when tears filled her eyes, but then she smiled. “I love you, too. I have for so long.”
He couldn’t last another second without kissing her. He cupped her face and lowered his. Just like every other time, the desire burst between them, and their embrace got tight. When he heard a moan, not sure if it was himself or her, it snapped him out of the haze of passion.
He stared down at her. “We’ll continue this when we’re in our bedroom.”
A smile grew on her face at the same time she blushed.
His nose twitched at a foul smell. “Is something burning?”
Naomi gasped and turned, stirring the potatoes. He could tell the bottom of the pan was scorched, but otherwise, the potatoes looked good.
“What can I help with?” he asked.
“You can get us drinks.”
He opened the refrigerator and looked inside. “You’re drinking milk, right?”
She scrunched up her nose and nodded. “It’s not my favorite, but it’s good for the baby.”
Joe sat at the table eating and talking to his fiancée—God, he loved the sound of that as much as “wife.” The meal was the most relaxing, wonderful experience he’d had in so long. One thought kept going through his head.
He helped her clean up. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go into the family room? I have to make a quick call, okay?”
Naomi smiled and nodded before walking off.
Joe walked into his office and opened the safe hidden behind a picture. It took him a moment to find what he was looking for. He pulled the ring out of the box and stared at it. The diamonds in it weren’t big but the ring was pretty. The fact that it was a family heirloom made it even better, and he bet Naomi would feel the same way.
He picked up his phone and dialed his mother.
“Hello, dear, do I need to come back and fix something?” Carolyn asked.
Joe snorted. “No, Mom, I’m being good.”
“That’s nice to hear. What do you need?”
“I want your permission to give Naomi Grandma’s ring.”
He waited and got worried when she stayed silent and then heard her sniff.
“Oh, I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Carolyn said.
“I’m going to ask her tonight…”
“Maybe you could make it special.”
“How?” he asked.
“Take her somewhere, have a picnic or something like that. It will be something she remembers for the rest of her life.”
Joe thought about one of his favorite places on the ranch. “I love that idea. I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Carolyn paused. “Is there a reason you’re in a rush?”
Joe grinned. This was his chance to poke at her. “Well, no. Not that I can think of.”
He thought he heard his mother growl in frustration and wanted to laugh.
“Nothing at all?” she asked tersely.
Now, she sounded irritated, and that was never good.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, you’re going to be a grandmother.”
His mother sounded giddy. “That’s wonderful news, dear. Tell Naomi I am so excited, and I’ll be the best grandmother ever.”
Joe chuckled. “I’ll tell her. I want us to get married as soon as possible. I want her tied to me as much as possible.”
“Now, see, that’s actually very romantic,” Carolyn said.
That floored him, but he didn’t say anything. “I was thinking about flying to Vegas.”
“I have a better idea. How about I ask William to come out and marry you? He’s a judge, so he can do that.”
“How do I make it special?” he asked.
“Let me think on that and get back to you.”
“Sounds good.” He was relieved she was helping. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome. Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Joe sat there for a moment with a grin on his face. He put the ring in his desk drawer and went to find his future wife. He just hoped his mom could make it happen soon.