Chapter Eighteen
Halligan stood with his cousins, all taking pictures and videos of his nephews. Earlier, the Nelson Nine had their turn driving the Rossellini racing cars around the track, and now his nephews, dad, and uncles were getting ready to drive.
When Loni had come to him with an idea for a trip to the Rossellini testing facility in Las Vegas, Halligan had been a little concerned. Loni was seven months pregnant, but she’d gotten the okay to travel. Now, watching everyone, he was so glad they’d come.
Over the weeks and months since he and Loni had been together, they’d discussed the family business multiple times.
He and Loni had countered Bruno’s proposal with one of their own.
They, along with Quinton and Bill, would accept the CEO and President positions.
Quinton and Halligan shared a position, and Bill and Loni shared one, which allowed for each of them to only travel twice a year for meetings.
Loni was standing by Elijah’s car, explaining some of the specialty things she’d designed. She’d already given Morgan the same speech. She nodded and walked toward him.
She looked gorgeous and sexy in her stretchy maternity leggings and the flowy short-sleeve top. Because she’d fallen in love with his chambray shirts with the oil company’s logo, he’d bought an extra twenty so there was always one clean for either of them.
“You’ve made her very happy,” Icilio said. Halligan would appreciate it more if he didn’t offer it so grudgingly.
“Well, you helped raise an amazing woman. Will you be able to take time off work to come visit when the baby is born?” Halligan asked.
Icilio turned toward him. “You want me there?”
“Of course, you’re family, and the birth of our first child would not be complete if you weren’t there,” Halligan said.
“What about me? Am I invited?” Bruno asked, leaning on the rail on Halligan’s other side.
“Yes, of course. Family is family. Let us know how big a group you’ll be bringing, and we can have accommodations for them,” Halligan said.
Loni had stopped at the bottom of the stairs and waved at Halligan.
“Oh, my lady is calling,” Halligan said, running down the stairs to Loni.
“Do you need a little help up the stairs?” he asked.
“Of course, because this is your fault. Your child is pressing on my pubic bone, and everything hurts down there,” Loni said.
He chuckled quietly.
“Oh, I know you’re thinking, ‘My son is probably such a bruiser so that’s why it’s hurting,’ Loni. But it could easily be a little girl that you’ll have to keep all those smelly boys away from when she’s dating age,” she sassed.
He slipped an arm around her waist to help her up the stairs. Her belly was getting big enough that she felt a little off-center sometimes. She’d tripped on the stairs at the bar and they’d both been very careful since then.
“Woman, are you trying to jinx us?” Halligan asked.
They’d chosen not to find out whether the baby was a girl or boy. Halligan liked to tease Loni that they should have a boy because they were easier, but he’d be thrilled as long as the baby and Loni were both healthy.
His dad had overheard Halligan teasing Loni about boys being easier and had decided Loni needed to hear every story about how Halligan hadn’t been easy to raise. Of course, what Loni had really loved was the time spent with his dad.
“No, not at all,” she said as they reached Bruno and Icilio.
“You look beautiful, principessa,” Bruno said.
“Is he treating you right?” Icilio asked.
Halligan let the men make his wife feel special. She leaned against the rail.
“Oh look, they’re starting,” Loni said.
“A hundred bucks says one of the boys has the fastest time,” Icilio said.
“I’ll take that bet. I say it’s going to be Peck,” Quinton called.
“A hundred on Burt,” Whiskey yelled.
Halligan listened to the good-natured betting but didn’t join in. He thanked his lucky stars that he walked into that hotel when he did and met his wife. He didn’t need to win the bet. He already had his own happily ever after.
The End
Thank you so much for reading Halligan and Loni’s story.