Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 33887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Hale swallowed hard.
“Now, I’m done,” Tom said.
“Thank fuck.”
Tom grinned at him.
Hale drew a big breath into his nose, let it out, and he and Tom went to go sit with the women so Hale could look at honeymoon pictures.
“It’s clear to me Tom should have gone into psychology, not sports medicine.”
It was later.
They were in bed, cuddling after making love and cleaning up. They had two cats at their feet, which would change once they fell asleep. Frosty would snuggle somewhere into Elsa’s body. Cheddar would curl into himself beside Hale on Hale’s pillow.
And he’d just told her about his conversation with Tom.
“Don’t tell him that. He’ll start applying to schools,” Hale warned.
“Maybe I should and he’ll get into a school in New York so we have them all the time and won’t lose them to Phoenix every few weeks.”
“Don’t tell that to Chloe, or she’ll swear a vendetta against you.”
Elsa laughed softly.
They were both mellow, shit was sorted (for now).
It was time to hit something else.
“I need to tell you something that’s concerning me.”
“Sock it to me,” she offered.
He smiled at her, but it faded before he said, “The pace you’re keeping isn’t sitting great with me.”
“The pace?” she asked.
“Your usual hell bent for leather, but now, it’s that and then some.”
Understanding softened her body against his. “Hale, you don’t need to worry.”
“I know I don’t. I know you’re an intelligent woman and would never do anything to harm yourself or our child. But you need to know where I am with that.”
Lines formed between her brows and she queried, “How much is this bugging you?”
“One thing I want a moratorium on is you running up the stairs.”
“Honey,” she murmured, now her body melted into his.
“No,” he amended, “two things. Your obstetrician is here, so we’ll be having the baby here, but I’d really like you to consider curtailing travel as soon as you can. I know you have some interviews set up in LA. But once that project is finished, I’d like for us to nest in New York for a while. As easy as it is for us to be able to fly private, travel still takes it out of you. You’re providing energy for two. The frequent back and forth to LA concerns me.”
“I have two trips already scheduled,” she reminded him.
“I know, and I’m not asking you to cancel. Just not schedule any more until the baby is cleared to fly.”
She was watching him closely, but she said nothing.
“I’m good,” Hale assured her. “It’s okay. I’m being overprotective. I’ll settle in. And your pace will slow, because you won’t have any choice in that. Just, please, don’t run up the stairs again.” He paused and added, “Or down them. Or anywhere. Can you promise that?”
“I can promise that. I can also nest in New York, no problem,” she said softly, came in to touch her lips to his, before she pulled away, but pressed closer and asked, “You feeling better about all of this?”
“I don’t feel like a fucked-up mess, since all new fathers are fucked-up messes, apparently.”
“At least that’s progress,” she joked.
He started stroking her back and assured, “I’m fine, baby. Really this time.”
“Okay,” she mumbled.
“And I’ll do better at figuring my shit out before it affects you,” he promised.
She sighed heavily before she ordered, “Hale, stop it.”
He was confused. “Stop what?”
She pressed a hand into his chest. “I love you. I love you messed up. I love you when you’re together. I love you when you’re feeding Cheddar treats on the counter and it’s irritating the living daylights out of me. I love you when you keep calling him, that being our unborn child, a her.”
He cut in at that. “She is a her.”
“Whatever,” she returned. “Stop apologizing for being you.”
He gathered her even closer. “Okay, baby.”
“Yeesh,” she pushed out.
“It’s done. Get over it,” he ordered.
“I also love you when you’re being a bossman.”
“I know that for certain,” he teased, slipping his hand around to cup her breast.
She arched into his touch.
“Again?” he whispered.
“You have to ask?”
No.
He didn’t.
He rolled into her.
And Frosty and Cheddar had to wait to settle in for the night because Mom and Dad were going at each other as usual, and taking their time doing it.
Once they were done, and Elsa’s warm, soft body was tucked to his, her breaths deep and even, fast asleep, Hale drifted to sleep as well.
EPILOGUE
AND THOSE NOT
Hale
Two months (plus) later…
Midway through the festivities, which unfortunately he was ordered to attend, but fortunately, there were no games or ridiculous shit like that involved, his woman grabbed his hand and marched him into Nora’s kitchen.
It was the week after Christmas, just days before the New Year.
A light snow was falling outside.
And they were at their baby shower.
Once they hit the kitchen, Hale looked around with interest.