Bargaining for Baby (15 page)

M
addy’s silk gloved hands tugged back on the ribbon reins and Herc’s brief journey came to an end.

Pink-and-white petals littered the outdoor aisle, which led to a gazebo laced with climbing roses and gold satin bows. Friends, seated on either side, kept their rapt, so-happy-for-you faces turned her way. But Maddy’s gaze was drawn to only one.

Jack’s shoulders in that crisp dark jacket had never looked broader. She already felt the rasp of his freshly shaven jaw, could already smell the masculine scent that made her feel so warm and prized. His eyes were dancing. Dancing with love. The same unique love she’d felt thrive these past nine months. Today she could barely hold back from shouting and telling the world.

Drew Tyler, in his morning suit, took her hand and helped the bride from her sidesaddle onto an elevated platform then down two steps to the lawn.

“I’ve never seen you look more beautiful.” Her father’s eyes glistened as he smiled. “I’m so pleased for you, sweetheart. Your mother would be, too.”

Emotion filling her throat, she squeezed her father’s hand while three bridesmaids fussed to arrange her sweeping train. Her wedding gown’s white silk and organza bodice hugged to the hips before flaring out into a fairy-tale skirt, which was highlighted by scatterings of sequined leaves gold flecks that echoed her fiancé’s eyes.

Adoring eyes that were pinned on her.

The music swelled. Her father looped her arm through his and Maddy closed her eyes. Her mother and Dahlia were close. She felt their wishes for happiness drifting over her.

Her father whispered near her ear, “You ready?”

Smiling, she opened her eyes and together they took the first measured step.

Standing beside Jack, Snow looked splendid in a black-tie dinner suit. He’d even trimmed his beard. As he winked at her, Maddy’s gaze, through the fine net of her veil, tracked over to Cait, sitting up front. Year-old Beau was perched quietly on her lap, his big eyes glued on “Mummy.” Nell sat beside them, well-behaved, too, wearing a pale pink tutu Cait must have organized for the occasion.

Then the music was fading and she was standing beside Jack, tears of pure joy misting her eyes. He’d never looked more handsome. More proud. Carefully he folded back her veil and the minister raised his book.

When the vows and rings were exchanged, Beau clapped harder than anyone. He jumped off Cait’s lap and, blond curls bouncing, scampered up in his tuxedo playsuit to hug his parents’ legs extra-tight.

The wedding breakfast was served in a twinkling marquee with a billowing white silk ceiling. When Jack led her to the dance floor for the bridal waltz, Maddy wanted to warn her husband that she hadn’t forgotten her promise: today she’d ridden a horse and changed her name. He needed to get ready to dance the polka.

But she had far more important news and she couldn’t hold back a moment more.

Her gaze on his bow tie, she ran her hand down his satin lapel. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“News? I wonder if it’s as good as mine. But you first.”

She met his gaze. He looked so enthused, she smiled and tipped her head. “No, you.”

“Snow and I’ve come up with an idea to turn Leadeebrook into a sheep station museum. We can dress it up for the public, have sheepdog shows, shearing displays, outback extravaganzas. You were right. This place is too special, has too much history, to let lie around and decay.”

Maddy beamed and hugged his neck. Jack was kept busy enough with his investment portfolio as well as being a great dad to Beau, but some days she caught the restlessness in his eyes. This museum plan was exactly what he needed.

But they spent a good deal of time in Sydney now, coming back here to Leadeebrook for quiet times in between. It wasn’t a compromise on either one’s part. They were simply enjoying the best both their worlds had to offer.

“Does that mean we’ll be spending more time here than Sydney now?” she asked.

He dropped a kiss on her inside wrist. “We’ll spend as much time here as you want.” He grinned. “Although
Beau’s social calendar is pretty full in Sydney. Play groups, swimming classes.”

“He’s a popular kid.”

“With a popular and extremely beautiful mother.” His forehead rested upon hers but as he rocked her around to the music, the laughter faded from his eyes. What replaced it made her heart swell and cheeks heat with that familiar desire she could never get enough of.

“Thank you for bringing me back to life,” he murmured as wedding guests danced around them. “I love you so much, I just want to grab on and never let you go. In fact…” Taking her by surprise, he gripped her high on her waist and swung her in a circle so that her feet left the ground and her train flew out in a glittering white river around them.

She was laughing, out of breath, when he set her down. Giddy, she righted her diamond-and-pearl tiara. “We might need to go a little easy on that kind of spontaneous stuff for a while.” When his brows knitted, questioning her, she teased, “Just for seven or eight months.”

Jack’s pupils dilated. Then his chest expanded to a breadth and width she hadn’t witnessed before. He drove a hand through his hair and again.

“You mean you’re…” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “You and I…Maddy…we’re having a
baby?
”

She bit her lip but couldn’t contain the ear to ear smile. “Uh-huh.”

He whooped then dipped, about to grab and spin her around again. But he stopped then stepped back.

His smile disappeared. “Do you need to sit down?”

A flicker of unease brushed her stomach but she quickly assured him. “I’m fine. Fantastic. The doctor says everything’s better than good.” She held his hands, searched his eyes. “But if you want to postpone our
honeymoon in Paris… I mean, if you’re worried about me flying right now or anything…”

I’ll understand.

He blinked slowly and a line creased between his brows.

“We’ve been to New York,” he said, “Hawaii and New Zealand with Beau. I don’t see why this little one can’t experience France—” he settled his warm palm over her belly and grinned “—even if it’s from in here.”

Maddy flung her arms around him. He wasn’t going to wrap her in cotton wool? Wasn’t going to even hint that they should hibernate here at the station, at least until after the birth?

She pulled back. “Are you sure?”

“No. I’m positive.” His strong arms gathered her in. “Know what I love most about you?”

“I think I do.” Playful, she craned up and skimmed her adoring lips over his.

He chuckled and the rumble vibrated through to her bones. “Besides that.”

“Tell me.”

“I love that every day I discover something new and wonderful that only makes me love you more.”

A surprise tear escaped and rolled down her cheek as his head slanted over hers. Their lips brushed again and again. After she murmured how much she loved him, too, she rested her cheek on his chest and contemplated their fabulous future together.

A cry of
“Dad-da!”
brought them to attention.

They turned. Cait was holding Beau. “Your son wants to dance.”

Laughing, Jack scooped Beau onto the swing of his sleeve and Beau clapped his hands while Maddy welcomed the wonderful sense of completeness.

Contentment.

She’d always wanted to belong, but no one belonged to a job or address. Dancing with Jack and their son on their wedding day, with another beautiful baby on the way, Maddy knew exactly who she was and where she needed to be.

With her heart.

With her family.

Wherever their love was, God willing, so was she.