Searching for Harmony: A Boston Love Novel (21 page)

Laughing, Preston brought me into his arms. “Tell me you love it.”

Smiling until my cheeks hurt, I said, “I love it! I love it! I love it!” Kissing me gently on my lips, Preston smiled as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. Slapping my ass, he said, “Time to break the new place in, baby.”

Lying in Preston’s arms on a blanket under a tree, I lazily ran my fingers up and down his arm as I looked out over the beautiful countryside. My heart was so happy it felt as if it might burst.

Preston’s breathing was steady next to me as his hand lay perfectly across my stomach. Taking in a slow, deep breath, I held it for a moment and slowly let it out as I placed my hand over Preston’s.

Slowly drifting off to sleep, I dreamt of a little girl with blond curly hair running around a tree as Preston and I chased her.

Love is such a powerful thing. Once we allow it into our hearts, it’s amazing how it heals not only our hearts, but our souls as well. We never forget, but we do heal. I guess everything really does happen for a reason.

Closing my eyes, I counted to twenty. “Ready or not, here I come, Presley!”

Hearing her little laughter echoing from the trees, I headed that way. Seeing her dark blond curls bouncing behind a tree, I slowly made my way over to her.

Right before I got there, she jumped out and yelled, “Boo!”

Dropping to the ground, Presley came running into my arms. “Daddy! I won! I won!”

Laughing, I wrapped her in my arms and lifted her up as I spun her around a few times. Stopping, I gently kissed her forehead and smiled. “How do you figure you won when you jumped out and ran to me? You’re supposed to run from me.”

Giggling, she buried her face in my chest as I carried her back to the house. “Daddy, I’m sleepy.”

Shaking my head, I said, “I wonder why. You played with your little cousin Kimmy for about four hours today, sweetheart. You’re worn out.” Jake and Sandy had left not too long ago with their three-year-old daughter, Kimmy, to head back home.

Nodding, she grabbed my shirt while she closed her eyes and let out a sigh. I was instantly taken back to the first time Harmony did the same thing.

Knowing it was their way of telling me they felt safe in my arms, I held my four-year-old daughter closer to me as I carried her into the house and upstairs to her room.

Laying Presley down in bed, I covered her up and kissed her gently on the forehead as I pushed her curls from her face.

“I love you, Presley.”

“Love you, too, Daddy.”

Watching my daughter sleep filled my heart with happiness. Fighting to hold back my tears, I turned and headed out of her room, quietly closing the door. Making my way back downstairs, I headed into the master bedroom. Today marked two years since we had been living in the house that I built with the help of my father, uncle, and two brothers. Harmony and I still had the condo on Comm Avenue in Boston. It was hard to sell the home our daughter was born in and where so many memories were made.

Hearing the water running in the bathroom, I pushed the door open and slowly walked in. Seeing Harmony in the tub, I quickly stripped out of my clothes and climbed in. Harmony sat up and moved so I could slip in behind her.

Inhaling a deep breath, she slowly blew it out. “Is she asleep?”

Letting out a chuckle, I said, “Yes. Finally. I think the last round of hide-and-seek pushed her past her limit.”

Harmony giggled as her hands moved lazily across the bubbles in the water.

“Touch me, Preston.”

Pressing a kiss against the back of her head, I moved my hands and cupped her full breasts. Dropping her head back against my chest, she let out a moan that moved through my entire body like the speed of light. Even after four years of marriage, Harmony’s touch still caused crazy sensations to rush through my body. Every time I made love to her, it felt like the first time.

Placing my lips near her ear, I asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” she whispered.

Moving my hands from her breasts, I slowly moved them down and caressed her beautiful swollen belly. Feeling the baby kick, we both let out a chuckle. “He’s active,” I said as I watched an elbow, or maybe a knee, move across Harmony’s stomach.

Nodding, she said, “He is.”

“Have you decided on a name yet?” I asked as I continued to caress her stomach.

Shaking her head, she said, “Nope.” Popping her
p
in the process.

Grinning, I said, “You do know you were due two days ago, baby.”

Laughing, she turned her head and looked at me. “Maybe we can just call him Boy.”

“Boy? Hey, Boy, come help your mother with chores. Boy, don’t eat that dirt pie.”

Harmony giggled and shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, so that isn’t a good name. I think we both agree on that. If you have any suggestions, I’m all ears.”

“Oh, okay, now that we are down to the wire, you want my input. I’m sorry, the bet was if it was a girl, I would name her, just like with Presley. If it’s a boy, it’s on your shoulders to come up with the name.”

Letting out a frustrated groan, Harmony stuck out her lower lip as she looked at me. “Pwease, Daddy?”

Rolling my eyes, I laughed as Harmony looked straight ahead. “I do have a name I’ve always kind of liked.”

“I’m all ears, Mr. Ward.”

“Are you sure, Mrs. Ward? Once I say the name, the deal is sealed.”

Nodding, Harmony said, “Understood.”

Taking in a deep breath, I blew it out and said, “Fitzwilliam.”

Harmony stopped moving her hands and sat perfectly still. Turning to look at me, Harmony’s eyes danced with excitement. “It’s perfect. We can call him Fitz for short.”

“Really?”

Harmony slowly attempted to sit up. Jumping out of the tub, I wrapped a towel around my waist as I helped my very pregnant wife out of the tub.

Standing in front of me gloriously naked with her belly carrying our second child, I felt my dick hardening by the second just looking at her.

“Really, really,” Harmony said with a chuckle as I wrapped a towel around her. “So, now that we have that settled, will you call your parents and see if they’ll come stay with Presley?”

Pulling my head back, I asked, “Why?”

Harmony’s eyes lit up as she gave me a smile that about knocked me over. “Because Fitz is on his way.”