“Ridge, you’re trying to downplay your role but I know you.” She smiled and planted gentle kisses on one strong cheekbone, his eyes and finally, those beautiful lips. “You got Grandpa Earl to donate that property to her organization, didn’t you?”
"Let's just say she's got a free lease for as long as she needs it." Ridge looked at her and shook his head. “You’re the intuitive one, sweetheart. If I’d been paying attention to the signs like you do, I’d have known about this baby. I remember saying earlier this evening that marriage was agreeing with you. I should have known with the few extra pounds on your strict diet something was up.”
She just nuzzled his throat, contented. “How far along are you?” His voice came from above her and she felt the deep rumble in his chest filled with emotion.
She sat up and looked at him. “Not much, probably two months. I asked Brenna and Nick to be a part of our Christmas celebration next year. We’ll have three babies enjoying their first Christmas.” She stroked his hair back, loving the shoulder length black strands.
Ridge said, “That sounds great. By the way, I gave the leftover pig to Del and Luc for her brother’s food kitchen downtown.”
Ridge’s thoughtfulness was endless. She tilted her head up at him. “You know, I’m wondering if I’m ever going to have an opportunity to lose my temper at you. You’re just so perfect… well, except for that stubborn streak, but I’ve been told that’s part of the chromosome your half of the population is born with.”
He smiled, “I’ve heard your half say that often.” His expression turned tender. “May I carry my family to bed?”
She had to blink several times to savor the look in his eyes. “I’m not fragile, Ridge. And our baby isn’t either.”
He smiled. “Indulge me, sweetheart. I want to experience every second of this pregnancy.”
“Then take us to bed,” Buffy said wrapping her arms around his neck.
Ridge rose, his arms bracing her firmly against him. Once she was seated on the side of the bed, he knelt between her legs. She started to unbutton her blouse but he laid his large hands over hers. “Let me.”
She dropped them to her side and watched while he concentrated on each button as they came through the buttonholes until he exposed her ivory bra. He leaned forward and planted a kiss on each plump mound above the cups, testing the new fullness there, running his thumbs over the sensitive hidden nubs until they pushed against the material. “I love you, Buffy,” and after each button he repeated the words. He left her blouse dangling from her shoulders and started sliding her leggings down over her hips. “Lift.”
As her hips rose and the leggings slid lower, he leaned over and teased the skin above her panties, running his tongue around her navel and dipping in. His broad hand caressed her still flat stomach and his voice was a deep rumble when he said, “Hello, my sweet little one. This is your daddy—” His voice choked off as he bowed his head and rubbed his cheek there against her skin.
She let him soak in the moment until his head came up and his eyes met hers. “I never would have believed I could be this happy, Buffy.” His hand rested on her once more. “It’s all because of you.”
She reached down and grasped his shirt, urging him to rise. “Make love to me, Ridge. If it were possible I’d wish for you to plant yet another new life inside me.”
"All I can do is try," Ridge said as he lowered his mouth to hers, losing himself for a time in her sweet kisses.
Suddenly eager to remove his clothes and to feel her satin smooth skin against his, Ridge fumbled with his buttons while she unclasped his belt and reached for his zipper.
He had not been exaggerating. After John died and his work became his sole purpose he’d almost given up on having any life of his own, thinking that the rewards of the consortium coming together and soldiers’ lives being changed for the better would be enough. But that was before he met Buffy.
He stilled, concern making him halt. “We won’t hurt the baby, will we?”
Her smile when she tilted her head up was lovely and sure. “No, darling.”
He lifted her hand away and said gruffly, “Close your eyes then and lie back, woman. And don’t open them or touch me until I give you leave.” Even to him it sounded like a line he’d said in a shoot for a historical. Or a kinky contemporary. She obeyed.
Ridge lifted her hands away from her body and placed them above her head. The long creamy expanse of her skin was now stretched from one side of the bed to the other. Stepping out of his pants he placed his hands on her ankles, felt the slender bones as he trailed along her shapely calves and inside her knees to her thighs. “Open your eyes, my sexy wife.”
Those gorgeous sea blue eyes opened as he slid into her, as deep as he dared. He smiled and looked up toward the ceiling. Her eyes followed and went wide, “How deliciously wicked.”
She stared at her own image overhead in a mirror that was larger than their bed. “When did you accomplish that?”
He kissed her temples, his hips moving once again. “Let’s just say Declan’s earlier emergency was not in Twin Lakes.”
Buffy sighed, “I can’t believe he didn’t let it slip.”
“Serendipity, I guess …” Words failed him as she rocked against him taking him deeper.
“Fill me, Ridge, I need you… we need you.” Her words set him on fire and he seemed to lose his mind for several seconds as he gave her what she wanted, plunging deeper, moving faster. His eyes focused on her as she pressed her breasts together and with the seductive smile she only shared with him, she tweaked her nipples with her fingers.
Blood exited his brain as his body took over and he exploded into her. After several glorious seconds he returned to the present. A flush spread across her breasts. Knowing she was close he continued to thrust into her, feeling her strong internal muscles clench around him. Then she climaxed and he knew he’d never forget this moment, their first loving with their child in her womb.
He looked down at the woman who’d been in his heart even before he’d met her. Love washed over him and he vowed to do everything within his power to make her happy.
She’d already fallen into an exhausted sleep. He lifted her into bed, then climbed in, spooning around her as Christmas entered the Santa delivery hours. He couldn’t wait to give her the Christmas present he had for her tomorrow though it didn’t come close to what she’d given him today. His life with Buffy was just one miracle after another.
Chapter Eighteen
Wind blew out of the north keeping a mix of grey and white clouds from obscuring the sun on Christmas Day. A seventy-eight-degree night at Buffy’s had given way overnight to a brisk forty-degree morning. Brenna’s had been the only prediction to include snow. They were all hoping for snow for Carrie’s sake. The little Californian had never seen it and it would also give their special weekend just the right touch.
Buffy’s hair whipped around her face as she followed Ridge up the driveway to the wide front porch of the Calloway farm. They passed Del’s cruiser, which meant she must be on call, Madison’s white Corolla, and a navy Expedition. Luc had probably driven his parents, Samantha and little Nina to her first ever Calloway Christmas reunion. Was it Grandpa Earl who’d said everyone in this area was related to the Calloways somewhere ‘back there’? It didn’t matter. You didn’t have to be a blood relation to get an invitation to one of their family events. That was something else she loved about Larue.
Luc stood on the porch watching for Beau as Buffy and Ridge came up the driveway. Beau had come to live with Luc’s family after his mother died and his father was killed in the service. He’d been old enough that their father, Sam, hadn’t called it “raising”. Luc and Samantha had been deployed when Beau left for Hollywood and Luc was looking forward to spending more time with his “look-alike” cousin. He knew Samantha felt the same, which was why she’d insisted on being here today—that and introducing Nina to this half of the family.
He and Del had kept Beau’
s secret. He hadn’t realized it until afterward, but she’d been right. Beau had not wanted to be seen and Luc knew what changed his mind. He’d seen Madison dancing with Gino and having fun, a rare sight these days. Poor Gino was getting a bad rap, like he was some kind of Lothario, which Ridge assured Luc was far from the truth.
That meant one of two things… well, three. Beau didn’t want to run into Madison; he was jealous of Gino and a woman he professed not to care about; or he’d surprised himself with feelings that were still very much alive. Luc settled on all three. Busted, cuz.
Luc knew that once Buffy was privy to this information, she would be compelled to do whatever she could to see her assistant and friend wind up with her heart’s desire. “Watch yourself, Beau,” he muttered under his breath. His cousin may not be aware—having been away for so long—of the Calloway women’s penchant for matchmaking .
He followed his family through the front door of the Calloway’s home. Samantha went first with their Papa Sam holding the baby. Luc would not soon forget his father’s proud smile as he introduced baby Nina to her Great-great Uncle Earl and the others, then handed the baby to Pamela, Buffy’s mother, so Theo could get his first glimpse.
“She’s going to be another Larue beauty with those green eyes,” Theo said.
He made a pass by Ted who backed up with his hands out in front of him. “Unh-uh.” He looked into the baby’s eyes and said, “See you in a few years, baby.”
Del said from beside Luc, “He reminds me of how Jed used to be not so long ago. How come you were never child avoidant?” she asked. Instead, he’d left the Navy to try to make a difference in the lives of displaced and disadvantaged teens, most of them merely children.
“I was home when my sisters were having babies and we were all expected to dig in. With our stay at home dad. How could we refuse?”
By the time Luc and Del made it through the front door the line behind them had increased. He held his hand out to Buffy as she stepped onto the porch. “Great party last night, Buff,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. Luc thought her smile was different, more peaceful than he’d seen her lately. Maybe that’s what finding out you were going to have a baby did for you. It certainly hadn’t done it for Sam.
Buffy said, “I didn’t see y’all at the end of the evening. You missed Santa’s arrival.” She and Ridge both laughed.
“You hired a Santa?” Del asked, leaning against Luc.
Ridge said, “No, she hired a handyman. Turns out he heard about the cold front and decided to get a jump on clearing the fireplace in case we wanted to light a fire.” His eyebrows rose as a thought struck him. “Good thing we didn’t think to light one earlier just for ambience. ‘Santa’ might have wound up with a hot seat instead of merely covered in soot.”
Samantha took a seat near Theo and Buffy’s grandparents. She looked as elegant as she had before her pregnancy. Even pregnant, with her tall frame, calories just landed in all the right places. Buffy’s hand went to her stomach. She wished. She had a feeling her slender build was gone forever. A momentary twinge of regret passed through her but one look at her husband blew it away like the wind blowing the grey clouds away outside, turning the Christmas sky to clear crisp blue.
Ridge left Buffy’s side to take the casserole to the kitchen. Buffy stood a few feet from her father who held Nina in his arm as if she were his granddaughter. He caught Buffy’s eye and held out his other arm to her. She walked into his embrace feeling the perfection of her father’s unconditional love. He’d always supported her even when he’d known it would take her away from home.
Nina looked up at them blinking in wonder at the two strangers’ faces staring down at her. Buffy offered the baby her finger to curl her hand around. “Oh, Dad, she’s so, so tiny, and beautiful.”
Theo hissed her forehead. “I remember when I held you like this, Buffy-top. You looked at me with so much trust. I vowed right then and there that I would always be here for you.”
Buffy blinked tears away. She suspected that was going to be the case a lot today, maybe for the next several months. “You were, Daddy. I love you.”
His gaze got even more serious and she felt a pang of worry strike. But his eyes crinkled as he said, “I missed my little redhead so much when she was working away. Your mother kept telling me it wouldn’t last forever. It’s good to have you home again, for good, baby, so good.” He rubbed his head against hers.
“I’m home to stay, Dad. I would have thought the last two years would have convinced you.”
“Well, you did a lot more traveling once you decided to open the studio.” Theo started rocking Nina gently as her mouth scrunched up in dissatisfaction. “Let’s give this little sweetie back to her granddaddy.” He looked around. “Who’s next? Sam? We might need a diaper change.”
Her father hadn’t lost any of his baby intuition after such a long period without having one in the house. Sam reached for his granddaughter and Nina calmed as he cooed to her. “Come on, baby girl, let’s get you a fresh pair of panties.”
Theo put both arms around Buffy and said, “Thank you for the best Christmas present ever.” Buffy savored being held by her father. She’d missed him, too, desperately. She’d always been a daddy’s girl and closer to her grandmother, Lillie, than her mother. Their personalities were just so different. She often thought that maybe it was because her mother found herself on the outside of the intuitive Calloway vibe. It wasn’t intentional. It had taken years before Pamela really came to terms with it.
Buffy remembered the moment Pamela told Ridge he might as well go shopping for the ring. She’d been right of course, but it had been the wrong time to confront Ridge, and it had caused Buffy to experience some doubts herself.
Ridge had run like an army of crazed Cajuns were on his tail. She never thought of herself or those in the family who possessed the Calloway feeling as crazy. It was more like… magic. They’d each learned early in life to accept it. The challenge was always to get the object of their affection—Del laughingly called it their ‘affliction’—to accept his or her destiny. Would her child have that same tendency? Starting today, Buffy vowed to make her mother feel more included whenever she got the chance.
Theo said, “Where’s my son-in-law? I need to thank him as well.”
Buffy grinned. “He’s in the kitchen. He’ll be back in a minute.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ridge walked into the bustling kitchen. As a working farm it sported restaurant quality appliances, huge counters and two large walk-in refrigerators. The first thing he realized was that there was no place to set down Buffy's chicken casserole.
“I’ll take it,” said Buffy’s mother, Pamela. As she reached for it she lifte on dher toes to kiss his cheek. “Stay right where you are.”
Ridge nodded. The crowd of women in the kitchen included Lillie, Buffy’s grandmama; Victoria; Alicia, the Larues’ former cook and nanny, who was also a retired judge; and Madison had been recruited as well. Madison hugged Ridge congratulating him on the baby news. “I swear she kept it a secret from me as well.”
Then Pamela threw her mitts down on top of a foil covered pot, and said, “Ridge, I love you,” catching him off guard and making the other women turn around and grin. “Even more than I did before. You’ve given Buffy what she’s always wanted and now you’ve given me and Theo our greatest gift since Lana came along.”
Pamela often called her daughter by her given name. He suspected she’d been the one to choose it. Her eyes filled and she reached into her apron pocket for a tissue. “I’ve been crying ever since I found out. I don’t think either of us slept last night.”
“I didn’t really have that much to say about it, Pam. I just stepped up to the plate,” he said, "Metaphorically."
Luc’s nephew, Mack, said, “And you hit the ball out of the park.” He turned to lift the huge turkey from the oven then faced Ridge. “Congrats, man.” Mack grinned, “Great timing, too.”
Ridge pushed
his hair back. “Thanks, although I had nothing to do with the timing either. Timing is a fickle animal as everyone saw last night.”
Mack said, “Auntie Sam may have contributed to that by being so stubborn. She resists anybody trying to make things easy for her. We were getting worried that she’d go into labor without anyone around or even while she was driving.”
“Well, Jed certainly saved the day,” Ridge said. “The party turned into a big birthday celebration and Baby Nina is enjoying her first family reunion.”
Mack grinned, “Yep, Jed was relentless. After they broke up I was kind of surprised that he hung around, makes me wonder if things aren’t quite over between them.”
“Mack, we need you,” Alicia called.
He smiled, “It’s good to be needed.” Mack was enjoying his first family reunion in a while after returning from active service in May.
Pamela said, “Now, if we can just find Ted a wife.” Ridge didn't comment. He’d leave that problem to Buffy and his mother-in-law.
“Oh, Ridge, come here.” Buffy’s excited voice had Ridge walking quickly through the kitchen door to the living room.
Coming through the front door behind Belinda, Jeff and Carrie were his parents, Al and Margaret Romano. He was surprised to find his parents in good spirits as if they’d finally been able to put John’s death in perspective as he'd longed for them to.
“Mom.” He kissed his mother and hugged her and shook his father’s hand. “Dad, you said you couldn’t make it.”
Ridge’s father said, “We planned on surprising you. Theo and I worked it out but it almost blew up in our faces. Fog delayed our flight out of Dulles. And then your mother got the call from Belinda during your party—”
Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances Page 63