“Right away?” Candice wasn’t sure if she was ready to be a mother. But she definitely wanted Derek’s children.
He shook his head. “Doesn’t have to be right away. But, I warn you, my mother will start lobbying….”
Tyler and Jenna danced closer.
“Finally a groom,” said Tyler with a wide grin. “How the mighty have fallen.”
“Yeah, yeah,” said Derek. “I know. You told me so. So when are you guys having kids?”
Jenna paled.
“What?” asked Candice, worried.
“How did you know?” asked Jenna.
“Know?” asked Candice. Then her eyes widened. “You’re not.”
Jenna’s face broke into a sheepish grin. “We are.”
“Does Mom know?” asked Derek.
“We’re waiting until after your honeymoon.”
“Congratulations,” said Derek and Candice simultaneously as Tyler and Jenna danced away.
“Well,” said Candice, settling comfortably into Derek’s arms. “Guess that’ll take the pressure off us.”
“And here I was thinking, ‘if you can’t beat ’em…’”
“You in a hurry?” asked Candice.
“Nah. Not really. Well, maybe.”
“You’re not going to sic your mother on me, are you? Because only a wussie gets his mommy to help him make a deal.”
Derek leaned in, giving her a lingering kiss on the neck, followed by another kiss on her collarbone, then yet another one lightly on the tip of her shoulder.
Candice sighed, melting against him again. “How long before we can cut out on this crowd?”
She felt him smile.
“See,” he said. “I don’t need my mommy. I have complete faith in my own powers of persuasion.”
“You forget, I got the carpet and the chandelier.”
“But you married me in the end.”
Candice held up her left hand. “Small price to pay. I got the antique rings.”
“You mean this whole thing was a conspiracy to get the rings?”
Candice grinned. “Gotta stay on your toes around me, babe.”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-7250-0
HIGH STAKES
Copyright © 2005 by Barbara Dunlop.
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*Tall, Dark & Restless
High Stakes Page 16