by Baird, Ginny
Between Jack’s business and Nikki’s new job, they’d be more than set with the first part of her inheritance. And that would be after helping with Emma’s operation and buying Tony a community college tuition plan. Her brother was super excited and eager to study hard so he could earn his way into a nameplate university. He hoped to transfer on a scholarship, or else work part-time and take out loans to fund the rest of his way. Nikki and Jack were being generous enough in getting him started.
Nikki smiled happily around the room at her warm, loving family. They’d all meant so much to her, and now she finally had a way to give something back. Jack did too. His dad would get to retire early, and both he and Nikki had agreed to set a little money aside for Kurt’s worthy scholarship fund. Life was all coming together in such a wonderful way. What was more, today was a day meant for love. It was February the fourteenth.
Jack shook the sheriff’s hand, thanking him for his time, and the official shared an informed look. “As a newly married man,” the sheriff said, “I just want you to remember one thing.” Since he was the guy with the gun, Jack wasn’t prepared to argue. Besides, he was out-of-this world happy. So thrilled that Nikki had become his bride.
“Yes, sir?”
“Marriage being what it is these days, it can sometimes be marred by rocky waters. Little life events that can stir things up or slow a relationship down. But as long as you remember three little words, you’ll always get through your travels. Smooth sailing.”
Jack didn’t have to guess. He thought he knew, but the sheriff surprised him. “Nikki,” he said with a grin. “You’re right!”
The room burst into laughter as his dad slapped his back. “Wise words, young man.”
“Yeah,” Nikki said, nudging him. “Better not forget them.”
Her eyes were a beautiful blue, her hair dark and lovely and piled up in waves as she wore that pretty white gown. They wouldn’t have a traditional honeymoon but would fly to the Midwest with their paperwork first—to ensure the farm was well taken care of and Big Mama and her fellow cows too. Later, when Jack’s restaurant shut down for a week in March, he was whisking her off to the Bahamas. His treat. It would be hard to treat her as easily once she was fully loaded, so he planned to take advantage now. “I’ll never forget how right you were about something very important.”
“Yeah?” she teased. “What’s that?”
“Asking me to be your groom.” He started to kiss her again, but Tony stopped him with a whisper.
“Maybe you guys should get a room.”
“That’s right!” Jack’s said brightly. “I already booked one.”
He slipped into his coat and helped Nikki with hers.
She arched an eyebrow, and his heart skipped a beat. “Did you now? Where?”
“Uh-huh, it’s a surprise.” He bent low and scooped her into his arms, and Nikki squealed.
“Jack! You’re supposed to carry me over the threshold! But not here!”
“I’m practicing up,” he said with a smile. Then he carted her out of the courthouse and through the snow as the others stood on the steps and waved good-bye. Jack was never going to forget this day, not as long as he lived. And the beautiful thing was, every single one of those days would be spent with his very best friend.
Epilogue
Emma extended her arms toward the cherubic baby. “Come on, sweetheart. Bring Big Mama to Grandma.”
The little girl with raven curls clutched her stuffed cow with a happy coo and toddled over. Only last week, she’d taken her first steps, and Nikki had been here to see them, thanks in large part to her having a job that enabled her to work at home.
“She’s doing all right,” Jack said proudly.
“More than all right,” Tony added. “She’ll be running track soon.”
Nikki laughed, her spirits light. “Let’s not rush her.”
Cutout paper hearts adorned their apartment along with cupid decorations Nikki found at the craft store. It was Valentine’s Day, and their baby had just turned one-year-old at Christmas. While she and Jack had intended to wait and carefully orchestrate starting a family, life had other plans. Their birth control failed them in the Bahamas, though that was scarcely any wonder considering all the activity they’d undertaken. Nikki was caught off guard, but Jack called it karma. Something totally meant to be: their destiny.
Looking at her daughter now Nikki knew with her whole heart that Jack was right.
Emma set the child on her knee and gave her a kiss. “I still can’t believe you named her Mallory.”
“Mallory’s the one who brought us together,” Jack explained.
In its own strange way, it was true. “Plus,” Nikki said, “she didn’t really leave anyone behind. Any sort of legacy.”
Emma smiled warmly at Nikki. “Oh yes, she did.”
Jack brought his arm around Nikki in a hug, and the charm dangling from her neck shifted. In the past year, she’d removed the necklace only once—and that was due to hospital regulations. The eternity charm had worked like a dream, and this was one dream Nikki never wanted to wake up from.
“You two look good together,” Emma said. “Good and happy.”
“Yeah,” Jack quipped with a grin. “I’m going to love her till the cows come home.”
“What’s that mean?” Tony wondered.
Nikki looked up at her husband and smiled. “For a very long time.”
After Emma and Tony left and they’d put Mallory down for her nap, Jack pulled Nikki onto his lap on the sofa. “Come here, you,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “I need some mommy time.”
“You really like being a daddy, don’t you?”
“Aw man, I love it. That’s Love will a capital L… Nikki? Why are you looking at me that way?”
Her cheeks warmed in spite of herself. “I think we better investigate a different method of birth control.”
“What?” His face lit up. “You can’t mean…”
Nikki nodded, her whole world gone fuzzy. She couldn’t believe it, but it was true. She’d taken the test this morning. Three times. Little Mallory was going to have a baby brother or sister.
“Holy cow! That’s terrific!”
He kissed her hard on the lips, and her heart beat wildly.
“You’re not upset?” she asked him. “It’s not too soon?”
“I guess it’s fate.” He was still in awe. “Karma!”
“I thought it was fertility.”
Jack chuckled and laid her down beneath him. “Hmm. That too.”
“Jack! What are you doing?”
“As long as we’re all in anyway…” She felt the taut muscles in his chest, the rock-hard press of his thighs. Current tore down her spine, then sparked to other regions.
“Here?”
“Oh my sweet baby, I’d have you anywhere at all. Just say you’ll be mine.”
“Always,” she breathed as his mouth closed in.
The End
A Note from the Author
Thanks for reading Baby, Be Mine. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please help other people find this book.
1. This book is lendable, so send it to a friend who you think might like it so that she (or he) can discover me too.
2. Help other people find this book: write a review.
3. Sign up for my newsletter so that that you can learn about the next book as soon as it’s available. Write to [email protected] with “newsletter” in the subject heading.
4. Come like my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/GinnyBairdRomance.
5. Comment on my blog at: The Story Behind the Story.
6. Visit my website: http://www.ginnybairdromance.com for details on other books available at multiple outlets now.