Deceiving The Groom

by Shadow, Lisa

  Claire threaded her fingers between his and looked into his eyes. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll take you for half you have?”

  His forehead dropped to hers. “Impossible, you already have all of me.”

  Her tearful laugh was cut off by the press of his lips. Her hands flew around his neck and she kissed him with all she had. All the joy, all the agony, all the days she had longed for him.

  His arms surrounded her and she slid from the chair and clung to him on her knees. He pulled back. “Can you forgive me?”

  She took both sides of his face. “Liam I forgave you completely the night you told me about your family on the phone. The night I told you I loved you.”

  Liam’s mouth pressed hotly again on hers. “So are you ready to be Mrs. Channing for real this time?”

  “That depends…”

  Liam’s eyes narrowed slightly. “On what?”

  “On whether you can forgive me one last thing…” She took Liam’s hand—her own quivering—and slid it to the hidden curve of her belly, rounded just enough to give her away. “It seems I have a little bit more than all of you.”

  Liam’s hand smoothed over her abdomen. His fingers scrunched in the fabric of her lose fitting dress. His gaze flew to hers. “You didn’t tell me…”

  Her voice trembled. “I tried the day I came back. But you said there was nothing I could say you wanted to hear and—I just couldn’t hurt you anymore.”

  Liam’s fingers splayed over her belly. “I’m so sorry, I never would have—”

  She rubbed her forehead against his. “I know, Liam. It’s okay.”

  A knock sounded on the door and they rose to their feet. Kirstin stepped back into the room.

  “So I take it there will be no annulment today?”

  Liam glanced down at Claire. “No, but there might just be a wedding.”

  Claire gazed at Liam “Wedding?”

  “Yes, I’d kind of like one I can remember.”

  “Today?”

  Liam grinned. “Well everyone is waiting. All you have to do is put on your dress. “

  “What have you done?”

  Liam took her hand and led her out of the room. “Not much, just planned a secret wedding.”

  Epilogue

  Claire leaned back into Liam’s arms, watching a full grown Fuzzy chase Lexi around the yard. Her gleeful squeals lit a flame of joy in her heart. Life seemed so rich, so full in this moment, she was almost afraid to blink.

  His voice brushed her ear. “So have you decided yet?”

  Claire sighed. “I’m just not sure…”

  “But it’s your dream.”

  She gazed at her husband. “All my dreams are right here in this house.” She turned back around. “I’m just not sure I can leave him yet. He’s still so little.”

  Liam squeezed her gently. “He’s one and a half, and you could open the store part time. Mrs. Ruiz is happy to watch him, and with Penny around you have extra help. She can’t seem to put her nephew down.”

  Claire grinned, her heart brimming. “Well that’s true.”

  The back door swung shut and out stepped Penny’s willowy frame with a not so willowy toddler propped on her hip. She joined them on the blanket and sat Oliver down. His hair, same rich brown as his father’s, curled around his temples.

  “He was extra stinky.”

  Liam chuckled. “Thanks, Penny. Now if you can just convince Lexi to take turns, your sister and I will be most appreciative.”

  Penny scrunched her nose. “Lexi and I have an understanding. She doesn’t do baby poop and I don’t do giant dog’s.”

  Claire and Liam both burst out laughing. Oliver climbed into Claire’s lap, his chubby finger pointing to Fuzzy.

  “Woof, woof!”

  Fuzzy’s ears twitched and he stopped mid jump, spinning and charging for the irresistible boy on the blanket. He landed in Claire’s lap, sending everyone on the mat tumbling over. The dog licked the laughing toddler.

  Lexi chased after him, leaping onto the heap. “Group hug!”