“Yes,” she answered, and let out a surprised squeak as Callum gathered her and Nell in his arms and lifted her to her toes.
When he put her down, she looked up at him beneath her lashes. “Callum?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
She smiled softly. “If we’re going to get married…I know Nell’s not even a year old, but do you think…?”
His smile spread from ear to ear as he finished the sentence in his head. “Hell, yeah! You really want that?”
She hadn’t known her heart could ever feel this full. “I always wanted a big family. And Nell will need brothers and sisters.”
Callum let her go, went to the window and looked out for a moment. Avery held her breath. Was it too much all at once? Things had moved quickly. But she’d learned long ago that life was short. She’d wasted so much time; now she wanted to grab whatever happiness she could with both hands. She just hoped Callum felt the same… .
He turned back and faced her, a satisfied smile on his lips. “Well, we’re going to need to put in an addition,” he said with a nonchalant shrug.
Avery went to him and lifted her face, inviting him to seal the agreement with a kiss. Several moments later, when Nell started to fuss, he whispered in her ear, “Is she due for a nap soon? Because I’d like to get started on that future we talked about.”
The kitchen echoed with the warm laughter of family—and a couple in love.®
®All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2013
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Donna Alward 2013
eISBN: 978-1-472-00469-7
Little Cowgirl on His Doorstep (Mills & Boon Cherish) (Cadence Creek Cowboys - Book 3) Page 17