“Aah, look at their team falling apart at the seams. A tragic loss like the one they suffered today will do that.” Gabe tut-tutted as he watched the losing team squabble amongst themselves. He turned back to Bobbi, who had given up her struggles to get away from his big, sweaty body. “And how are my wife and two kids this evening?”
“Annoyed that we couldn’t play,” she answered, and he grinned before patting her hugely swollen belly. He bent down to talk to the mound, something he did often and sometimes publicly. It would be embarrassing if it weren’t so darned sweet.
“Hear that Seamus and Sian, your mummy’s annoyed with you.”
“No. Just no,” she said, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Uh-oh, Bert and Betty, I think she’s annoyed with me too now.” He smiled slyly at her, and she felt a reluctant grin tugging at her lips.
“We’re naming them Elizabeth and Jonathan,” she proclaimed, and he dropped a kiss onto her tummy.
“Daddy loves you too much to call you Lizzy and Johnny. I promise you, I will stop mean old Mummy from naming you that.” They had been having different versions of the same argument since they’d discovered that she was carrying a girl and a boy. They just couldn’t come to an agreement on the names, and she was due in just over a month. She couldn’t work anymore, which frustrated her, but the shop was doing well enough for them to hire two more employees, and Bobbi had promoted Craig to manager, so she could take maternity leave without worrying too much about how things were going.
Bobbi was blissfully happy with Gabe, and he had kept his promise over the last year of marriage. It didn’t matter where they went, how formal the occasion, or how out of place her “badass fairy” dresses were, he always looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the room. She looked around at her friends, who were all laughing and squabbling happily, and her brothers—Billy and Chase—who were lightheartedly mediating a fight that had broken out amongst the small children on the sidelines, and felt remarkably blessed. This place, these people, and this moment right now—it was home.
“How did we get so lucky?” she asked Gabe, who stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her front until his hands rested on her belly. He rested his chin on her shoulder as he watched their happy group of family and friends too.
“I don’t know . . . but I know my luck started improving one night long ago, when a sexy, drunken fairy wiped me out with an unexpected kiss. It was the best damned thing that ever happened to me.”
“I love you so much,” she said, craning her head to look back at him, and she just managed to see the corner of his lip kick up in a smile.
“Can’t possibly be as much as I love you,” he teased. She turned within his hold and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Wanna bet?” she challenged.
“You’ll lose,” he retorted. Before she could say another word he kissed her, and the caress was sweet, hot, loving, and perfect.
“I think,” she whispered when he lifted his head, “that we’re both winners.”
He smiled and released her briefly before taking hold of her hand and leading her home.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d like to express my gratitude to the following amazing people who helped me achieve my publishing dream:
My awesome agent, Kimberly Whalen—thank you so much for everything.
Helen, Jessica, Kelli, and the rest of the wonderful Montlake Romance team—you guys are fabulous.
Melody Guy—the best editor ever. I truly enjoy working with you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Natasha Anders was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She spent the last nine years working as an assistant English teacher in Niigata, Japan, where she became a legendary karaoke diva. Natasha is currently living in Cape Town with her temperamental and opinionated budgie, Sir Oliver Spencer, who has kindly deigned to share his apartment with her. Please feel free to contact her (or Oliver) on Twitter at @satyne1.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication Page
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
His Unlikely Lover (Unwanted #3) Page 27