Deceived
Page 11
Her eyes widened. “That far back?”
“And every day we’ve been together, I’ve loved you more and more.”
Her dark brown eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I love you too.”
He grinned again. Thumbing away her tears, he said, “I know.”
She grimaced. “How did you know?”
“It’s in the way you give yourself to me so sweetly. I can see it in your eyes when I look at you across a room.” He kissed her forehead. “And, quite frankly, what’s there not to love about me?”
She laughed. “Well, you’re arrogant, you like classical music, I can’t get you to wear anything but black suits, you’re impatient—” He covered her mouth with his before she could continue her list of his faults. They were many and he knew them all, but letting the woman of his dreams slip through his fingers was not among them. Now that he had her, he was never letting her go. Aidan deepened the kiss and rolled onto his back so that she was on top of him.
Epilogue
“Aidan, I am getting out of this bed. I haven’t gotten up except to go to the bathroom since we got home yesterday.” Dionne and Timothy were downstairs. They’d come to see the baby, and to visit with them as well. Ann had come home from the hospital with them and spent the night. She’d left to check on her husband, but planned to come back for dinner. Her sister Della would be coming down for the weekend. Donovan Avery Clark was asleep in his bassinet. Though his crib was set up in the nursery, she couldn’t bear to have him out of her sight. Janelle leaned over and ran a hand over his black curls before sending her husband a mock glare as she shrugged into her robe. She couldn’t really be angry with him. He was only concerned for her welfare. “Lying in bed all day isn’t good for me. I need to get about if I’m going to recover.”
“I don’t want you to overdo it.”
“I won’t. Will you carry Donovan downstairs for me?”
“Yes.” He scooped the nine-pound buddle into his arms. Donovan’s eyes opened briefly before he yawned and settled back into his nap. Janelle smiled. She could watch him all day. Something about watching Aidan holding their son made her love her husband more than she thought possible. He was so gentle with the baby.
“Six weeks,” he said with a wicked grin.
“I wasn’t thinking dirty thoughts,” she replied with a laugh. She wanted to run down the stairs, but she didn’t want to scare Aidan and she found she wasn’t up to moving as fast as she’d thought she’d be.
They entered the den to find Dionne and Timothy snuggled up on the couch. He held her hand as he kissed her. Aidan cleared his throat. “Can’t you guys save that for when you’re alone?”
Timothy pulled back, but they kept their fingers entwined. His thumb stroked over Dionne’s ring finger. Janelle gasped as she noticed the rock that graced her friend’s finger. “You’re engaged! When did this happen?”
Dionne giggled. “Last night.” She stood and held her hand out so that Janelle could examine the square cut stone.
“It’s beautiful. And to think, you didn’t want to date him.”
Timothy burst out laughing. Dionne groused, “You had to bring that up.” She moved around Janelle and scooped baby Donovan into her arms. She’d been at the hospital for the delivery, but hadn’t seen the baby since then. “Well, aren’t you a handsome little fellow,” she cooed.
“Takes after his dad,” Aidan said. Janelle rolled her eyes and Timothy groaned. He placed a pillow in a chair and gestured for her to take a seat. “So when are the two of you planning to tie the knot?”
“We’re thinking next summer,” Timothy replied. Dionne sat next to him and he put an arm around her shoulders. “You’re my first choice for my best man, of course.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Aidan responded.
Dionne ran a fingertip over Donovan’s tiny fists. “And Janelle will be my maid of honor. Also, I want you to design my dress. You’re the only one who could do justice to my curves.”
“I think I do a pretty good job,” Timothy murmured, and Janelle was delighted to see Dionne blush.
“Tim, I thought I’d never see the day when you settled down,” Aidan said with a grin.
“Ha! I could have said the same of you.”
Timothy and Dionne stayed for dinner. Ann returned with John in tow. He didn’t want to be without his wife for another night. Halfway through dinner, Janelle heard Donovan’s cry over the baby monitor. She made the slow trek upstairs to their bedroom. His eyes, a shade of hazel that looked blue-gray from the side, were scrunched tight and his tiny face was red. “As impatient as your daddy, I see,” she said, giving him a pacifier. She undid his one piece and changed his wet diaper.
She snuggled Donovan close and breathed in his sweet baby scent. “Are you ever planning to rejoin us?” Aidan asked. He handed her a bottle of warmed milk.
“He’s just so beautiful.”
“As is his mother.” He helped her get settled into the rocking chair they had taken out of Donovan’s nursery.
Janelle smiled up at him before turning back to their son. “You’ve already tested the temperature of this milk?” At his nod, she offered the bottle to the baby. When he was done, she gave the bottle back to Aidan and placed Donovan on her shoulder. One pat and he gave a small burp. Her eyes met Aidan’s and they both smiled.
He leaned down and captured her lips with his. “I love you, Janelle.”
“I love you too.” She appreciated their friends and family visiting, but she also looked forward to these moments of peace when it was just their small family. It amazed her when she thought of it how her relationship with Aidan could have started so wrong and ended so well.
“What are you thinking?”
She stroked his cheek. “I was thinking…six weeks can’t possibly pass fast enough.” And he gave her that sexy grin that she loved so much.
The End
About the Author
Thayer King has always enjoyed a good fairy tale, especially those that end in a “happily ever after.” Throughout high school and college, she spent her summers buried between the pages of a romance novel. Thayer believes a great romance novel can take you on a journey that brightens your day. Her goal is to entertain and warm the hearts of her readers.
Thayer is a North Carolina native who married her best friend. She is the mother of one.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
About the Author