Fourteen months later
Lauren smoothed a hand up her infant daughter’s straining back. Points to her sister for swearing Ben sensed his mommy’s anxiety. It sure seemed to be the same for Charlotte. All the misery in the world was screwed into her tiny, teary face. Lauren’s heart ached with guilt at the same time it jittered with nerves.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she whispered, bobbing around the kitchen island. “Shh.”
“I’ll get her calm. And you, too.” Hips resting against the counter, Tavish tugged at Lauren’s upper arm until both she and Charlotte were encircled by strong muscles. His wide palm rested on Charlotte’s back, working its magic as usual. The baby’s snuffles turned happy, and she nuzzled into Lauren’s chest.
“I shouldn’t be going back to school so soon,” she squeaked, melting into her husband’s embrace. “Charlotte’s barely six months old—what if she gets hungry, or starts crying or...”
Tavish’s lips curved against Lauren’s cheek. “If she gets hungry, I’ll feed her. If she cries, I’ll find a way to make her stop. And in three hours, when your classes are over, you can come back and make sure I’ve done a good job.”
His words slowed her pulse from a sprint to a jog. “You’re so fricking good at being a daddy. And a husband,” she added in a rush.
He toyed with her finger, rubbed his thumb against the gold band he’d put there last New Year’s Eve. Nine months later and it felt like the ring was a part of her. If only it didn’t feel like she was sawing off a limb by leaving her daughter to upgrade her health education coursework, and everything would be back to normal. But she needed to take this step. She’d worked at the holistic health center from when it opened last fall until Charlotte’s birth, and she wanted to take the exam to become a Community Health Education Specialist, which meant upgrading her degrees with some sociology credits.
“How about I play chauffeur?” he offered. “I’ll take Charlie and she can nap in my office.”
Tavish had gone from artist-in-residence at Montana State to sessional instructor within two semesters. His classes had filled up quicker than any other photography course. Lauren had been tempted to take one herself, but it didn’t quite fit in with her program. Plus, she could get private lessons from the most in-demand instructor on campus any time she wanted.
“Okay,” she said sheepishly. “I’ll drive myself on Friday, I promise. These are just first-day jitters.”
“Pixie, I’ll drive you anywhere, anytime. In fact, how does bypassing school, driving on to New York City sound?” he said, clearly teasing.
“That would completely waste the tickets we have booked for our anniversary,” she scolded.
“I can’t wait to take you up Rockefeller Center.” His eyes lit as they started to get the diaper bag ready for their daughter. “But promise me we’ll come right back home?”
“If you want.”
Utter seriousness, blended with utter contentment, set his eyes a deep violet. “I have everything I want right here. No place in the world could ever compare.”
* * * * *
Don’t miss Zach and Cadie’s story,
coming in 2019 from Harlequin Special Edition!
Keep reading for an excerpt from THE FORTUNE MOST LIKELY TO... by Marie Ferrarella.
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