She made a little face at him, realizing he wasn’t about to make this easy for her. “You know exactly what’s on my mind,” she grumbled good-naturedly. “You asked me for a year. A year just for ourselves. And while it’s been the best year of my life, just like you promised, I - I was hoping that maybe you’d be ready to discuss the topic of starting a family now.”

Ian took the wine glass from her hands and set it on the glass-topped patio table along with his before drawing her against him. “You want to have a baby,” he stated softly.

“Yes.” Tessa gave a brief nod. “I want to have your baby. I’ve loved helping Julia with the twins here and there, and I’ve already learned a little about changing diapers and feedings and things like that. But it’s not the same as having our own child. And, well, I’d like to try and get pregnant soon. If you’re in agreement, that is.”

He gave her one of those tender smiles that always made her swoon, and now was no exception. “Yes,” he agreed, his smile broadening into a grin. “It’s time, after all. So when we return home from this trip, why don’t you make an appointment with Jordan so we can discuss the matter? Just to make sure that you don’t need to do anything special about stopping your birth control pills.”

“Oh. That.” Tessa gulped. “Well, I’m not really sure how to break the news to you, but since I knew, just knew, that you’d agree, I might have actually stopped taking my pills about ten days ago.”

Ian laughed heartily, picking her up by the waist and spinning her around in circles. “Did you now, darling? You were that confident that I would say yes, were you?”

She nodded, relieved that he wasn’t annoyed at her confession. “Yes. Because you’ve always given me whatever I wanted. And I want to have your baby more than anything else in the world.”

“Well, then.” He swooped her up into his arms, carrying her back inside the house. “Let’s wait on dinner for a bit, shall we, and go make a baby instead.”

Chapter Twenty

November, two years later

Ian stepped out from the town car, closing the door behind him, and took a glance at the darkening skies above him.

“Looks like we’ll have rain before the night is over,” he told Simon.

The older man nodded. “It’s been in the forecast for a few days now, sir. A good night to be settled in at home around the fire with your family.”

Ian smiled at the image those words conjured up. “That it is, mate. What are your plans for the evening? Another date with your widowed neighbor?”

Simon looked a bit flustered, as he always did when the subject of the woman in his life came up. He’d begun dating Anna on a very casual basis a few months ago, but it was rather obvious that he was very fond of the woman who had been widowed nearly two years ago.

“She did invite me over to her house for dinner this evening,” acknowledged Simon a bit sheepishly.

Ian clapped his chauffeur/bodyguard on the back. “Sounds like a date to me,” he joked. “But seriously, mate, enjoy your evening, hmm?”

“I will, sir. And I already know that you will, too. I’ll see you at the usual time tomorrow morning.”

Ian gave Simon a wave before letting himself into the house. As always, his home felt warm and inviting, and the odors emanating from the direction of the kitchen were mouthwatering. He hung up his overcoat in the entryway closet, and was about to carry his laptop case into his home office, when an excited little voice interrupted him.

“Daddy!”

He grinned, turning in the direction of that beloved little voice, and crouched down as his nineteen-month-old daughter ran to him as fast as her tiny legs could carry her. Gilly launched herself into his arms, and he swept her up easily, cuddling her close.

“Hello, baby girl,” he murmured against her hair. The soft, curly blonde locks smelled of baby shampoo, and he inhaled the sweet, fresh scent of her skin as though it was the rarest of perfumes. “Do you have a kiss for your daddy?”

In response, Gilly puckered up her tiny pink rosebud mouth and gave him an enthusiastic peck on the lips. Ian laughed in delight, and then spun her around in a circle, causing her to squeal happily.

“Let Daddy see how pretty you look,” he told her as he set her down on the entryway floor.

Gilly beamed at him as she showed off her ruffled little dress of pale blue trimmed in lace. Dainty lace trimmed white ankle socks and tiny white buckled dress shoes completed the outfit.

Ian smiled. “Mummy dressed you up again, did she? Does this mean we’re having one of our special dinners tonight?”

“It does. I hope you’re in the mood for roast chicken. And Gilly and I made a special dessert for tonight. Didn’t we, baby?”

Ian figured it would take a lifetime before he stopped acting like a besotted schoolboy whenever his gorgeous wife entered a room - something that certainly wasn’t going to happen tonight. And especially considering how beautiful she looked this evening, wearing a dress that clung to every sinful, spectacular curve of her body. The forest green jersey dress was starkly simplistic, without a belt or ruffle to detract from its sensual lines. The color flattered Tessa’s blonde hair, blue eyes, and ivory skin, and what the clingy fabric did to that body of hers should have been illegal.

He picked Gilly back up as she held up her tiny arms, then carried her over to greet her lookalike mother.

Gilly patted his chin with her small hands. “Daddy. Give Mummy kiss, too.”

Ian smiled at Tessa in a very, very carnal way before cupping the back of her head. “With the greatest of pleasure,” he whispered, just before claiming his wife’s sweet, lush mouth in a long, thorough kiss.

Tessa’s blue eyes were glowing with desire when he finally lifted his head, and he knew without having to glance down that her nipples would be hard.

“Hello, Yummy Mummy,” he teased softly.

She laughed, as she always did when he used the rather corny nickname. “Hello, yourself, Dreamy Daddy,” she countered back. “And looking especially dreamy in my favorite suit.”

He slipped an arm around her waist, easily carrying their daughter in his other arm as they walked towards the kitchen. “Do you need any help with dinner?” he offered.

Tessa shook her head. “Everything’s already done, just needs to be served. Why don’t we sit in the library for a few minutes and I can fix you a drink? It’s a little too cold to be outside this evening, especially since Gilly’s hair is still damp from her bath earlier.”