Happy Holidays - The Pregnancy Negotiation Part 19

"Mallory O'Brien-Manning, that's why we're so d.a.m.n good together. You can read my mind."

She slid her hand down his back and gave him a little pinch on his b.u.t.t. "I can read your body fairly well,

too."He set his half-full beer on the coffee table and tugged her into his arms. "So you're game?""I certainly am. And I love you, Whit Manning," she said, not caring that one particular O'Brien walked by to witness her declaration.

Whit kissed her again, softly, yet with a world of emotion in the gesture and in his eyes. "And if we'relucky, we won't get caught.""At least this time, we're legally married." Taking Whit by the hand, they headed down the hall, ignoring the questioning looks they were getting from the last of the stragglers who had yet to join the party outside. Fortunately, her parents were nowhere to be found. Once in the bedroom, Mallory dropped back onto the bed, sending stuffed animals helter-skelter on the floor while Whit closed the door.

Before Whit joined her, Mallory asked, "Did you lock it?" through a yawn.

He lowered onto the edge of the bed beside her and frowned. "Yeah, but maybe you should take a nap.

I don't want you to overdo it."

She loved his concern, loved everything about him, in fact, even if he did have a penchant for discarding

his socks in the den floor. "I'm not overdoing it, and the doctor said everything looks good. I am growing fairly fast, which could mean twins."

"Twins?" He looked and sounded shocked."With my family history, I wouldn't be surprised." She smiled. "And with your potency, odds are it's avery good possibility. We'll find out tomorrow when I have the sonogram."

He returned her smile only his was a bit cynical. "And with my luck, we'll have two girls. I probably deserve that."

"We deserve a healthy, happy baby, no matter what the gender."

He plied her with soft kisses as he began slipping the b.u.t.tons on her blouse. "And we're going to have that, babe."

"I know we are." Whit was one of the prime reasons for Mallory's optimism. A few months before, she'd never believed that they would be anything other than friends and roommates. A few weeks ago, she'dnever believed they would be anything but lovers and possibly parents. Now she had it all-a friend,roommate, lover and husband.

And a real wise guy, she decided when Whit inclined his head, his hands poised on the final b.u.t.ton. "Did you hear that?"

Mallory rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "Well, it can't be the sperm derby and I sure as heck hope it isn't the cops. Or my parents."

After parting the placket on her blouse, Whit laid a cheek on her belly. "Bruno's complaining becausejust like her mother, Betsy's trying to rearrange their s.p.a.ce...."

Mallory laughed at Whit's commentary, but her laughter was soon replaced by blissful silence when her husband turned down the lights and made sweet, gentle love to her. Afterward, as they held each other in the dark while the party raged on outside, Mallory remembered an old Irish proverb that fit their situation so well.

Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.

Maybe it had taken ten years to bring her and Whit to this precious place. And maybe some wouldconsider that a waste of time. But Mallory recognized that they'd both needed time to grow up, whichthey had as they'd grown closer. She also acknowledged that although the path she'd taken to this pointhad been fraught with some heartache, it had made this journey's end that much sweeter.

And better still, it was only the beginning.

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THE PREGNANCY NEGOTIATION.

Copyright 2006 by Kristi Goldberg.

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