Page 98 of Enforcing the Rules

We broke apart, and I was grinning from ear-to-ear.

“Welcome to the family, darlin’,” Rock offered, coming forward to give me a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

The rest of the night was a whirlwind of dinner and dancing, drinking, and telling stories. Me not so much on the drinking, though I did take a sip of champagne in a toast.

Then Utah told the room that I was cut off because we were expecting.

There was another round of hoots and hollers. After dinner, the men dragged Utah outside to a patio for whiskey and cigars and to congratulate him on his soon-to-be fatherhood. While the women gathered around me with questions and offers to plan the wedding and showers.

When the men trouped back in, they were all wearing silly elf hats with big ears attached, and I burst into laughter. They were all-in on my Christmas theme, and they couldn’t have signaled my acceptance into the fold any more clearly.

I was now a part of the Royal Bastards' family, and the future looked bright.

Late that night, Utah and I lay in a big canopy bed in a suite upstairs.

“You tired?” he asked.

“I’m exhausted, but happy. So happy. Today was wonderful. I couldn’t have wished for anything more. You spoiled me.”

“I plan to spoil both of you.”

He kissed my belly, his beard tickling my skin, and I stroked my fingers through his hair.

“Thank you for today, honey.”

“You’re welcome. Besides, I plan to get laid tonight.”

I chuckled. “Do you?”

He pressed another kiss to my stomach, pushing the sheet out of the way.

I sucked in a breath and froze.

He lifted, meeting my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

My mouth dropped open and I took his hand pressing it against my right side. “I felt the baby. Right there.” It had been fluttering for weeks, but this was the first time I actually felt a kick. “Do you feel it?”

We waited a moment, and it happened again.

He grinned and met my eyes, his glittering suddenly.

I knew what this meant to him, and I stroked a fingertip down his cheek. “You’ll never miss a single milestone with this one. And I don’t mean to take anything away from Mia. I pray one day the two of you can have a relationship, but this baby is going to love you endlessly.”

“And I’ll love this baby.”

“I can’t wait to find out if we’re having a girl or boy.”

He stroked his thumb over my lower lip and grinned. “We’re going to be so happy, Sissy.”

I burst out laughing at his reference to Urban Cowboy, and wrapped my arms around his neck. “We are, Bud. We so are.”

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