Free Rocky Mountain Vignettes (Six Pack Ranch) by Vivian Arend Page A

up and ambushed her.
    Blake grinned even harder.
    She ignored him. If he wanted to have his fun, she’d let him. Other things needed saying before she succumbed to slumber’s call.
    “I love watching you with the twins.” Jaxi curled herself beside him, resting her head against his chest and closing her eyes. “You’re a good daddy.”
    “Love those girls so hard. As much as I love their mama.”
    She must have been doing more than she thought lately—she was simply beat. Between the fire and the lethargy in her limbs, she was done for the day. Still, Jaxi savored his touch, appreciating once again simply being able to lie there and be with him.
    He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “You and me, we make pretty babies.”
    Jaxi trembled on the edge of sleep. Relaxed. Content. She hummed back at him in response because it took less energy than speaking.
    “Darlin’, you sure you don’t have something to tell me?” Blake stroked her shoulder.
    “Nope. Nada.” She tilted her head back and stared into his loving eyes. “You got me.”
    His gentle caress continued. “I’ve heard a rumor, then.”
    “From who?”
    “You.” His eyes sparkled.
    “Me?” Well, that made no sense at all.
    “More specifically, your body.”
    Jaxi laughed. “Damn gossipy body, then, for talking to you and not to me. What’d it tell you? Is it planning on running away to join the circus?”
    Blake tweaked her nose. “We’re already running a circus around here. No, it’s more that you, my source of endless energy, are tired. Like
crawl in bed at the same time as the girls
tired. Instead of hopping out of bed like your ass is on fire in the morning, I find you cuddled up against me, which I’m not complaining about one bit, mind you.”
    “I noticed you not complaining.” She’d enjoyed the extra minutes together as well—time to savour the physical connection that neither of them had grown tired of. It was never for long enough, though, before either the girls crawled in with them or Blake had to leave for chores.
    “Yesterday,” he continued, “you pulled this hilarious face at the first taste of your coffee. And you’ve served macaroni and cheese three nights running, which is number one of your comfort foods.”
    His list made her laugh. “Bonus points for being observant, but I don’t see…”
    “And there’s these.” He cupped her intimately, his big palm gentle against her tender breast—
    “Oh, Lordy.” Jaxi snapped to vertical, staring at him in shock. Was he saying…? Could she be…?
    She might be.
    How could she have missed the clues?
    Blake snorted. “You should see your face right now.”
    She could only imagine. “Blake, I had no idea.”
    “You mean you ain’t keeping secrets and waiting for the right moment to share?” He traced a finger over her cheek, completely focused on her response. “I mean, we’ve been trying to get you pregnant.”
    The slight embarrassment that had snuck in for being an unobservant twit vanished in an instant. There was no room inside for wasted negative emotion when joy and disbelief were battling for the top billing in her brain. “I’m
pregnant
.”
    This time he outright laughed. “That would be my guess,” he said, opening his arms as she straddled his legs and settled herself tight against him. “Love you, darlin’. Thanks for being willing to do it all over again.”
    “You just better hope this baby is as sweet as last round,” she teased. “Of course, if she takes after her mother, we know she’ll be perfect.”
    A soft chuckle escaped him. “Why’re you so insistent it’s not a boy this time?”
    “Woman’s intuition.”
    “Same intuition that poked me before you about the baby coming? I swear I’m more into your head than you are,” he teased.
    Jaxi narrowed her gaze. “I hear there’s a machine that lets men experience labour. You want me to find one so you can really get into my head?”
    His grey eyes widened and he