Free Decadence (An Emerald Valley Spring Fling) by Riley Shane Page A

“It’s Devlin. Mind if I take this real quick?”
    “Not at all. I’ll write down baking instructions for you.”
    “Thanks.” I stepped out of the kitchen as I answered the phone. “This is unexpected,” I said by way of greeting.
    “I was thinking of you.” The sound of my husband’s voice drifted over the line, shooting sensation through me much like the chocolate had earlier. “You’ve been teasing me all week with your plans for tonight. I’ve been looking at my watch constantly today.”
    “Really?” I grinned, secretly pleased I was able to distract my normally undistractable husband. When Devlin got to work, he tended to block out everything and everyone.
    “Mmm. Is there any hope for a repeat of Valentine’s Day?”
    The mention of Valentine’s Day made my heart leap into my throat. We’d just gotten the keys to our home a few days before, and Devlin had surprised me by taking a rare night off from the restaurant and talking Leah into covering for me at the Emerald.
    Wine, chocolate, and sex with a warm fire crackling beside us… God, I could feel my panties dampening at the memory of what we’d done. It had been an utterly decadent night with an unexpected result. My hand drifted to my stomach, a mixture of joy and fear threatening to overwhelm me when I thought of the life growing inside.
    “Naya?” The concern in Devlin’s voice registered, and I realized I’d been quiet for too long.
    I tried to sound casual. “I’m not telling you what’s in store for you. You’ll have to wait and see.”
    Devlin started to reply, but I could hear someone calling for him in the background. That had been the story of our lives lately.
    “Listen, I have to go. I love you, and I’ll be home as soon as possible.”
    “See you tonight. Love you too.”
    The hurried good-byes were also the norm; had been since not long after our wedding. Devlin spent almost all his time at Decadence, either cooking, charming patrons, or using his and Devereaux’s celebrity to generate more business. As wrapped up as I was in expanding the Emerald and my photography business, I hadn’t minded, though I often yearned for a time when we could step back and just enjoy being married. It was why we’d decided to put off having kids for at least another year. We wanted to get our businesses in order so our schedules would be somewhat more regulated and we’d be financially stable. It was a logical plan.
    At least, it had been until Mother Nature had overpowered my birth control. I’d been to the doctor and confirmed what I’d thought was true: I was pregnant.
    Part of me was elated. The other part was in pure, utter panic mode. My life was changing at a speed I hadn’t expected. We wanted kids, but if Devlin wasn’t on board with our family expanding in the near future…
    I was suddenly nauseated and knew it was nerves rather than morning sickness.
    “Anaya?” Devereaux called my name from the kitchen. I forced myself to pull it together. I had a plan for tonight, and it had to go well. I needed this to be a special night, needed to connect with my husband in a way our hectic lives just hadn’t allowed for recently. And if my conscience told me it was slightly underhanded of me to use that connection to soften up Devlin before telling him my news, well, my conscience could shove it for once.
    I walked back into the kitchen, a smile plastered on my face. “Sorry about that.” I took the piece of paper Devereaux handed me. “I’ll follow your instructions to the letter, I promise.” I looked at the clock and winced. “I hate to rush you out the door, but I’ve got to clean up and then get back to the Emerald. I’ve been so busy packing to move into this place that I’ve dumped almost all the paperwork on Leah. If I know her, she’s thisclose to turning it into origami.”
    “Having as much affection for paperwork as she does, I can’t say I blame her. I’ll leave you to your day. Congratulations