Page 96

Blinking back tears, she watched the man of her dreams shower their unborn baby with love.
When further exploration had revealed that her damagedtube was only partially blocked, they’d been cautiously optimistic about natural conception. And with her pill-taking regimen having bitten the dust amid the turmoil in her life, Noah had encouraged her to stop taking them altogether.
Leia had fallen pregnant two months after she’d come off the pill.
Noah’s happiness at the news had been incomparable and every day she grew more amazed at the depths of his love and devotion.
She slid her fingers through his hair and tightened her fist. His low hiss before his eyes connected with hers was music to her ears.
“I think the artist was heavily into girls. What are you going to do about it, Noah?”
Slowly, he rose to his feet, dislodged her grip and pulled both of her hands behind her back. Stormy blue eyes locked on hers. “You need me to remind you who you belong to. Is that right, baby?”
Breath fleeing her lungs, she nodded jerkily.
She took her punishment like a thoroughly loved and adored champ. Two hours later, they entered the living room to find Paddy in residence, his customary glass in his hand.
“Fuck. That’s it, baby. We’re moving,” Noah griped.
He earned an elbow in his ribs for swearing around the baby. He wondered how much it’d cost him to throw his PI over the balcony.
“Turn on the TV,” Paddy said. “Channel Four.”
Noah grunted. “You help yourself to my booze. Why not add watching TV? That way we can adopt you into this family.”
Leia laughed and found the remote. All laughter ceased as they watched breaking news of William Bouchard aka Warren Snyder being led away in handcuffs.
“He was found with an underage girl at the lake house in Maine. She’d been missing from her family home in Florida for the past six months and she’d been badly”—his gaze flicked to Leia—“manhandled. I called in a few favors and I’m fairly certain his trial will be held here. If we can pull the right strings, he could end up in the same place as Willoughby. I have a few friends on standby to give them both a reunion party they won’t forget.”
Noah’s teeth bared in a savage grin, and he shook hands with Paddy. “I’ll foot the bill for the party streamers and any other entertainment required.”
A look of brutal understanding passed between the men.
Paddy left and she stared at Noah.
“What?” he asked, his voice soft, deep and filled with love again.
“On the day I complete my tattoo, we finally close the circle. Warren gets arrested. Ashley is already doing twelve years for stealing the embryos, her part in burning down my warehouse, and for embezzling from the art gallery in New York, and my stepfather won’t see the light of day for twenty years, minimum. So”—she caressed his mouth with the tips of her fingers—“you get one free pass to get as sappy and swear-y as you want.”
He caught her fingers in his hand and stared deep into her eyes. “Leia, baby… I love you. I’ll always protect you and our baby. But I’m glad we don’t have to look over our shoulders anymore. So yeah, life is fucking A right now. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes, Noah.”
Fucking A…