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“What’s on your mind, sweet pea?” I squat beside her, putting my hands on her little waist.

She doesn’t answer me right away. She leaves me, and I watch as she goes to where Darcy is entering the backstage area.

“Congratulations, Darcy!” She reaches out and hugs her. “I really liked your song. I thought you were funny to watch doing it. You did a great job.”

The woman in the sable lights a cigarette and scowls down at the two girls hugging.

Darcy seems surprised. “Thanks, Dove. I liked what you did with your dog.”

“Maybe you can come over and play with me and Boo sometime at the house.”

Digger’s niece blinks, and her face seems to brighten. “Okay!” She seems really excited, and I’ll be damned.

I’m so proud of my baby right now. Dove and Darcy clasp hands and hug each other one more time before my daughter walks back to where Noel and I are standing. I’m sure Noel’s face is as surprised as mine must be.

“I’m really tired.” Dove catches both our hands, pulling us to the exit. “Let’s go home now.”

We celebrate Leon’s birthday with a brisket Sawyer made, and we all toast Dove as first runner-up Princess Peach. To her credit, she really seems okay with not winning.

She never says it, but I think seeing Darcy’s mother in the wings has a lot to do with it. She’s curled up on the couch beside Sawyer when we say goodnight before the Peach Ball.

It’s been eight years since my last Peach Ball, and not much has changed. The men from the grower’s association line the back, nodding and waving to us as we enter.

Noel is more of a celebrity this year because of her successful store opening, and some of her new partners walk over to greet her and set up times to meet and discuss shelf space.

We’re out on the floor dancing, and I smile down at her pretty face. I’m in dark jeans, a khaki shirt and blue blazer. Noel is a show-stopper in a short green dress with tiny polka dots all over it. It wraps around her narrow shoulders, and her dark hair sweeps down her back. Her lips are glossy pink, and she is so fucking sexy.

“I won’t lie, wife.” I lean down to speak right in her ear. “I can’t wait to get you out of this dress.”

Her brown eyes glow when she looks up at me. “I can’t wait for you to take it off me, husband.”

Shit. We never stay to the end of these dances. “Let’s go.” I turn and start to lead her to the door, but she pulls back.

Laughing, she shakes her head. “I need to at least speak to Mrs. Jenny and make an appearance. I’m a business owner now.”

“Make it quick.”

We actually stay another hour at the ball before I’m able to steal her away. The whole drive back, my hand is between her knees and she leans into my ear, kissing and biting my earlobe, telling me the dirty things she’d like to do to me.

“You’re going to make me wreck.” It’s important for her to know.

I park the Tahoe, and we’re out, kissing as we make our way to the door. She laughs when I sweep her off her feet and carry her inside the foreman’s cottage. We keep it ready just in case we need it.

We’re both sweaty and breathing hard by the time it’s over. I’ve had my face between her thighs, she’s ridden me like a pony at the fair, and we lie beside each other satisfied, threading our fingers together and watching the moonlight stream through the windows.

“I was so proud of Dove today.” She watches our hands as our fingers cross and turn in the air between us. The light glistens off her moonstone engagement ring and the white-gold band that sits on top of it. “She’s getting to be such a young lady.”

“She’s a good girl.” I’m starting to doze, but Noel pulls my hand.

“I’ve been waiting for a good time to tell you this, but we get so busy…”

My brow furrows, and I shift onto my side. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well…” She turns so her cheek is on the pillow and she blinks up at me.

My chest tightens, and I can’t help a smile. Everything about her has always been so beautiful to me.

“As you know, we haven’t really been paying much attention to birth control…”