Page 12 of Fall of a Kingdom

“Please.”

I got up and went to the liquor cart and opened a bottle of red wine, courtesy of Angelo Moretti. He was a bastard, but the man knew how to make wine.

“What do you think our men are talking about?” Ash asked.

The cork slid out of the bottle with a soft pop and poured two glasses. “Probably about the fact that I want another baby.”

Her blue eyes widened. “Youwhat?”

“Want another baby,” I repeated, handing her a glass and then lifting mine to my lips. It was rich and complex, and I could almost taste the ancient soil of Naples.

“Barrett?”

“Hmm?”

“You can’t just stop there,” Ash stated. “Are you serious? You want another baby?”

“I do.”

“But Flynn’s vasectomy and your pelvis injury—”

“I’m talking about adoption.”

“I see.”

She didn’t push me to continue speaking, choosing instead to silently wait as I gathered my words.

“I didn’t get to decide,” I said softly. “My children were…unexpected.” I looked at her.

She nodded.

“Unexpected, butsowelcome.” I smiled. “From the moment they open their eyes in the morning until they fall asleep at night, I cherish every moment with them.”

I took my wine and went to the window, pulling back the heavyblack velvet drapes to stare out across the acreage. Thunder rumbled like an angry toddler.

“I thought I was finished… No, I thoughtwewere finished having children. But something happened a few months ago. I don’t even know what it was, but I started to want another one.”

“Did you get bored?”

“Bored?” I snorted. “As Flynn Campbell’s wife? Please.”

She chuckled, but then sobered. “Then what is this? Where did it come from?”

“No idea. It’s just…there. Like this feeling that there’s a missing piece of my life and I have to have it.”

“The sheep doesn’t fill that void for you?”

I grinned and turned to look at her over my shoulder. “No. Betty doesn’t fill that void.”

“And what about Flynn?”

“He’s happy the way things are. He doesn’t want our life to change.” I bit my lip and then took a sip of wine. “He also has concerns.”

“Concerns about what?”

“About why I want another baby in the first place.”

She frowned. “This doesn’t sound like you.”