Page 146 of When You Blush

You have no idea, sugar.

Chapter Thirty-Five

HARPER

“Did I tell you that I have to get my dress taken out for Beck and Skyla’s wedding?” Blake and I are hiking on the same trail we hiked all those months ago when I first moved back to town. It’s one of our favorites because the views are amazing and it’s not too far from our house. “My stomach decided to basically pop out overnight, and there’s no way I’ll fit into that dress next month.”

I can’t believe that the wedding is only a month away. The summer is flying by, and I’m only a few weeks from being halfway through this pregnancy.

“I’m sure that Polly can help you out at her shop,” Blake says, moving a tree branch out of my way.

“I have an appointment with her in a couple of days.”

We’re moving at a fast clip, which has me breathing hard, and Blake has hardly even broken a sweat.

“Oh, guess what?”

Blake grins down at me and brushes his hand down my back. “What, baby?”

“Amy’s retiring.” I stick my lip out in a pout. “I don’t want her to go. She’s so freaking good at her job, but her daughter is having a baby in Texas, and she’s going to move down there to be near them.”

One of the things I love most about our days out hiking is all of the talking we do. I swear, I still have diarrhea of the mouth around this man. My brain just never stops.

“Good for her,” Blake says. “I have news, too.”

“Tell me.”

A trail runner comes down toward us, and Blake and I move out of the way so he doesn’t have to slow down. When we’re back on our way up, my man takes my hand and threads our fingers together.

“The hospital has hired another ER doctor. I’ll still be working in the clinic four days a week, likely about forty hours, but now I’ll only be in the ER for one shift a week.”

I stop and frown up at him, not wanting to get too excited until I ask some questions.

Because this is exactly what I want.

But does he?

“Blake—”

“This is what I want, baby.” He tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “I need to cut back on my hours so I have more time with you and the bean. Yes, my job is important, but it’ll never be more important than my family.”

His hand covers my baby bump, and he smiles softly.

I’m taking six months off after I have the baby, and then I’m slowly easing back into work. I know that I’m lucky to be able to spend so much time with the baby.

“As long as you’re sure, and you won’t resent us because you work less.”

“How could I ever resent the best part of my life?” He shakes his head and kisses my forehead, and then we’re off once more. “My schedule changes before the end of the month.”

“So we get about five months together before she’s born.” I grin up at him and realize what I just said and feel my eyes widen. “You know what I mean.”

“Harper.”

“It could be a boy,” I insist as we climb over the last ridge that opens up to an amazing view of the mountains and a small lake.

“Harper.”

I stop and face him, my hands on my hips, and feel like such a jerk.