by Layla Hagen
“Glad to hear that,” she whispered.
Finally, I felt her relax in my arms, come off that frenzy she’d worked herself into. But I’d gotten used to this. It was just how Skye ticked. She’d spent her first month of pregnancy mapping out a work plan for the other eight and for the first six months after birth. I’d let her do her thing, because she was more relaxed once she had a plan. She and Tess had hired a few full-time sales associates, so they were planning to take a huge step back from day-to-day operations in the store.
“Je t’aime.”
“I love you too.”
“I like hugging you like this,” I said.
“It’s the only way you get to hug me these days without my belly getting in the way.”
Laughing, I walked with her to the swing. I sat on it, and Skye rested in my lap.
“I can still keep the indoor swing, right?”
We’d brought it over from her old house. “Sure, babe. I’ve actually started to like it.”
“And to think you fought me about bringing it in here.”
“I didn’t see the point. Now I do.” It was relaxing and a great spot for us to huddle together.
“Ah, keep that in mind.”
“What?”
“That I have good ideas too, even if you don’t agree with them from the start.”
“You don’t plan to throw away anything, do you?”
“Weeeell, you did have a good point about maybe having a girl in the future, so why go through all the hassle of sending it back and then ordering it again? Think of all the packaging and shipping costs we’re saving. And carbon emissions.”
I burst out laughing, moving my hand in circles around her belly. We both stilled when there was a kick from deep within her. I felt it even through her jacket. It got to me every time. Every single time.
“See, the baby agrees with my hoarding tendencies.”
“We’ll see,” I said vaguely. Skye leaned back on me, dangling her feet in the air.
I liked to always move forward at breakneck speed, but these quiet moments with Skye were the best part of every day. Right now they were only semi-quiet, because her phone kept buzzing in her pocket.
“Why is your phone exploding with messages?” I asked.
“The dynamic in the WhatsApp group escalated a little after I told them we’re having a boy. Ryker and Cole are competing over who will be the good uncle and who will be the reckless one. Right now, I’m deeming both reckless. On top of that, everyone’s teasing Cole about being next in line to break out of the bachelor pack.”
“That doesn’t seem likely.”
“I’m with you, but, eh... I was wrong about Ryker too, so I’m going to withhold my opinion for now. He’s up to no good most of the time, but....”
Another kick from deep within followed. I held my breath. So did Skye.
“I think the baby likes the prospect of being up to no good,” she whispered.
“I’m all for that.”
“I think my brothers will have that covered. You can just be the perfect role model. No pressure.” She kissed my cheek.
“I can do that.” I was ready. I’d had excellent role models, and I was looking forward to walking in their footsteps. I was determined to give the baby and Skye the very best of me every day.
She half turned to me, smiling and looking even more irresistible to me than before. Tilting her head to one side, I kissed down her neck. I undid the zipper of her jacket a little, slipping my hand inside—enough to make my intentions clear but not to give the neighbors a show.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t have to be a role model yet, do I?”
She laughed as I took her hand. Drawing her to her feet, I led her back to the house. “I agree with that 100 percent.”
***
The end
Dear Reader,
This is the end of Skye and Rob’s story. Cole Winchester’s story will be available in October.
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Did you read the first books in the series?
You’re The One (Josie and Hunter) is available HERE
Just One Kiss (Ryker and Heather) is available HERE
Other books by Layla Hagen
If you want to meet the Bennett family, you can find a link to the series HERE.
They are a fun family, the romances are HOT and SWOONWORTHY. That series is complete, and each book can be read as a standalone.
Links to THE ENTIRE BENNETT FAMILY SERIES:
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Links to individual books in the Bennett Family Series:
Book 1: Your Irresistible Love (Sebastian & Ava)
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Book 2: Your Captivating Love (Logan & Nadine)
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Book 3: Your Forever Love (Pippa & Eric)
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Book 4: Your Inescapable Love (Max & Emilia)
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Book 5: Your Tempting Love (Christopher & Victoria)
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Book 6: Your Alluring Love (Alice & Nate)
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Book 7: Your Fierce Love (Blake & Clara)
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Book 8: Your One True Love (Daniel & Caroline)
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Book 9: Your Endless Love (Summer & Alex)
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The Connor Family series is also complete. You can find the link to the entire series HERE.
Here are the individual books:
ANYTHING FOR YOU (Landon & Maddie)
WILD WITH YOU (Lori & Graham)
MEANT FOR YOU (Will & Paige)
ONLY WITH YOU (Valentina & Carter)
FIGHTING FOR YOU (Jace & Brooke)
ALWAYS WITH YOU (HAILEY & REID)
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Withering Hope
Aimee’s wedding is supposed to turn out perfect. Her dress, her fiancé and the location—the idyllic holiday ranch in Brazil—are perfect.
But all Aimee’s plans come crashing down when the private jet that’s taking her from the U.S. to the ranch—where her fiancé awaits her—defects mid-flight and the pilot is forced to perform an emergency landing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
With no way to reach civilization, being rescued is Aimee and Tristan’s—the pilot—only hope. A slim one that slowly withers away, desperation taking its place. Because death wanders in the jungle under many forms: starvation, diseases. Beasts.
As Aimee and Tristan fight to find ways to survive, they grow closer. Together they discover that facing old, inner agonies carved by painful pasts takes just as much courage, if not even more, than facing the rainforest.
Despite her devotion to her fiancé, Aimee can’t hide her feelings for Tristan—the man for whom she’s slowly becoming everything. You can hide many things in the rainforest. But not lies. Or love.
Withering Hope is the story of a man who desperately needs forgiveness and the woman who brings him hope. It is a story in which hope births wings and blooms into a love that is as beautiful and intense as it is forbidden.
AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS. You can find the links
HERE.
Just One Kiss
Copyright © 2020 Layla Hagen
Published by Layla Hagen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Published: Layla Hagen 2019
