Surprise! Surprise!
Page 19
She motioned for him to turn around. He did so, and she quickly changed into a short, sexy-as-sin red nightie. “Husband,” she cooed, “you can turn around now. I have something to make you feel better—”
He fairly leaped across the bed to drag her onto it with him. She shrieked, but only for effect. “I missed you, too,” she said, cozying up to him.
He fingered the short length of her nightie appreciatively. “Nice of you to bring me such a present from the States. I’m positive we’re about to get reacquainted quickly. And very intimately.” His eyes turned sober. “Maddie, I really am glad as heck you’re here. And you have perfect timing. Five minutes later, and who knows where we’d all have been.”
She gave him a knowing smile. “I think I’d still be in your bed. Somehow. I was determined not to be put out again.”
“I never put you out.”
“You became very grumpy and convinced you didn’t want me in France.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said with a growl, burying his face between her lace-edged breasts. “From now on, all our trials and tribulations are a joint effort.”
“And the good times, and the happiness. It’s what we promised. It’s what we should have been doing all along.”
“Nothing like a second chance to make something stick for good, I always say.” He reached into the nightstand and pulled out a velvet box. “Now, Maddie, I’ve been trying to talk to you about this for several weeks. This is something I give to you, in honor of our—”
“I know. Our second time.”
“Right.” He grinned, flipping open the box to reveal the diamond set he’d given her at their wedding.
“You bought them back,” she breathed.
“Well, yes. They hold a lot of happy memories.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you so much, Sam. I promise not to ever sell them again.”
“You’ll have to keep that promise, woman. I made one little change to them.”
He turned the rings over, so that she could see an inscription had been written on the inside of the wedding band.
“‘Surprise! Surprise!”’ Maddie read, “‘I love you. Sam.”’
She looked up, her eyes full of joyous tears. “That’s no surprise at all,” she said. “I didn’t need for you to write it twice.”
“Well, that,” he said, sliding the rings back on her finger, “is to express my joy at fathering twins. I wanted it written twice, so each baby would be celebrated.”
“Surprise, surprise,” she murmured as she slid her arms around Sam’s neck, bringing her face close to his. “I love you, too.”
He kissed her once, and then he kissed her again—just in case there was any doubt left in her mind that the second time was going to be everything they’d ever wanted.
There wasn’t any doubt left for either of them. Five seconds later the red-hot nightie lay on the floor, as Sam and Maddie discovered the joys of holy matrimony all over again.
Epilogue
France, seven months later
“Sam!” Maddie tore through the foyer of the flat, instantly catching the attention of the toddlers and her husband as he was enjoying a morning of chasing his children. She flew to him, nearly catapulting into his outstretched arms, then locking her legs around his waist. “I’m pregnant!” she shrieked. “We’re going to have another baby!”
“A baby!” The floor seemed to rock under Sam’s feet. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure! I’ve just been to the clinic.” She kissed her husband, expressing all the joy racing through her. “It’s an unexpected miracle! Abby told me several months ago that sometimes it’s easier to get pregnant the second time, like turning on a tap. Goodness knows we’ve been busily testing her theory, but I never dreamed it would happen!”
They smiled at each other, dazed, stunned and profoundly grateful. Sam hugged her, before sitting down with her in his lap. The toddlers made their way over, hanging on to whatever assisted their trembling steps. Maddie swept them both up into her lap. “What a surprise. What a shock!” She threw back her head and laughed. Sam chuckled with her, and the babies smiled because they could hear their parents’ joy.
“It’s going to be wonderful to go through this pregnancy together,” Sam said. He put his arms around his family and held them to him. He smiled and put his chin on Maddie’s shoulder.
She turned her face to his so that their foreheads touched, and whispered, “I love you,” at the very same time he said, “I love you, Maddie.”
Their soft laughter mingled as they enjoyed the melding of their thoughts. And then they said the words a second time, celebrating this new miracle—together.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Tina Leonard for her contribution to the Maitland Maternity series.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5847-5
SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
Copyright © 2000 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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