Derek was happy to take on the role of theater manager. Renovation had already begun on the old theater, and he was in the process of getting together a core group of actors. Word had traveled fast, and several actors from New York who had landed appreciable roles on the stage were already heading down to Atlantic for an opportunity to be a part of Derek’s summer theater. He had warmed to his project, and he had even written a screenplay for opening night in July that Wynne found absolutely brilliant. Of course, she was admittedly a little biased.
“We have maple syrup too,” Derek added, interrupting her thoughts. “Paige can pour you a glass of orange juice.”
Her stomach rebelled at the thought, churning violently, and suddenly the pancake smell became unbearable. She didn’t even manage a coherent response, just ran out the nearest available door—which thankfully led outside—and puked right in the flowerbed. Derek was by her side instantly, stroking her back even as she dry-heaved into the pansies.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?”
She moaned in response. This confirmed her theory. As it turned out, they were going to get started on the half-dozen kid thing a little sooner than Wynne had anticipated. When the dry heaves finally subsided, Wynne swiped at her mouth with the back of her hand and turned to Derek. “I think I’m pregnant.”
His face transformed and his grip on her tightened. “Are you sure?”
Her stomach began to settle and she smiled. “There’s no mistaking morning sickness.”
“Oh my God.” His hand slid lightly over her belly. “We’re going to have a baby.” A grin of wonder curled his lips. “Are you happy? About the baby, I mean. I know it’s soon…”
“I couldn’t be happier.” She framed his face with her hands. “With you or the baby. You and Paige are my life.”
“And Baby too,” he reminded her, still caressing her with his hand. “We’ll have to tell Paige she’s getting a new brother or sister.”
“I am?”
Paige poked her head out the door, her mouth hanging open in expectation of happy news.
Derek laughed. “Our daughter, the eavesdropper.”
“Would you like a new brother or sister?” Wynne asked Paige.
“Yes.” Paige jumped up and down. “Can I get one?”
Derek and Wynne laughed together. “I think you can, sweet pea,” Derek murmured.
“Yay!” She launched herself at them, wrapping her arms around their legs.
And they stood like that on the porch, a blossoming family…until the unmistakable scent of burning pancakes wafted to them.
“Oh shit. I forgot about the pancakes.” Derek scrambled into the kitchen.
“You gotta give me a quarter, Daddy,” Paige called after him.
Wynne pulled her daughter against her side and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Maybe we ought to raise the cost of swearing to fifty cents. We’ll soon have a baby around.”
“How ’bout a dollar?”
Wynne could practically see the wheels turning in her daughter’s mind. She laughed and ruffled Paige’s curls. “A dollar it is.”
“A dollar’s a little steep if you ask me,” Derek called from inside the house. “If we’re going to have half a dozen kids, we’re going to need to save our money.”
Wynne grumbled good naturedly about there being no way she was giving birth to six children and followed Paige back inside the house. Life, she decided—even as she choked on a grayish cloud of burning pancake smoke—was pretty damn good. Morning sickness and all.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Heart’s Temptation
A Mad Passion (Book 1)
Rebel Love (Book 2)
Reckless Need (Book 3)
Sweet Scandal (Book 4) (Coming Soon)
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Love’s Second Chance
Reprieve (Book 1)
Perfect Persuasion (Book 2)
Win My Love (Book 3)
Coastal Heat
Loved Up (Book 1)
Award-winning author Scarlett Scott writes contemporary and historical romance with heat, heart, and happily ever afters. Since publishing her first book in 2010, she has become a wife, mother to adorable identical twins and one TV-loving dog, and a killer karaoke singer. Well, maybe not the last part, but that’s what she’d like to think.
A self-professed literary junkie and nerd, she loves reading anything but especially romance novels, poetry, and Middle English verse. When she’s not reading, writing, wrangling toddlers, or camping, you can catch up with her on her website www.scarsco.com. Hearing from readers never fails to make her day.
Scarlett’s complete book list and information about upcoming releases can be found on her website, www.scarsco.com.
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Win My Love (Love's Second Chance Book 3) Page 20
