Feeling This (36 page)

“Hey, you seem off in your thoughts. Care
to share?”

I smile shyly, “Just thinking about you, my
life.”

He leans over whispering, “If I wasn’t so
hungry for food, I’d take you up those stairs right now.”

“Is that a threat?”

He chuckles, “Better watch it, when you
least expect it.”

I smirk and take a bite of my sandwich. He
asks while I chew, “Will Jenna be at the Duck tonight?”

I snicker, “No Jordan, nice try. It’s my
turn tonight. She’s home with Momma tonight.”

When I made the big leap to trust Jordan I
decided I still needed my normal routine, just not all of it. I kept the Duck
but only part time. Jenna and I share the job. She is living with Momma now
half of the time and a nurse visits when no one else can be there. Jenna still
spends a lot of time with Derek. So it’s one big balancing act but I’m used to
that. I’ve always had to balance things but without Jordan. Now everything is
so much sweeter with him in my life.

I tell him, “Momma and your parents are
coming over on Saturday.”

“I remember. Did you decide whether you
want to invite the Bruins?”

I smile sweetly, “I think we should invite
them too.”

He nods finishing his lunch. When I get up
to gather our plates he pulls me into his lap and proceeds to kiss me deeply.
I’ve never known how it feels to not worry. This amazing man is mine forever,
it’s so unbelievable. I wrap my hands around his neck just as the front door
snaps closed again followed by a loud call, “Hey people, where are you?”

Heidi comes out the back door saying too
loudly, “Eww, get a room would ya.”

Jordan sighs, “I guess desert is over.”

He sets me upright and stands calling over
his shoulder, “Hey Heidi.”

“Hi, Jord, have fun out there.”

He places his baseball cap back on his head
and walks off the porch going out to the barn.

She turns to me glowing and exclaims,
“Okay, spill it, what is so important that I had to get here right away? I was
a little busy with Tyler so this better be good.”

I freeze and look back over at her,
“Really, a repeat? I thought Tyler was only a four.”

She waves me off, “Well, I might have
needed another taste just to make sure, maybe a strong six.”

We both burst out laughing. When we’ve
calmed a little, I pull her into the house by her hand while she protests the
whole way up to my bedroom.

“C’mon Kimber, just tell me.”

“Have a seat, I’ll be right back.”

She sinks onto my bed examining her
fingernails. When she looks up and sees me, her eyes widen and she rushes over,
“Is that what I think it is?”

I nod a little uneasy but unable to hide my
joy.

She starts screaming, “Oh my god, you’re
pregnant!”

I nod smiling at her glee. She grabs my
hands forcing me to jump up and down with her. Then she stops and asks, “Did
you tell Jordan?”

“Well obviously, I didn’t. Not yet anyway.”

“Oh yeah, I guess not. When are you gonna
tell him?”

I walk over to the bed and sit on the edge,
“I’m not sure. I’m afraid of what his reaction will be.”

“Oh no, don’t you start this shit again. He
loves you more than anything. I’ve never seen so much lovey dovey shit ooze
from a guy before. He will be so happy.”

“Do you think so? I worry because it’s only
been six months and so many things have changed for both of us.”

She huffs, “I’m going to tell him right
now. Give me that stick.” She tries to snatch it from my hand. I wave it away,
out of her reach.

“Okay, I get it. I guess I’ll tell him.”

“Well what are you waiting for?”

I look up at the happiness in her eyes.
God, what would I do without her? I get up and hug her. She whispers, “Call me
later.”

I nod and head out of the bedroom and down
the stairs. When I get out to the barn, I find it empty. Gypsy is missing too
so I walk back out and glance over across the field to find him by the lake. I stride
across the spotty grass to where he’s letting Gypsy graze. He’s sitting by the
water staring off into the distance. When I approach he looks over, surprised
to see me.

“Hey babe, is everything okay?”

Tears start falling, damn hormones. I nod
and whisper, “I have something to tell you.”

He stands up concerned. A shadow crosses
his face as he walks over to me. He wipes a stray tear rolling down my cheek.

“What is it baby?’

I pull the stick out of my back pocket and
hold it up. What I’m holding registers on his face and he averts his gaze to me
with a slowly growing smile.

“Are you, are we, pregnant?’

I nod and smile at his reference to us. He
sweeps me up into his arms kissing me passionately.

“Oh Kimber Maguire, I love you so much.”

“And I love you Jordan Rhodes, you are my
life.”

I am so thankful for my family, you are
my
life. Everything in this life we share together makes me want to wake up every
morning. Thank you to my boys and my girl for your patience and allowing me to
write this story. Thank you to my husband for believing in me and encouraging
my pursuit of a dream.

Much more gratitude than I can utter to all
of my readers. I wouldn’t be doing this if you didn’t love to read. My
bestie... Rochelle Gilman, for all of your support and positive criticism,
where would I be without you? Jessica Louise, for sticking with me and always
setting me straight! Your beta reading was invaluable and your friendship means
so much even though we’re halfway around the world from each other. Heather
Gunter, for helping me maneuver my way through this new world and for talking
things through with me even when I had doubts. Julie Deaton, for giving this
story a chance and loving it. Your beta reading is HOT!
J
Stephanie
Mulford, for beta reading. You helped me strengthen the beginning of this story
which I am forever grateful. AND last but not least, Tami Norman, the
multi-talented Aussie that is an expert with everything she touches. You rock
my writing world with all of your support! I am so thankful for our friendship
girls!

Thank you tons to Allie Brennan from B
Design for having a vision and creating such a beautiful cover to portray
Kimber and Jordan’s story.

Thank you so much to the amazing Sherry
Ashley, editor extraordinaire. I’m so glad we crossed paths in the real world
so I could involve you in my make-believe world. You are so good at what you
do!

I want to thank the wonderful blogs that
have supported me through this journey. Thank you to Mandy Anderson from Ireadindie,
Mary Tatar from Mary’s Crazy Book Obsession, Stephanie Locke from Rude Girl
Book Blog, Jennifer Noe from The Book Blog, Kristy Louise from Book Addict
Mumma, and Tami Norman from Into The Night Reviews. Your support has meant so
much in my journey.