The Baby Track (23 page)

His hard, strong body felt so good against hers. She slipped her arms around his waist, daring to allow herself to lean into him.

“I was an idiot, and that car accident was a blessing in disguise because it gave me the chance to know what it was like to be your husband and Sarah’s father.” His arms tightened around her, his hands soothing and caressing. His lips moved, warm and tender, against her temple, her cheek, the curve of her neck.

“It was pure heaven. Marry me, Gypsy. I want to replace that fake wedding ring with a real one. I want to love you and live with you for the rest of my life.” He smiled into her eyes. “I want to laugh with you and fight with you and play games with you and go on stupid picnics with you... Help me out here, Gypsy. Give me a yes.”

“Yes! Oh yes, Connor.” She clung to him, gazing up at him, laughing through tear-blurred eyes. “It’s like a wonderful dream coming true! I love you so much. I want to be your wife and raise our children—”

“Which means we’d better get married immediately since we already have our first child.” Connor grew serious. “Courtney, we’re going to go through the correct channels and make sure that Sarah’s adoption is completely legal and aboveboard.”

“We won’t have to give her up, will we, Connor?” Courtney asked anxiously. “Please, no, not even for a short while.”    *

“Relax, Gypsy, we don’t have to.” He smiled broadly. “My father already made all the necessary calls and proper arrangements. We have a first class,
ethical
attorney handling the case.”

“Which brings us to Wilson Nollier.” Courtney grimaced.

“I told my father everything about him, Courtney. He was appalled and called Nollier immediately. From now on Wilson is going to refocus his practice and not handle any more adoptions. Ever. My father has certain ‘watchdogs’ who will make sure he doesn’t.”

“So Nollier’s racket has ended, after all,” Courtney said thoughtfully. “He’ll be out of the
Insight
story and the NPB documentary, but he’s not working in the adoption field anymore, anyway. Does he hate us?”

“Not at all. Wilson isn’t stupid. He knows it’s better to be a friend of the Tremaines than an enemy.”

“The Tremaines,” she echoed softly. “You’ve finally made your peace with your father, your real father.” She held him tight. “I’m glad for you both, Connor.”

“I haven’t decided if I’ll add Tremaine to my name or stick with McKay. Do you have a preference?”

Courtney smiled. “Only that you make the decision yourself and are content with it.”

“I am going to accept the position my father offered me with Tremaine Incorporated. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll work somewhere else—as an attorney,” Connor added succinctly.

“Your days as a self-styled, free-wheeling fact-finder are over, hmm?”

“Definitely. I have a wife and a child to provide for.” He slipped his hand between them and gently stroked her belly. “Maybe another one as well. I didn’t use protection, Gypsy. The first few times I thought we didn’t have to.”

“And the other few times, when you knew?” she asked T provocatively, gazing at him with sexy, flirtatious eyes.

“I wanted to make you pregnant,” he admitted boldly. “And I’m going to, Gypsy.”

“Do I hear the sound of the metaphorical cage door permanently closing?” She laughed up at him.

“No, sweetie, you have it backward. The door has opened. You set me free from that miserable cage of loneliness and distrust.”

“I love you, Connor,” she said, gazing at him, her heart in her eyes.

He took her mouth in a passionate kiss, sealing their engagement, marriage and parenthood all at once. There would be no more partings, no more goodbyes. They were inseparable, together forever.

                        
  END