She sucked in a breath as I turned to her and pulled her to me. “You, Mrs. Wallace, will have to be patient.”
I dipped her as I pressed my lips to hers. When I pulled her up, she appeared to be dizzy.
“Are you okay?”
With a smile like I’d never seen before, she wrapped her arms around my neck and looked into my eyes. There will never come a time when I wouldn’t get lost in those big, beautiful emerald eyes. “I’ve never been better. Say it again.”
Tilting my head, I wrinkled my forehead and asked, “Say what again?”
“I want to hear you call me Mrs. Wallace again.”
My heart skipped a beat as I cupped her face with my hands. Her lips parted as I gently kissed her forehead. “I love you, Mrs. Wallace.”
Moving my lips to her nose, I whispered again, “I love you, Mrs. Wallace.”
Gently kissing her lips, I softly spoke against them. “I love you, Mrs. Wallace.”
Her eyes were closed as I stared at her beautiful face. I knew what I was about to say could go either way, but it was on my heart and I wanted to say it now. After all, Paislie always said honesty was an enduring trait.
My thumb moved across her lips as she opened her eyes and caught my stare.
“Mrs. Wallace, will you do me the honor of carrying my child?”
Her breath stalled as her eyes lit up like I’d never seen before.
“W-what are you saying?”
My hand moved to her cheek as she leaned into it. “I want to try for a baby whenever you’re ready.”
A single tear rolled down her cheek as I kissed it away.
“Is that a yes?” I asked with a grin. My heart was racing as I waited for her response.
“Yes! And if trying for a baby is like anything else you set out to do, I’m betting on a January baby.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Now that right there was the biggest adrenaline rush I’ve ever experienced.”
Pulling me out onto the dance floor, Paislie wiggled her eyebrows and said, “Wait until tonight, Mr. Wallace.”
With a quick spin and a dip in my arms, I looked into her eyes and replied, “Who says we have to wait until tonight?”
Seven years later
“EMME, YOU BE CAREFUL UP on that horse!” I called out.
“I’m a racehorse driver, Momma!” Emmerson squealed.
My heart dropped as I watched my six-year-old daughter fearlessly trot around on the new paint horse Malcolm bought her.
“Did you hear that? Racehorse driver?” My hands went to my hips as I glared at Malcolm.
“I have no idea where she would have gotten that from, baby.” He held up his hand and gave
me an innocent smile. “I swear.” My heart felt as if it would burst as I stared at my handsome husband. He and Emmerson were two peas in a pod and she was for sure a daddy’s girl.
“Uh-huh,” I replied with a roll of my eyes. “Malcolm, my nerves can’t take her trotting, please tell her to walk.”
Malcolm turned and called out, “Emme, let’s walk Rascal before we take him out full throttle.”