a long day of work. His boots thumped against the grass. His black jeans hugged that delightful backside. And his floral shirt fluttered with each step.
He leaned in for a kiss, and caught sight of the box. “What’s this?”
“Good news.”
His eyes told me he knew, or hoped he knew, what I'd hidden inside. Cocking his head, he blinked, his gaze locked on mine. “Good news?”
“Open it,” I said with a nod.
Carefully, he lifted the lid, then stared in silence so long I started to wonder if I’d misjudged the situation. But then those blues lifted, shimmering with tears, wonder, gratitude. “A baby?”
I nodded.
“We’re going to have a baby?”
He dropped to his knees in front of me, cupping my cheeks, then pressing his forehead to my belly. I ran my hands through his hair. “We’re going to have a baby.”
With a choking whoop, Joe looked into the sky, shaking his head and blinking away tears. “We will make the most beautiful human being.” He pulled me into his arms and danced us around the backyard. “We will fill him with love and laughter. Or her! It could be a her. A little girl with your hair… Oh, Penny. We will fill this little person with the best memories.”
He rambled on and on, promising me and our child the world. Swearing that he’d right the wrongs of his past with our future.
And if I knew anything about my husband, he’d give it all to us, bit by bit, piece by piece. Constructing the perfect life with the precision and care he gave all his projects.
I’d seen many different versions of Joe Channing since we’d met.
The sexy and villainous Captain Asshole who strutted out from Nan’s house.
The cocky handyman who never let a chance to bump heads with me pass him by.
The generous friend who went out of his way to make people’s days better.
The brooding man in black nursing an injured heart.
I’d seen him happy, sad, mad, hopeful…but until that moment, I’d never seen him look so inspired. So free. So certain that the struggles of his past were finally behind him, once and for all.
Joe dropped to his knees in front of me again, his lips just inches from my stomach. “I will be the best father,” he promised my belly button. “I will make sure you never wonder if you’re loved or if you’re good enough because you are. You will be. I’ll challenge you to grow into your best self and spoil you with a better birthday party every single goddamn year.”
His voice caught and he leaned his head against my stomach, swallowing hard. I ran my fingers into his hair, fighting tears of my own.
When Joe finally lifted his gaze to me, happiness swam in those watery blues. “And you,” he said, climbing to his feet and sliding his hands around my waist. “I will spoil you, too. I’ll make you feel like you’ve earned your nickname, Your Highness. Every single day.” Joe leaned in to whisper, “With my dick. A lot of the spoiling will happen using my dick. Just in case I wasn’t clear.” He stepped back to eye me hungrily.
“Is that a promise?”
“You better believe it. In fact, why wait?”
As I opened my mouth to respond, Joe swept me into his arms and carried me to our bedroom. With the reverence of a man holding something precious, he stretched me out on our mattress, then kissed my ankle.
“Every day, Penny,” he said, then kissed my calf, my knee, my thigh. “I’ll make you feel like a queen every fucking day.”
With a smile on his face, he relieved me of my clothing and did just that.
Thank you for reading Joe & Kennedy’s story! I really freaking loved this couple and I hope you did, too. If you’re not done living in their world, meet Lucas and the rest of the Huttons (and get another taste of Joe!) in the Hutton Family series.
I’ve left a taste of Lucas for you. Just turn the page! (Or skip the sneak peek and grab it now.)
Beyond Words Sneak Peek
Chapter One
Cat
Dearest Journal,
Day 431… and the search continues.
WHERE IN THE WORLD HAS MY ORGASM GONE?? You know better than anyone I’ve looked everywhere. Under the bed. In the fridge. I even cleaned out the trunk of my car (just in case). Nash sure seems to find his without any problem. So, why in the name of all that’s holy has mine gone M.I.A.?