I Saw Her Standing There by Marie Force Read Free Book Online Page B

Cameron held out her hand to him, he took it. This time was no exception.
    She laughed at his discomfort and tugged him down next to her in bed.
    “Sorry,” he muttered when he was curled up to her. “I let my imagination run wild.”
    “Did you stop for one second to wonder how I could be pregnant when I’m on birth control?”
    “Nothing is foolproof. Just ask Max about that.”
    “I’m not pregnant, but after seeing you so freaked out, I’m a little concerned about what would happen if I were.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “It doesn’t seem like you’d be happy about it.”
    “Are you serious? I’d love to see you pregnant with our baby. I can’t imagine anything that would please me more.”
    She responded to that with the soft smile he’d come to love so much, especially when it was directed at him. “Then why the freak-out?”
    He blew out a deep breath. “I guess it was more the idea that something like that could be going on with you, and I didn’t even notice. I was afraid I’d missed something important.”
    “You haven’t missed anything. I promise.”
    “But you are incredibly tired.”
    “I won’t deny that.”
    He cupped her breast and ran his thumb over the nipple that hardened under his caress. “And you’re more sensitive.”
    “Probably PMS.”
    “That I can’t do much about, but I’ve got an idea to deal with the exhaustion.”
    “What’s that?”
    He withdrew the key his father had given him from the front pocket of his shorts and held it up for her to see.
    “What’ve you got there?”
    “That, my love, is a key to the Abbott family lake house in Burlington.”
    “Ahh, I’ve heard about this lake house of which you speak. Something about a wedding happening there later this summer . . .”
    “I thought we might run away for a couple of days.”
    She stared at the key as she contemplated his offer. “Would I be allowed to bring my laptop on this adventure?”
    “I suppose I could permit that if you’re willing to put a time limit on how much you work. The goal is to rest and relax.”
    “Three hours a day.”
    “Two.”
    “Three.”
    “
Two
, and that’s my final offer.”
    “Two and a half, and that’s
my
final offer.”
    “Done. How soon can you be ready to go?”
    “Twenty minutes if you make the coffee.”
    One of the things he loved best about Cameron was that she was very much a girl, but she didn’t spend hours making herself look like one. She didn’t need to. “You’re on.” He started to get up, but she gave his hand a tug.
    “Thanks for being worried about me and for making a plan to get me away from work.”
    “It’s sort of a selfish plan, really.”
    “How so?”
    He kissed her, lingering over the sweet taste of her lips. “Since you’ve moved here, I’ve had to share you with my family. I’m ready to have you all to myself for a few days.”
    She ran her fingers through his hair. “Have I been neglecting you?”
    “Not at all. I love how much you love my family and vice versa. But I also love the idea of being completely alone at the lake for a few days.”
    “I love that idea, too.”
    “Then let’s get to it.”
    “What about the boys?” she asked of the dogs.
    “Coming with us, but don’t tell them until we’re ready to go, or they’ll go nuts.”
    “Yay, a few days alone with my three favorite guys. What could be better than that?”
    Drinking in the bright smile that made her eyes light up with joy, Will couldn’t think of a single thing better than that.

CHAPTER 6

    We are collecting sap. The lower tanks are filling up. Sunshine this morning stirred the trees; the temp finally pushed 40°F. The snow pack on the woodshed roof has begun to curl over the edge, notched at the edge like jigsaw puzzle pieces.
    —Colton Abbott’s sugaring journal, February 28
    C olton came awake slowly but was instantly aware of the soft female curled up to him. Her hand rested on his chest, directly above his heart, which