Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

At the moment, her father and all of her brothers were overcrowding the manor. Benjamin and Elspeth, along with their darling daughter Rose, had arrived a few hours previously. Major Forster and Alice were cooing over their grandchild at this very moment. Oliver York was also in residence, along with a few of his friends he'd brought home with him from Harrow. While Simon and Lily were playing host to everyone, Will had quietly pulled Prisca away from the din.

"What is it?" she whispered, as he shut the door behind him.

With a mischievous smile, Will rummaged around in his pocket and then extracted a tiny bit of mistletoe. He'd secreted her away for a kiss? She couldn't help but laugh. "William Westfield, you don't need mistletoe to kiss me…"

He held it over her protruding belly and pressed his lips to where their child grew inside her. In response, their baby kicked its foot wildly. Will traced his hands across her stomach and whispered, "Come on, little fellow, don't make us wait too much longer to introduce yourself."

Prisca rolled her eyes and batted his hands away. "Somewhere along the way, I do believe you've lost your mind."

Will winked at her. "It's just a bit of encouragement. Can you imagine the look on Simon's face when you deliver before Lily?"

Prisca laughed. "I had no idea it was a competition."

"Of course, it's a competition. Did you see all the attention little Rose has received?" Will pocketed his mistletoe. "It's about time this little one made his appearance."

"On that, you and Papa agree. He is quite ready to be a grandfather."

Will chuckled. "He pulled me aside tonight and told me he was glad to know I wasn't the rogue he'd always thought me." He slid his arms around her back and pulled her into his embrace.

Prisca sighed. She'd never tire of his love and attention. "Oh, but you were that rogue for

many

years."

"Hmm," he agreed, brushing his lips across her brow. "How lucky I am that you forgave all of my past misdeeds and married me anyway."

"Not that you gave me any choice."

Will looked down at her, his light-blue eyes intense with his gaze. "Any regrets?"

She shook her head. "Never." Their child kicked her again, and she laughed. "And the baby is in complete agreement."

About the Author

Lydia Dareis an active member of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, where she sits on the board of directors. She lives in a house filled with boys and an animal or two (or ten) near Raleigh, North Carolina.