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Instead, I say, “You should have talked to me.”

“You would have said no. It’s better to ask for forgiveness.”

“I would not have said no.” I roll my eyes again, but I probably would have said no.

The truth is, lately, I've been the one with baby fever. I just haven't told him.

I know as soon as I tell him, he'll set to making the baby right then and there. And I'm not sure yet. It's a big decision. It's a big life change. I just started working full time, and I love what I do.

I spent years juggling family, school, and work. Now, I'm not sure if I'm ready to juggle a baby, even though I want one.

I also don't want Owen to get any older. It's already going to be a big age gap, and I worry that he won't have a relationship with his sibling. Or not the kind of relationship I hope for them to have.

I sigh as Tate sets the puppy on the floor, and it waddles its cute furry behind to me.

Tate groans, "Oh, don't you do it, Duke! Don't go falling in love with her. She already has one fur baby, and he doesn't share.”

I give my husband a side-eye as I crouch down to pet the puppy.

“Duke?”

“You like it?” Tate's grin spreads. “It's very masculine. He'll be a big protector; I can see it already.”

“Tate, this is a Shih Tzu.”

Tate lowers to give the dog a scratch as he coos, “Don’t let her demoralize you like that. I know you’re fierce beneath the fluff. Yes, I do.”

“Lord save me,” I huff, but secretly, I fall even deeper in love with this man.

I close the door behind Mom and Dad, falling into Tate’s arms. Tate’s present out-shone even the dino Hot-Wheels track Elise and Herman splurged on. Owen is firmly, completely in love with Duke.

“Where’s Owen?”

“Upstairs.” Tate’s arms close around me. “He’s showing Duke his new bed.”

I laugh into Tate’s chest. “Of course, he is.”

“The boy can’t risk Duke catching sight of your bed, now, can he?”

“But of course not.”

Tate’s hands drift beneath the material of my shirt as I sink deeper into him. His fingers begin drifting slowly over my back, drawing gooseflesh to the surface of my skin.

“Your cat wouldn’t let the poor thing cross the threshold into our room, anyway. It’s a wonder he lets me in there with you.”

“You’re so dramatic,” I accuse lightly, but I love the way this man makes me smile.

I love this man.

I love all the beautiful parts of my life with this man.

“But you like my dramatics.” I lift my head in time to see him waggling his brows down at me. “Keeps you on your pretty little toes. Can’t risk you getting bored now, can I?”

“Now I know why you came home with a puppy. Here I thought I’d settled into a blissfully ordinary life.”

Tate’s eyes pin mine as he shakes his head slowly, pulling me into the deep of sea-glass green where I struggle to breathe. “There’s nothing ordinary about loving you, Faye Wilder.”

Words get stuck around the emotion lodged in my throat, but I swallow it when Owen yells from upstairs, “Mom! Dad! Duke is on my bed!”