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My woman was a powerhouse.

With a giant brain for business, not only were her spas incredible, but they were about to start being franchised all around the world, something Roxie hadn’t been sure she wanted to do when she’d opened her first location. But after opening the sixth one in half as many states, she had decided to sign off on the partnership. Just about to have our fourth baby, she wanted to stay home for a little bit before she dove into another project. Roxie had a list of goals she wanted to tackle. And I was more than happy to stand by her side and help however the hell I could.

Our two older kids came over as I was about to put my baby girl down on the ground. Lexi, our oldest, looked just like her mom, but I’d been wrong. She had my eyes. Our son, Henry, and my little girl, Georgie, had their mom’s green eyes.

“Grandma wants to know if we can go bowling after this? And maybe spend the night?” Lexi asked. I looked over to see my mother-in-law and father-in-law walking towards us, both smiling happily.

“Of course. Sounds good.”

“Yay!” “Yes!” They high-fived one another and ran back to their grandparents.

“Do I have to go bowling?” Georgie asked. “Bowling alleys smell like feet.” When I looked at her, I had to try and bite away a smile. Fuck, genetics were wild! It was uncanny just how much she looked like me, but it was those eyes and her gestures that made her all Rox.

“Not if you don’t want to, but you know grandma and grandpa always have ice cream and movie nights,” I reminded her, selfishly on my end, since a night alone to pamper my wife sounded like the perfect evening in after all the commotion of what it took to open a new location. Not to mention, I was only three weeks out from starting spring training. I wanted all the alone time I could bank with my favorite brat.

“True,” she sighed, putting fingers at her chin like this was a huge decision to make. “Maybe I should go.” She wiggled her feet, and I set her down, only to watch her run to her grandparents. They waved, and my mother-in-law blew me a kiss before they ushered the three kids, who were now holding hands because they liked to keep one another safe in parking lots, towards their car.

I turned my attention to my wife, who suddenly had a hand on her back like it was giving her problems. That was my cue to step in and tell her she’d done more than enough and it was time to put her feet up.

The moment I reached her, I saw relief in her eyes.

“Hey, ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to steal my wife.”

“No worries.” The mayor smiled, and I took my wife’s hand in mine.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” she said with a pinched smile. “Mom and Dad took the kids?”

“Bowling and a slumber party.” She smiled softly, rubbing her belly.

“That’s good. They’ll like that,” she said quietly.

We didn’t talk that much as we reached our car. I opened the door for her, and once I had her seat belted in, I looked at her.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“I asked them to take the kids.” Her green eyes met mine. “I thought a night in with Daddy would be fun.” Just as I was about to agree, her green eyes turned glassy.

“Rox?” Worry climbed up my spine.

“I think it’s time.”

“For?” I lost her gaze as she looked down at her belly. “Shit! It’s time.” I jumped into action, but not before kissing my wife and telling her not to worry, that everything was going to be okay.

Twenty-four hours later, I still couldn’t take my eyes off my wife. Roxie was radiating beauty, glowing from the inside out as she slept.

“You’re staring… again,” she muttered as she sat up and opened her eyes slowly.

“I can’t help it. I think it’s what any man is supposed to do when they marry the prettiest girl in the world.” She might roll her eyes, but her cheeks brightened with color.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously in love. And you’re amazing,” I said, standing up from the bench I’d tried to sleep on.

“You should stop looking at me like that,” she muttered, her lips in a firm line even as her eyes sparkled like uncut gems.

“Like what?” I laughed.