Both men’s eyes softened with love and anticipation. Noah caressed her back, smoothing his hand up and down as she hugged them again.

“And I know Max and Callie are waiting a bit. They both agree that Callie is young and they want to see so much of the world, but I just know that when we have our children, they’ll want their own.”

Liam chuckled. “You’re a year younger than Callie, baby. Are you sure you want children so soon? We have all the time in the world.”

She smiled, so big that her cheeks ached from the strain. Joy was bursting from her soul. After so many weeks of worrying, of trying to forget her past, she was getting a glimpse of a future brighter than the sun.

“I’ve always wanted a big family. And I don’t want to be too old to enjoy them nor do I want to be old and gray when they finally leave the nest. But if you two want to wait, until we’re more settled that is . . .”

Noah put his finger over her lips. “We want children, Lauren. Just as soon as you’re ready for them. But maybe we should wait just a little while. At least until you’re more comfortable making love to us.”

Heat flushed her cheeks and she dropped her gaze guiltily.

“Don’t look like that, baby,” Liam said in an aching voice. “We aren’t pressuring you. We’d wait forever and that’s a fact. It was just a matter-of fact-statement, one that I agree with, that perhaps we need a little time together so you’re certain of our love and commitment, and you have time to deal with what you’ve been through before we take that leap.”

“I want to make love to you,” she whispered. “I ache at night. I want it more than anything.”

Liam brushed a kiss over her forehead. “And we want to make love to you. But only when you’re ready. Until then, we’re quite content to hold you. To love you. To spend each day with you just as we are.”

She smiled again, giddy over the talk of the future. “It’s happening. It’s really happening. Our life here. A home. Children. Family. Oh I don’t even know what to say. I feel like bursting!”

Noah chuckled. “One day at a time, honey. We’ll get there.”

“Feel like running into town with us?” Liam asked. “Seth wants me to go down and fill out an application so he can expedite my hiring. Thought we’d run you by Lily’s while we do our business in town.”

“Oh, I’d love that,” she said. “It’s been a few days since I saw her last, and I know she’s going stir-crazy. She texted me all day yesterday. Me and Callie.”

“Then what do you say we pack up and head into town. After we’re done, we’ll buy you dinner,” Noah offered.

She kissed them both, letting her lips linger over theirs, tasting them, inhaling their scents. “I can’t think of a better way to spend the evening.”

CHAPTER 3

LILY Colter was propped up in her bed, a mound of pillows supporting her back, when Lauren walked into her bedroom. Lily’s face immediately lit up, and she held out her arm for a hug when Lauren got closer.

“I’m so glad you came over!” Lily exclaimed. “I’m about to go out of my mind. Bed rest is for the birds.”

Lauren laughed and slid onto the edge of the bed to sit next to Lily.

“You’ve had your husbands to entertain you, surely.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “They’re driving me crazier than the bed rest is.”

But even as she said it, her eyes softened and glowed with so much love.

“They’re so determined that I not feel one ounce of worry,” Lily said softly. “They’ve been wonderful. Everyone has been wonderful. Holly and even the dads come over at least once a day to reassure me that I won’t lift a finger after the baby comes. I feel guilty, actually.”

Lauren lifted an eyebrow. “Guilty?”

Lily sighed. “They’re so worried that having the baby will bring back all the memories of when I had—and lost—Rose. And the thing is, I don’t have those worries anymore. They’ve proved to me time and time again that I can count on them. That I’ll never be alone. That I don’t have to go through it alone. I wish I could make them see that. That I trust them implicitly. That I don’t have any worries that what happened with Rose will happen this time.”

Lauren squeezed her hand. “They love you.”

“And I love them,” Lily said softly. “If I hadn’t acted like such a freak when I found out I was pregnant, they wouldn’t be so stressed over how I’m coping. But the truth is, I’m so excited to meet our child, that I’m wishing away my days, counting down to when he or she will be here. The very last thing on my mind is concern that things will be like they were before.”

“You weren’t a freak,” Lauren said fiercely. “You’re human. And it was a shock. When you had time to digest it all, you were wonderful. And Christmas. We’ll never have a more wonderful Christmas than we did last year.”

“Oh yes, we will,” Lily said, her smile blazing across her face. “This year we’ll have the first Colter grandchild, and we’ll all be together. You and Noah and Liam too! What could be more perfect?”

“Maybe when we have a child as well,” Lauren said with a grin.

Lily laughed. “Listen to us. Saying each year will be better than the last when the ones we’ve had have been pretty darn spectacular.”

“But they will be,” Lauren said. “Just think. Each year. More surprises. The family growing. Us all so happy.”

Lily squeezed her hand. “You’re right. We only have it getting better and better to look forward to. That’s pretty special.”

“So, how are you?” Lauren said, directing the conversation back to Lily.

Lily sighed. “Still having contractions off and on. I try not to say anything to the guys because they’ll just worry and try to convince me that we need to move to Denver until the baby is born.”

Lauren’s brow wrinkled, her troubled gaze finding Lily’s. “Maybe that’s for the best. We don’t exactly have the best medical care here.”