Of course I married him. How could I not when I loved him too? However, I held out until he took me to a real restaurant, on a fancy date, and popped the question with a ridiculously ostentatious diamond ring before I gave him a proper acceptance. I had to do something to keep him in line, or he’d walk all over me.

He was impatient and used to getting what he wanted, so he’d been annoyed when I made him wait six whole months for the ceremony. It took that long to plan, plus I’d always wanted to be a winter bride.

We married the week before Christmas and spent the holidays and our honeymoon in Aspen. My sisters were along, but had their own rooms. We locked ourselves in the honeymoon suite for a good part of that vacation, only emerging on Christmas and once more on New Year’s Eve.

After that, we came back to New York City and all settled into our new life together. I was ridiculously happy then, and I was insanely happier now, three years later. It was New Year’s Eve, and we were getting close to midnight. Everyone around me had paired up with the person they wanted to share a midnight kiss with, and of course, I was cuddled in my husband’s arms.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Kelly wave at me. Foster had his arm around her, and his other hand over her burgeoning stomach. Her daughter was at home, but simply because it was an adult party, not because she was ill any longer. Her treatment had worked, but I wasn’t entirely clear on all the details. I didn’t know if she’d paid for it out of the money she earned on the island, or if Foster had helped her when he tracked her down a few months later after deciding he couldn’t live without her.

I turned my attention from them back to Spencer as he tried to steal a kiss. I averted my face, offering my cheek instead. “You’re a little too early there, Spencer.”

“I’m not too early. I figured I’d just get a head start on the kiss and keep it up until the New Year.”

Before I could answer, I caught sight of Sasha, who I hadn’t seen much of that night. I frowned when I recognized the man with whom she stood—far too close and clearly preparing to share a New Year’s kiss. “Is that Grigori?”

Spencer looked over, stiffening before cursing softly. “It certainly looks like it.”

I frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“You want me to go over there and send him on his way?”

I hesitated for a moment, imagining our party ruined by a confrontation between my husband and the former mobster. If he had gone legit like he claimed, I guess it wasn’t that big of a deal. “No, Sasha is eighteen, and I have to trust her judgment.”

“You’ve done a fabulous job raising her, and I’m sure she’ll do the right thing.” He punctuated the complement with a kiss on my nose that I allowed. When he tried to lower his mouth to my lips though, I managed to slip away again.

“Not until midnight. Quit rushing me.” I winked as I said the words. Our relationship had been all about rushing. We rushed into everything, though a respectable six-month wait between our engagement and marriage had been an exception. So was the decision to hold off starting a family until I graduated from college and got a job. I’d just graduated two weeks before, but hadn’t yet found a job. Now, it would probably be a while before I was ready to look for one.

“I didn’t see Nash and Dai,” said Kelly as she and Foster moved closer to us.

I shrugged. “I’m not surprised. They’re still in the honeymoon phase. We probably won’t see them for at least a few months.” I laughed, though I remembered exactly how it was to be unable to tear myself away from my husband long enough to leave the house for more than a few minutes at a time.

There were days when it was still like that, so I could understand why Dai and Nash had chosen to skip the New Year’s party in favor of a private celebration at home. They’d only been married a few weeks, having eloped in Vegas after Nash found her again.

I didn’t know the whole story of that either, but knew I’d find out someday, when she was ready to share it. It must have taken quite a bit of convincing, but Nash had worn her down, and they appeared to be as happy with each other as I was with Spencer, and Kelly was with Foster.

Suddenly, the room started counting down from ten. I joined in, but paused when we they got to three. Leaning closer, I pressed my lips near Spencer’s ear and whispered, “Happy New Year, Daddy.”

He stiffened, and his eyes were big when I pulled away far enough to see them. He looked stunned. “Daddy?”

I nodded.

He still seemed disbelieving as the people around us reached one on the countdown. I pressed my lips to his for a deep kiss, and of course he responded even in his surprised state. It wasn’t until we broke apart a moment later that he spoke again.

“Are we having a baby? That’s way you called me Daddy?”

I laughed, delighted by the question. “It sure isn’t because I’m indulging in some kinky new game with you.” There were plenty of those, but I’d never felt the urge to call him Daddy and never would.

His arms tightened around me, and he kissed me again. “We’re having a baby.” He whispered the words to me before turning to the people attending our gathering. “We’re having a baby,” he shouted, his joy obvious. He put his hand on my still-flat stomach, cupping gently. I leaned against him and soaked in the moment of happiness that was one of millions I had already experienced with him, and just another of the many more ahead of us.