Chapter Thirty-One
A month later…
Presley handed the vanilla latte to her customer and then a bag with a lemon cookie in it. They were Gloria’s favorite of all the flavors that the coffee shop sold and they’d just come out of the oven.
Gloria gave Presley a delighted smile. “You shouldn’t spoil your customers this way. We’ll get used to it and demand it all the time. Please let me pay for it.”
“It’s my treat today,” Presley laughed, tucking a napkin into the small bag that held the cookie. “I love my customers, but this is really just a ruse to make sure you keep coming back. Now how’s Molly?”
Molly was Gloria’s three-year-old Yorkie. Spoiled rotten and absolutely adorable. She’d recently had her teeth cleaned and was being quite the diva about it.
“Doing better,” the woman sighed. “The doctor said that her gums shouldn’t hurt her so much but she refuses to eat the crunchy food. But last night I made her some chicken and she ate that right up.”
Fergus would have, too.
“I’m sure she’ll be right as rain in a few days. But keep that cookie for yourself.”
Gloria giggled and waved the small bag. “I certainly will. Thank you.”
Eliza was also behind the counter loading those freshly baked cookies into the display case. Her morning sickness was beginning to wane and now she had a little baby bump.
“You made Gloria’s day. These cookies are delicious.” Eliza bit into one and rolled her eyes. “I’m a baking genius.”
Presley wiped her hands and allowed herself to take a deep breath. The last of the morning rush was over and they’d have a little peace and quiet before the lunch crowd came in.
“You are a baking genius. You have also been here since four-thirty. Why don’t you sit down and rest a little?”
With a sigh of contentment, Eliza lowered herself into a chair, stretching her legs out in front of her. “I think I will. It just sucks that I can’t have a nice cappuccino to go with my break. I guess I’ll have to stick to hot chocolate.”
“You relax. I’m going to go in the storeroom and bring out some more paper cups. We’re getting low under the counter.”
Presley was ass-deep in cardboard boxes when Seth strolled in looking too damn sexy in his uniform while she was a mess. Good thing he was in love with her.
Luckily, he hadn’t been called upon in the last month to save her ass again. They were both hoping to make the time in the barn the last time. Living a boring life didn’t sound as horrible to Presley as it once had.
The whole Harbaugh case had been twisted and strange. They would probably never know why Danny hadn’t gone and retrieved the money first thing when he’d been released from prison. Perhaps he hadn’t been worried about the cartel and had known the money was safe for later. Safer than it would be if he had it.
Perhaps he’d been more focused on scaring Seth. After questioning the florist, they knew for sure Danny had sent the roses but they’d never know if he had been the anonymous shooter that day on the hill.
Seth’s theory was that Danny assumed the money had been found by his aunt and was long gone. Her finding the cash would explain how Eric had started his business. He doubted that Danny knew about his brother cleaning out his 401K. So there had been no point going to get it, which was why he was cooking meth for profit.
Brittany was facing a slew of charges and Presley couldn’t help feeling sorry for the woman. A little. The woman was clearly troubled if she’d been that desperate. Hopefully she would get her life back under control at some point in the future.
And Eric had settled into witness protection quite well from what Evan had told them, although at some point he’d have to testify, but that could be years away.
“Can I help, babe?”
Hands on her hips, she gave him a disgusted look as she fussed with her ponytail. Her hair was practically standing straight up. “You bet you can. Where have you been, anyway? You said you were going to stop by an hour ago.”
Seth waded into the boxes packed in the small space. “I had to go out on a call. Just what am I looking for, by the way?”
“Paper cups. All sizes. We need to restock under the counter. Are you hungry? Eliza made lemon cookies. They’re still warm.”
Seth hefted a large box onto his shoulder, making it look easy. “I could eat. Why don’t you make us a couple of coffees and take a little break with me before I have to get back to the station?”
Presley took a deep breath and gathered all of her courage. She’d been keeping this secret for almost four and half hours and that was way too long for her. This wasn’t the most opportune moment or place to break the news but she simply couldn’t keep it to herself any longer.
“I can make you some coffee but I won’t be drinking any for about the next eight months or so.”
Her handsome husband froze, his entire body motionless. His eyes widened slightly and then he seemed to start breathing again as he carefully placed the box back down on the floor.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
Seth knew exactly what she was talking about.
“Are you sure? Because you should know.” She approached him slowly. almost scared he’d bolt. She placed a hand on his chest and she could feel his heart racing under her palm. Exactly like her own. “I’m pregnant.”
He blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. Then he swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.
“Pregnant. Are you sure?”
She nodded, letting him absorb the news in his own time. “I took a test this morning before I dropped the kids at your parents’. Do you need to sit down? You’re not going to ask me how it happened, are you?”
He shook his head but he still looked dazed as if hit by a wooden beam, smack across the forehead.
“No, I mean…we both knew this was a possibility because we weren’t taking any precautions in Vegas.”
That made her giggle. “I guess what happens there doesn’t always stay there.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, she could see a smile beginning to bloom on his face. Her precious Seth was happy. She was, too. There were a million practical reasons not to have another baby. None of them mattered. She already loved this child.
“A baby.”
The way he said it made her heart flutter against her ribs. His tone was hushed, almost reverent.
“A baby,” she repeated. “I’m really happy. Are you okay with it?”
Grinning, he grabbed her, lifting her up and spinning her around until she yelped for mercy.
“Stop or you’ll have me puking up my breakfast. You know how sick I was with Ben and Lulu.”
As quickly as it had come his smile was gone, replaced with a sober expression. “Honey, maybe I should–”
Shaking her head, Presley pressed her hand over Seth’s mouth. They’d had this conversation several times since that day a gun had been pointed at her in the barn. “Don’t even finish that sentence. You are a wonderful lawman and this town needs you.”
He pried her fingers away from his lips. “You need me too, and so do the kids. Maybe I should quit–”
“Stop. Stop. Stop.” She pressed her hands to her ears. “I’m not listening, Seth Reilly.”
“Jesus, you are so frustrating, woman. I am trying to be noble here.”
“Well, quit it. It’s annoying.” She clasped her hands together in mock delight. “Oh goody, the mood swings have shown up. You are going to have so much fun, my darling husband.”
But Seth wasn’t laughing. His eyes were bright and his hands were shaking as he pulled her close. If he was going to get emotional, then dammit, so was she. Didn’t he remember that she could cry at the drop of a hat when she was pregnant? Here come the waterworks.
“I just don’t think you realize how much I love you, honey.” He lifted her feet off of the ground again. “Three. We’re going to have three children. Do you think it will be a boy or a girl? Do you have a preference? Shit, we need to get that addition built onto the house. And we gave away all the baby stuff, we’ll need to do some shopping. Cribs, and a new rocking chair–”
“Yes, we have lots to do,” Presley said, stopping his flow of words. He liked his control and pregnancy wasn’t exactly something that cooperated but she’d let him do what he needed to make him feel better. “But one thing at a time. What’s the first thing you should do, Seth Reilly, when your wife tells you she’s pregnant?”
Now she was a blubbering mess. It was all his fault.
She was such a sucker for that sexy smile that never ceased to brighten her day. She was going to love this man forever. She couldn’t wait to grow old by his side. She couldn’t wait to have another baby that looked just like him.
“Kiss you and tell you I love you. I guess I got a little carried away. I love you, honey.”
“I love you too. Now kiss me. You’re going to be a daddy again.”
I hope you enjoyed Seth and Presley’s second happily ever after! Thank you for reading Vengeful Justice!
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