Mia grinned. “You know I agree. What does Miss Clem think about a new baby?”
“I want a baby brother,” Clem said absently, her attention still fixed on the game. “Then a baby sister, but a baby brother first so Dad won’t be outnumbered three to one.”
Tulsi hugged Clem tight, her heart swelling the way it did every time she heard her daughter talk about her dad. It had only taken a few weeks for Mr. Pike to become Daddy. All Tulsi’s worries about Clementine’s reaction to learning the truth had been for nothing. Yes, Clem was smarter than the average six-year-old, but she was also a kid whose dreams were coming true. She didn’t care why it had taken so long for Tulsi and Pike to find each other again or hold a grudge over the years she’d lost. She embraced the love in the here and now and had been thrilled to get to be flower girl all over again at Pike and Tulsi’s simple ceremony at the Hearst ranch in September. Clem had had her daddy up on a pedestal ever since, even before she’d watched him pitch in the World Series.
But that was okay. Her daddy was pretty crazy about her, too. He swore it was taking the down time with Clem after her surgery that had healed his knee. That and Tulsi’s kisses, but Clementine preferred to take all the credit.
“Yes!” Clem leapt off Tulsi’s lap and thrust a fist into the air as Pike scored the winning point. “Take that, Sawyer!”
“All right, Miss Thing,” Sawyer said, motioning Clem over. “I want to play you next. Let’s see if you play ball as well as you talk smack.”
Clementine bounded across the room giggling, high-fiving Pike on her way to the table.
“Hey, sexy mama,” Pike said, still breathing heavy from the game as he stopped in front of the couch and reached a hand down to Tulsi. “Want to go check the turkey with me?”
“I would love to.” Tulsi grinned as she threaded her fingers through his and let him pull her to her feet. Even now, after four months of nearly constant togetherness as they traveled together for the post season and settled in at the ranch soon after, simply holding Pike’s hand was enough to send a shiver across her skin.
“You’re not fooling anyone, you two,” Mia said dryly. “We all know the grandmas are ruling the kitchen right now. You’re sneaking off for alone time.”
Pike grinned shamelessly. “Got to take it when I can get it with all you people in my house.”
“Try the tree house,” Mia called after them. “That’s where Sawyer and I were earlier.”
Tulsi shot Mia an incredulous look over her shoulder.
“What?” Mia blushed. “There were no kids in there at the time.”
Tulsi wagged a naughty girl finger at Mia, but a few minutes later, she was locked in the basement laundry room with her husband, getting up to a few naughty things of her own.
“You are irresistible in this dress,” Pike said, lifting her up on top of the washing machine as they kissed, making Tulsi’s breath catch as his hands gripped the back of her thighs and spread them wide. “All I’ve been able to think about all afternoon is getting you alone.”
“My mother told me a short dress was impractical for winter in Montana,” Tulsi said, wrapping her legs around Pike’s waist and squeezing tight. “I told her I preferred driving my husband crazy to being practical.”
Pike laughed against her lips. “You didn’t.”
“Of course I didn’t,” Tulsi said, nipping at his bottom lip. “I’m the good sister. I have to keep my angel halo in place since Reece backed out of Thanksgiving and made everyone sad.”
“I’m not sad.” Pike lifted her with one strong arm around her waist as he stripped her panties down her legs with the other. “I’m so happy, my dad threatened to slap the smile off my face twice yesterday.”
“He’s such a charmer.” Tulsi fisted her hands in Pike’s heavy blue sweater, drawing it up over his head before going for his undershirt. “I’m going to slap him if he keeps being cranky.”
Pike tossed his undershirt to the floor, baring his chest, making it impossible for Tulsi to resist trailing her fingers over his soft skin with the delicious muscles bunching beneath. Her husband truly was beautiful, inside and out.
“You don’t have to defend me, baby,” he said. “I don’t give a shit how cranky he is. Nothing can bring me down.”
“I still say we need to arrange for a near death experience.” Tulsi continued her exploration of Pike’s chest as he worked the buckle on his jeans. “It did wonders for Daddy. Look how sweet he is now.”
“Dale’s great, but I don’t want to talk about your daddy right now, babe.”
“Oh no?” Tulsi batted her eyes innocently as she spread her legs and lifted the hem of her dress. “Then what do you want to talk about?”
“This naughty angel I’m married to.” Pike shoved his jeans and boxers down around his hips, baring his thick, swollen length before he reached for her. “And how I can’t wait to make love to her all night long as soon as our parents are out of the house.”
“That sounds per—” Tulsi’s words became a soft cry as Pike pulled her to the edge of the washing machine and drove inside her with one long, possessive stroke.
They came together with the same urgency they had that first time in Lonesome Point, Pike riding her hard and Tulsi welcoming every rough thrust with moans she tried her best to keep quiet, even though the walls were thick and the laundry far from the main rooms of the house. But by the time he brought her over, his teeth dragging lightly across her neck as his fingers dug into her hips, Tulsi wasn’t thinking about being quiet. She was pure feeling, so full of joy and love and passion she threw back her head and called Pike’s name as she came.
Her entire body caught fire and burned, but Pike was right there with her, making her feel treasured and beautiful and loved for exactly who she was, angel wings, hidden devil horns, and everything in between.