Looking at Jilly, he realized it was the most natural thing on earth for him to be married to her.
She was everything he’d ever wanted.
He got out of bed, as naked as she, and came to stand behind her.
“Shall we go to the roof again tonight?” he said in her ear.
She loved when he spoke in her ear. She said it tickled.
“I’d like to go now,” she said, looking back up at him. “In the sunlight.”
They had so much more of that these days.
“Why, Miss Jones!” It was still his favorite name for her. “You do mean clothed, don’t you?”
She shook her head, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “No one can see us if we stay far enough back from the edge.”
“Oho,” he replied with a grin. “I seem to remember long ago that you said anyone who wanted to look up there could see us from that perch where we had that first picnic.”
They’d since had many more.
She bit her lip. “I
“Oh, I’m sure of it,” said Stephen.
She pretended to slap him. “You were always so sure of yourself.”
“Still am,” he said, and laid a kiss on her neck.
She pulled back and held his hand. “Are you certain?”
He nodded.
“I’m glad because soon things will be different.” Her face had changed. Something about her eyes.
He didn’t know what to think.
But then he did.
Somehow he did.
Without saying another word, he picked her up in his arms.
They stared and stared at each other, little tears coming to both their eyes—and then Jilly laughed. “Put me down, you handsome sailor. I’m going to beat you to the roof.”
He swallowed and did as he was told. But he couldn’t move. Or think. Or breathe. She was the only one who could make him feel not sure of himself.
Well, she and the—
He couldn’t even say it yet, he was so stunned. He watched her climb the ladder, and then he saw her raven hair swing down.
“Hurry up, Captain,” she cried, “and don’t forget the bags of water!”
St. Martin’s Paperbacks Titles by KIERAN KRAMER
