Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

“Daddy’s home!” Ella shrieked, tearing open the front door and streaking out of the house. Nova didn’t try to stop her because she was running too, though she stopped to swoop a giggling William up in her arms.

“Daddy daddy daddy,” he was yelling, all but deafening her.

Hatch jumped out of the truck and met them halfway, wrapping them all in his arms and lifting Ella so she could scatter wet kisses on his face. William launched himself out of Nova’s arms and Hatch caught him, then somehow, between the onslaught of the two kids, he managed to give Nova a lingering kiss that promised more fun time later.

“It’s Christmas!” Ella shouted.

“Not yet. Two more days,” Nova said.

“You said Daddy would be home for Christmas! He’s home!”

“She’s got you there,” he murmured.

“I didn’t say it would be Christmas when he got home, I said he would be here at home when Christmas came. Nice try, young lady, but you still don’t get to open your gifts for another two days.”

“Just one,” she wheedled, then looked at Hatch. “Please, Daddy.”

“No, no cheating at Christmas. Santa would know and he’d feel bad.”

She heaved a dramatic sigh. “Oh, okay.”

He set her down and they both watched their daughter run back into the house. She was very like Nova, from her slender, almost delicate build to the sleek, light brown hair and blue eyes. William, on the other hand, was sturdy and disturbingly strong for his age. Hatch carried him in one arm and held her hand as they walked into their house, the one she had so lovingly decorated for Christmas knowing he’d be here to enjoy it. Her family would arrive tomorrow for Christmas Eve dinner, and Granita — his mother’s meshing of “grandma” with Nita, her name — would be in and out for the whole time, since she lived nearby.

As they entered the house he took a deep breath, taking in the scent of evergreen and spices. The Christmas tree twinkled, the area around it overflowing with wrapped gifts, battery-operated candles glowing everywhere. Nova had thought it prudent to do away with real candles when Ella was born. He looked around, took another deep breath, then hugged her close with their son wriggling in protest between them.

“I’ll quit,” he said, his voice raw. “I’m missing too much of this time with you, with them. I want to be in bed with you every night, especially if we’re going to have another baby. This is what’s important to?—”

Nova laid her fingers over his mouth, her expression glowing as she looked up at him. “You don’t have to stop doing what you’re so good at, what you feel the need to do. I don’t have to give up what I love doing, either. You need to trust my ingenuity more. I spent that trip looking at real estate, schools, WiFi availability, and investigating how reasonably I’ll be able to build a profitable internet presence. The kids are young and will transplant easily. I have good employees and I’m already training one to be manager. We’ll handle everything online. Oh, and Granita wants to move to Nevada with us.”

He was silent, his expression stunned. “Holy shit,” he finally said.

“Howy shit,” William repeated.

‘Thank you,” she said dryly to her husband.

“A man has to learn how to swear, right?” Hatch asked William as he tickled the fat little tummy before setting the toddler on his feet.

“Wight!”

When William had run off, Hatch pulled her close and rested his cheek on top of hers. “When you showed up in Nevada, I was afraid you’d come to tell me you wanted a divorce.”

“When I went to Nevada, I was afraid you didn’t want me anymore.”

“You were wrong.”

“So were you. I know I can be stodgy and get stuck in my routine, but I took a risk because I didn’t want us to grow apart.” That was the worry that had gnawed at her, the sense of being too separated from her husband.

“After the shock wore off, after I caught on to your stranger-danger game, I was so turned on I thought I’d explode.”

“Maybe I’ll take risks more often,” she purred as she went on tiptoe to kiss him. When her feet hit the floor again she turned to look at the gorgeous dragon ornament sitting in pride of place in the middle of her holiday-decorated table. She could almost swear the ornament winked.