An Act of Persuasion(104)
That did get her attention. As soon as she’d agreed to his proposal he hadn’t wasted any time. Two days later he arranged for a civil ceremony at their home. Having connections helped and Ben had connections everywhere. The mayor of Philadelphia had officiated, with Mark and Greg from the office in attendance. Sophie had also come and offered to hold the baby for the duration of the ceremony. Since it had lasted only ten minutes, the girl had been a little put out. The one thing that seemed to break her out of her perpetually bad mood was Kelly. Mark offered her services as a baby sitter any time Ben and Anna needed her. For his own selfish reasons, he admitted.
So while Ben and Anna had been married now for nearly seven weeks, sex hadn’t been an option. Anna was still healing from the C-section. And beyond that, not getting more than two hours of sleep at any given stretch during the night had put a damper on both their sex drives.
It was scary how easily they fell into the routine of living together. Anna remembered at one point thinking that she wasn’t cut out for a real relationship, but the reality of living in one hadn’t proven to be a challenge at all.
Ben was doing only half days at the office and spending the rest of his time with her and Kelly. They traded off feedings and did their best to let the other get as much prolonged sleep as they could. But their child’s lungs were overdeveloped and trying to sleep through her cries when she was in full throttle hungry mode was nearly impossible.
They laughed at their baby bungles. They were in awe of every tiny milestone. Today’s had been Kelly pushing her tongue out through her little mouth.
And they loved each other.
“Of course, I mean only if you’re up for it. Physically. But you said the doctor gave you the all-clear.”
“She did.”
“Then I think we need to make it happen. I refuse to be one of those hapless couples who never have sex again because the baby has them up all day and night.”
“But we are that hapless couple.”
“We can work in ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes?” she asked with a wry smile. “You think you can deliver in ten minutes?”
“As hard up as I am, I can deliver in five.”
“Deal.”
Ben leaned forward and cemented their bargain with a kiss that promised of things to come that night.
The door to the shop opened again, and this time a woman bundled in a cheap but serviceable winter coat walked in. She wore a hairnet over hair that Anna could see was a dark reddish color.
Instantly Anna stood, and Jennifer, because it had to be her, walked over to greet her.
Yes, Anna thought. I do recognize her a little.
“Anna?”
“Yes. Jennifer James?”
The woman placed her gloved hands over her mouth and sobbed. “Yes.”
“Jennifer, I would like you to meet my family. This is my husband, Ben, and my baby girl. I named her...Kelly. A family name.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Spirit of Christmas by Liz Talley!
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CHAPTER ONE
MARY PAIGE GENTRY stepped into an icy puddle of water as she exited the taxi with not only one high-heeled shoe, but both of them.
“Darn, darn, darn!” she said, trying to turn back to the driver without stepping into the cold water again. The cabbie raised bushy eyebrows and she tossed him a glare. “I assume you didn’t see that puddle when you pulled up?”
He shrugged.
“Yeah, right,” Mary Paige muttered, blowing out a breath that ruffled her bangs. “Just wait for me, okay?”
She didn’t hang around for his response because, after the day she’d had, something had to go in her favor. She slammed the door and leaped to the curb, managing to clear the puddle she’d previously waded through. Having the cab wait for her would cost a small fortune, but she was way late to her uncle’s infamous Christmas kickoff bash, thanks to her boss, Ivan the Terrible.