Whispering Rock (Virgin River #3)(59)

“I’m so bad at surprises,” she said.

“Yeah. I know. You should work on that. Where’s Doc?”

“He’s around here somewhere.”

“Well, find him and tell him you’re stepping out. I’ll get David. Let’s take a ride. I think you’re going to like this.”

“Jack,” she said, standing up, “I hate when you do this.”

“I haven’t given you one bad surprise yet,” he said, lifting his son out of the playpen. When she glared at him he said, “I haven’t! I make excellent babies and if you’re surprised, I think that’s your fault!”

“Yeah, you don’t have to rub my nose in it.”

It took Mel only a few minutes to get herself together, find Doc to excuse herself, grab her medical bag, which went with her everywhere, and shrug into her coat. Jack put David in his car seat—he was delighted to be going somewhere. Anywhere.

When they were turning off the road onto the drive that had become her drive, to her new home, she got a little keyed up. Happy, if you dared. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Wait till you see. You’re going to like this. You’re going to like me again.”

“I love you—I’m just not thrilled about how potent you seem to be.”

As Jack pulled up to the top of the hill, coming through the trees, she sat up straighter when she saw all the activity around the house. It was a full-fledged construction site, complete with trailers, vehicles, portable toilet, men at work. Right in front of the largest trailer, wearing a hard hat, she recognized Paul.

“What’s going on?” she asked again.

“We’re getting your house done, Melinda. Paul brought a crew down from Oregon and we’re finishing up. We’re going to have to go over to Eureka to pick out our fixtures, paint, carpet, tile, cabinets. It’s going to go fast now.”

“Jack,” she said in a breath, turning toward him. She put her hand over his.

“We’re going to get you in and settled before the baby. I’m going to do everything I can to make this easy for you.” He shrugged. “If I could carry the baby for you, I would.” He grinned. “Thank God I can’t. But after this little one is born, I’m going to do whatever I have to do to be sure you have time to enjoy your kids. We’ll try my method of birth control instead of yours next time. I miss your joy. Your smile.”

“I smile,” she protested.

“You’ve been pretty cranky.”

“Jack, I’m sorry, darling. It’s not you…. It’s me. I feel like an idiot. I feel like one of those teenage girls who come to me already five months pregnant without a clue because they didn’t want it to be so. It’s pretty embarrassing, given my profession. I really, really thought David was a miracle, and the only miracle I’d have. People like me shouldn’t have that kind of denial. I don’t know what possessed me….”

“Do you have any idea how much I love you? Mel, I’d never do anything to hurt you, make you uncomfortable.” He smiled. “I just can’t keep my hands off you.”

“I know, Jack,” she said. “The hell of it is, I can’t resist you.”

“So—the only problem we have is that you’re way more fertile than you thought. We can work with that. Kiss me.”

She leaned over to him and put a hand around the back of his neck, pulling him against her mouth, which she opened passionately, treating him to one of her lustiest kisses. He put his arms around her and moaned appreciatively. Kiss at an end, he said, “Now, that’s what I’m talking about. You just taste so good. Come on, let’s go see what Paul’s got going on.”

Mel got out while Jack pulled David out of his car seat. The second Paul saw them getting out of the truck, he came to them, opening his arms to Mel, hugging her close. “What do you think? Your man make you happy today?”

“I can’t believe it—this is wonderful of you!”

“Nah, I’m not wonderful—he’s paying through the nose. But it’s going to be beautiful, Mel. I guarantee it. You have work to do, too—you have to appliance and accessory shop right away. Some things take a long time to be delivered.”

“We’ll get right on it. Will you stay with us while you’re here?”

“I’ve had nothing but offers, and I’ve got my trailer. Which, believe it or not, I happen to like. I think when I’m not out here with the boys or back in Grants Pass, I’ll be spending some time at the general’s house.”

“Well, that’s perfect,” she said. “We’ll pick a night this week to have you, Vanessa and her family and all your guys for dinner at the bar. Right, Jack?”

“You got it. Anything you want.”

She grinned. “I like it when he says that. Did he happen to tell you the news?”

“What news?” Paul asked dumbly.

She gave him a playful whack on the arm. “Stop it—I know you know. It’s why you’re here.”

He put an arm around her shoulders. “If I know, it’s because you’re glowing. Again.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” she said. “I’m pea-green until about nine in the morning.”