Montana SEAL (Brotherhood Protectors #1)(41)

“No one will be right for Allie. She’s your baby sister.” Sadie chuckled. “Her engagement right after ours was such a surprise. I didn’t know she was that serious about her boyfriend.”

“Seems he wants to move their relationship along. And he’s rich enough to take it to the next level quickly. It’s all a little too rushed for my liking.”

Hank’s beautiful wife raised her brows. “They’ve been engaged for six months. That’s not exactly rushing it. We were engaged a grand total of seven days.”

“Darlin’ I didn’t dare wait long.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You might have changed your mind. That trip to Reno the next week was good timing.”

“And signing the new film contract came at the right time, too.” Sadie waved her arm wide. “It gave the contractors enough time to build our beautiful new home.”

“You wrapped up that movie like a pro.” Hank had been on the set with her every day. He was so proud of her, he couldn’t believe she’d married him. “I like that you won’t be gone again until some time next year, and that I’ll be with you wherever you go.”

“I need my handsome protector.” She leaned up on her toes to kiss him.

Hank claimed her mouth, his hands slipping from her waist to her hips, and finally curling around her bottom. He lifted her, wrapping her legs around him. When he raised his head, he laughed, his heart so full it strained against his ribs. “This room only needs one more thing.”

Sadie cupped his cheeks and kissed his eyelids, nose and mouth. “What’s that?”

“Half a dozen children,” he said softly, and then hurried on, “But only when you’re ready. I want you to follow your dreams as long as they make you happy.”

“Would eight months from now be soon enough to make a start on that six-pack of kids?” Sadie stared down at him.

“I can wait eight months to start trying.” The thought of Sadie carrying his child made Hank send a silent thank you to the heavens. He’d married a woman who wanted children, despite her celebrity.

She shook her head. “Not to start trying in eight months, but to welcome the newest Patterson into our home.”

Hank couldn’t wrap his mind around what she was saying. It took longer than eight months to have a child. “What do you mean?”

She chuckled, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m pregnant.”

His heart skipped several beats and then pounded against his ribs. “Are you sure?”

Sadie nodded. “I could show you the early pregnancy test stick, if you like.”

“Am I interrupting something?” A deep voice boomed from the front hallway, and Swede stepped into the living room. “I knocked, but no one answered. Now I know why.”

Hank let Sadie’s feet drop to the ground, but he rested his hands around her waist and gazed into her eyes, noticing how rosy her cheeks had become. “I’m going to be a father?”

Again, Sadie nodded. “Yes.”

“Well, you old son of a bitch. You’ve been busy.” Swede strode across the floor and enveloped Hank in a bear hug. The big guy nearly squeezed the air from his lungs before he set Hank away. Then he held out his hand to Sadie. “Congratulations, ma’am.”

“Oh, Swede.” Sadie took his hand and pulled him into a hug. “Don’t be a stranger. I practically know you, from all of Hank’s stories about you and the rest of his team.”

Swede hugged her gently. “I never pictured Montana settling down and having kids.” He shook his head, a grin filling his face. “That’s just f*cking amazing.”

Sadie laughed. “What’s amazing about it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe that one of us dared to actually get a life. Complete with wife and children.”

“Honey,” Sadie touched Swede’s arm. “It’s never too late to get a life.”

Swede held up his hands. “I’m not in the market for wife, like Montana.”

“Trust me,” Hank said. “Neither was I. But once you meet the one, you’ll know.”

“My luck, she’d slap me in the face, or set my shoes on fire.” Swede held up his hands. “I’ll be happy to have a job and blend into life in Montana. Don’t be in a hurry to play matchmaker.”

Hank clapped a hand on Swede’s back. “Then you’re the right man for our first assignment.”

Swede rubbed his hands together. “I’m ready. What is it?”

A knock on the front door heralded a new arrival.

“Not what, but who.” Hank turned toward the entrance hall. “Come in.”

“Hank, I only came over to tell you I’m not convinced I need a bodyguard.” Hank’s sister entered the living room and stopped, staring out at the Crazy Mountains. “Wow. I haven’t been here since you two moved in. This place is beautiful.”

“We’re glad you think so.” Sadie hugged her sister-in-law. “Now tell me what’s going on that makes you think you don’t need a bodyguard.”

Allie crossed her arms. “Nothing much.”

“A broken brake line and a near miss with a stranger in Bozeman isn’t nothing,” Hank said.