Ace, Whiskey and a Hot Tub Read online

  “What do you think, Ace?” she asked, pretending to model her outfit for the dog.

  He tilted his head, and she took that as his canine approval.

  “That’s what I thought,” she said, then snagged her phone to snap a quick picture of Ace to send to her sister McKenna, who adored dog photos. Julia would surely get a dog AND toddler photo in return. McKenna’s son Mason had just turned one and loved playing with the pooch, so Julia had a phone full of those snapshots.

  Grabbing a lipstick from her purse, she narrowed her eyes at her reflection as she uncapped the tube and concentrated on the task at hand. She began writing, hoping the words came out right as she wrote on her skin. When she finished, she tucked the lipstick back in its home, tied the robe, and headed downstairs, with Ace by her side. Clay would be home any minute from work, and she had off tonight from Speakeasy. They didn’t have any plans, but she suspected they’d be able to keep busy.

  She was practically bouncing with excitement as she checked her phone again. She hoped the trains weren’t running late, and that he’d be walking through the door any minute. She didn’t have a note from him so that must mean the subways were working smoothly. Soon, she heard the sound of a key being turned in the lock, and she swore there were sparkles and glitter running through her bloodstream. He’d always done such a great job surprising her with gifts over the few years they’d been together. She was about to turn the tables on him. She’d had a feeling for the last few days, and had kept it to herself until she knew for sure.

  The second he opened the door, and stepped inside, looking so damn handsome in his black suit with his lucky purple tie and his seven o’clock shadow, she untied her robe and spread the fabric open. Her smile went ear to ear, and she beamed, watching him as he read the words she’d written on her belly in lipstick.

  “It worked?” he said, repeating the words, careful at first as if he wasn’t quite sure.

  She nodded and grinned. “It worked.”

  It might have been one of the many times in Steamboat Springs, but that was unlikely even though she’d gone cold turkey on the pill. It might have been the time in the elevator of their building, or the late night they’d spent on their balcony, or one of their early morning rounds in the shower. It could have been the time in the town car after they’d seen a show, or it might have been just a random session on the couch, on the counter, or, gasp, even simply in bed.

  It didn’t matter. All that matter was what happened next. He kneeled and layered kisses all over her belly. She dropped her hands to his hair, sliding her fingers through the strands.

  “I’m so happy,” he whispered reverently against her belly.

  “Me too.”

  The dog thumped his tail on the floor. He was happy too.

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