***

IF BEAMING SMILES, frequent Post-It notes, and a never-ending supply of destination pamphlets didn’t clue Danny in to how happy his wife was, her expressions of joy would have done it. He thought he’d seen her happy, blissful, even thrilled in their years together, but this school-girl side of Julie was brand-new, and he loved it.

“Eeep, I can’t believe we’re finally going,” Julie squealed, her round eyes glued to the window facing the plane at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

“The world is ours, honey,” Danny promised as he stood behind her with his arms wrapped around her shoulders. He planted a kiss on the top of her silken strawberry-blonde hair.

And for the four weeks that followed, it was.

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace was something he’d seen on television, but that wasn’t nearly as cool as seeing it in person. Snuggling in the high-speed train to Paris felt luxurious—even a bit naughty when he draped a blanket over them and made Julie come quietly so as not to disturb the other travelers.

Once in Paris, they did all of the “touristy” things—the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe. But what the other tourists didn’t get that he did was the look of fascination and awe that blanketed his wife’s face and softened her eyes.

He fell in love with Julie day after day on that trip, without exception.

***

TRAVELING TO SPAIN was a dream. What was she thinking—the whole damn trip was a dream. But there was something special about Barcelona. The city still sparkled with its post-Olympic shine.

As they traveled from place to beautiful place, taking in sights and turning them into memories, something clicked in Julie’s mind. The old saying “everything happens for a reason” played on a loop in her mind as the trip wound down, and she realized that while her original plans with her parents would have been an unbelievable dream come true, she couldn’t imagine sharing her first world traveling experience with anyone but Danny.

“How’s this for the grand finale?” Danny whistled, taking in the magnificent sight around them.

Julie had planned the whole trip, but Danny had requested she let the last four nights be his special surprise. She couldn’t turn down the determined look in his eyes, so she, with a bit of hesitation, handed her husband the reins and asked no questions. Looking around the island paradise, she realized that had been a wise decision.

Bora Bora was heaven on earth. The small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti was surrounded by turquoise water and coral reefs. Never had she seen something more exquisite, and never could her dreams have imagined such beauty.

“Danny, oh my God, this…this is beyond words.”

“This is what I should have given you when you accepted my last name.” He cupped her cheek, lifting her eyes to his. “Stunning.”

In that moment, she wondered if her husband was still talking about Bora Bora.

For four days and four nights, they worshipped the sun, snorkeled in the lagoon, hiked, and made love. They stayed in a bungalow perched on stilts above the lagoon, making the lapping sounds of water part of their soundtrack each night.

“I can’t get enough of you,” he rumbled, his hands stroking the sensitive flesh between her thighs.

“You’ve had me three times today, sweetheart.” Though she certainly wasn’t complaining. She could spend full days devouring her man, and that was exactly what she’d intended to do on their last day in paradise. Mission accomplished. Warm water splashed around them as the jets from the hot tub massaged her skin.

“Fucked you, baby. Over and over again.” As always, his naughty words had her body tingling before his fingers penetrated her. “Wanna make love to you this time, savor you, yeah?”

Emotion made her throat so thick, her words got caught.

Danny didn’t need them. “Bottom lip, honey…”

With that, he shut down the jets, scooped her up, and exited the tub. With lagoon water lapping in the background and a warm breeze blowing through the open room, her husband gave her the most poignant memory of their whole trip.

Chapter Ten

Hint Number Three

THE BEDROOM WAS still dark when Julie’s eyes popped open. A slight wave of nausea rolled through her, reminding her of the lulling waters she and Danny had seen in Bora Bora. The feeling was becoming more familiar with each passing day. Six weeks had passed since they returned home from what had been the most enchanting time of her life. In each day, she and Danny found a sense of peace that neither had realized was missing before their trip.

When her tummy clenched again, she slid out of bed, mindful not to wake her husband. There was no reason to get him excited if the test was once again negative. She tiptoed to the bathroom. Once the door was shut and the light on, Julie pulled out the home pregnancy test kit she had purchased several days before. Her period was late—two weeks late, to be exact—but over the past few months, her previously regular cycle had become more sporadic. The doctor had informed her that nerves could mess with her menstrual cycle, and since she had been nervous about their trip, she didn’t jump the gun when her period was late…again. Two weeks late, however, was something to be concerned with.

Her hands fumbled as she opened the box and pulled out the articles inside. She’d purchased a different brand of home pregnancy test, foolishly hoping the new test would give different results, positive ones. Butterflies replaced the nausea as she read the instructions. Oh, God, I want this. Please let me be pregnant.

As soon as the stick was dipped in the “first morning urine” resting on the vanity, Julie sat on the closed toilet lid and waited. Three minutes, she thought as she stared at her watch, may as well be three hours.

“Jul?” The bathroom door creaked open, and there stood Danny, sexy from sleep but awake enough to look concerned. His presence infused the small bathroom with security and comfort that instantly settled Julie’s nerves. His eyes searched her face before they landed on the countertop. “Woman?”

“I…I didn’t want to wake…” She shrugged as heat moved from her neck up to her cheeks.

“Baby,” Danny tsked, shaking his head, “you leave my arms, I feel it. You don’t return, you bet your sweet ass I’m awake.”

She dropped her gaze as her cheeks rose, the smile too hard to fight. She should have known he’d wake up without her by his side. The man kept her tucked close as they slept; she often felt as though he protected her even in sleep, and she loved it. Since marrying Danny, her nightmares were all but gone, and she owed that to the feeling of safety and love that he provided.

“Danny, umm, I think I might be pregnant.” She looked at her watch. “We’ll know in about thirty more seconds.”

Puffing out his beautifully naked chest, an expression of confidence formed on a very alert Danny. “Julie, honey, you should’ve just told me you were doing this. I could’ve saved you the time. You’re preggo, babe.”

How was it possible for him to look so serious even with his lush lips curved into a shit-eating smile? That was what crossed Julie’s mind. What crossed her lips was, “Stop it, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“The fuck I don’t.” His brows arched as if to punctuate his statement. He lowered himself before her, his knees resting on the blue, fluffy bath mat, his large hands on her bare thighs. “It’s my job to know your body.”

Goose bumps rose on her heated flesh as his hands slid down her legs and rested on her knees. Slowly he parted her legs, exposing her most intimate parts. There was something so sexy, so naughty, and so primal about him when he just watched her, staring at her nakedness, as an expression of his desire for her. She’d lost her inhibitions with him years back, but Christ, she got so seduced by his hunger.