Enraptured by Ginger Voight Page B

drew him close for a hug. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
    “There’s one other thing,” he said as he pulled me to the crib. There, nestled in the covers, was Monty – Jason’s favorite teddy bear. The familiar teddy bear grinned at me from his new home, where he awaited his brand new child.
    “Oh, Jonathan,” I breathed as I choked back a sob.
    “I hope you don’t mind that I went through Jason’s things. I just never want the new baby to forget him.”
    I sank to my knees on the floor in front of Jonathan and took him into my arms. I wept bittersweet tears as I held him close in a powerful hug.
    I felt Drew step behind me and place his hand on my shoulder. “He will never be forgotten,” Drew promised.
    I was so overcome with emotion that it took several minutes before I could stand again. Jonathan dragged us over to the bookshelves, where trinkets and photo frames filled the shelves already heavily laden with books. All the frames had been filled of family photos . There was a silver frame with Jason and I that was taken soon after his birth. There were family photos of Drew and Jonathan, but most of the others were taken in the last year, many of which from when the Gilberts stayed with us on Alex’s ranch. One in particular was of Drew and me dancing by the campfire. I sent a sideways glance to Jonathan. “How did you get this?”
    He grinned. “I’m a photo ninja.”
    Drew ruffled his hair. “You’re full of surprises, Jonathan. This is the best homecoming we could have ever asked for.”
    I smiled how Jonathan responded to the praise. Happiness emanated off of him in waves.
    I also recognized some of the toys and knickknacks as the relics we found stored in the garage, including a sheriff’s badge emblazoned with the name Fullerton. My heart softened a little more. Gently I took it from the shelf and walked over to the crib, where I pinned it onto Monty.
    Even he was a Fullerton now.
    Jonathan smiled as I turned towards him. I reached for another hug and he latched onto me powerfully.
    He had even more surprises up his sleeve as he led us back downstairs into the dining room, where a full meal had been prepared. Jonathan held out a chair for me. I giggled as I sat. “Thank you, sir.”
    “I hope it’s okay,” he said as he took his own seat. “I didn’t know what you could eat now that you’ve been sick so much.”
    I laughed. “Me either.” But the grilled chicken was moderately seasoned and the steamed veggies were crisp and bright. I still couldn’t clear a plate, but that left some room for good old Southern banana pudding, which Jonathan had made himself.
    Drew was right. This was the best homecoming we could have gotten.
    I was wiped out by nine o’clock, and it was Jonathan who insisted that I head to bed. The boys retired to the media room to watch a movie Jonathan had been dying to see, so I dozed for a few hours before Drew joined me around eleven. I stirred as he placed a tray with water and plain soda crackers on my nightstand. I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes. “That was so thoughtful, Drew. Thank you.”
    He offered a friendly smirk. “Why change a winning formula?” he drawled before he peeled off his shirt. He climbed into bed and pulled me close to his powerful, naked body. “My motto in life,” he confided with a cheeky grin.
    “Don’t I know it,” I replied ruefully. He bent for a kiss and I yielded to it. I never thought we’d be here again in this bed, much less married and expecting a child in a scant few months. It all felt like a dream as he slipped my nightgown up my body and discarded it into a darkened corner.
    His large hand spread across my cool skin. “I love how you feel in my arms and in my bed,” he murmured with each caress. “It’s where you belong, Rachel.”
    Everything inside of me wanted to scream at him, “Why?” If Jonathan h adn’t been a factor I knew he wouldn’t have even looked twice. Indeed we never even would have met. As