COULD IT BE YOU?

The End of the Beginning

Kate managed to excuse herself from the breakfast table and make it to her bathroom before she tossed her cookies. This was the third day in a row it had happened. That and the fact her period was three weeks late -- It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure her malaise. She’d have to get one of those home pregnancy tests, then make an appointment with her doctor in Orlando.

She wondered if she could beg off the last week of the tour. She had several good excuses. She had a wedding to prepare. She could get the house ready for Josh’s return. And she needed to arrange things at the cabin for their honeymoon.

She wiped her face with a cold wash cloth and brushed her teeth. Looking into the vanity mirror, she could see she was a little wan. Luckily, men didn’t readily pick up on subtle clues, not even sensitive ones like hers.

Kate had no plans to tell Josh until after the wedding. Then he would hover over her like a worried old hen. Talk about new complications! Well, he had said he was ready for marriage and parenthood -- she certainly hoped he’d meant it.

Kate was startled by a knock on the bathroom door.

“Katie?” Josh opened the door. “You all right?”

Here was her opening. “Just tired I guess.” She walked passed him into the bedroom. “I’ve been trying to do a million things at once.”

He nodded. “Anything I can do to help?”

“Find me a wedding dress, get it altered. Shop for my trousseau. Buy things to make your kitchen usable. Get the cabin ready---”

“Whoa, baby,” he laughed at her list. “Most guys aren’t hard-wired to do all that.”

“I guess I’m getting a little frayed around the edges.” It wasn’t actually a lie. Maintaining her previous schedule and trying to pull together a wedding was getting to her.

“How about me talking to the guys about behaving so you can take next week off?”

Josh, bless his heart, was so easy.

“That would be marvelous. There is a lot to do.”

“I guess, I never realized it. All I have to do is dress nicely and show up with the rings.”

“Mmm...but you look so good when you dress nicely.” She hugged his middle. It felt wonderful to be held, warm and protected.

“You sure you’re just tired, baby?” Josh had noticed her fatigue for nearly a week now. “Sure you didn’t catch some bug of some sort?”

No, his sperm caught one of her eggs, she mused. “I’m fine, darling.”

He had to smile. Her endearments were usually strategically used to distract him. He didn’t know if she did it deliberately or not.

“Want me to call Olivia and tell her to send someone else?”

“Like Jameson? Heck, no. I’ll make sure everything runs smoothly -- like I did before you signed on.”

Kate decided she could really spend the day where she was, all snuggled against Josh. “Mmm...this is so nice,” she purred.

“What is, Katie?”

“You holding me like this. I feel warm and protected and loved -- and, well, safe.”

“I’m glad.”

Kate remained still for a few more minutes, then pulled away. “But we’ve got to get going. You’ve got that radio spot in an hour.”

Kate was leaving her doctor’s office when her cellphone chimed. “Hello.”

“Hiya, Kate! Howya, doin’?” came Lansten’s cheery, mellow voice.

“What ever are you calling me for?” she laughed.

“JC’s not the only one who misses you.”

“I suppose not. How are you all holding up?”

“Just fine. We all miss you though. You’re managing style is a little more subtle that JC’s. He’s obsessed with making sure we do everything right. He nags. Actually, he’s the one who called, but he got pulled away. He handed me the phone.”

“Three more days and you’ll be home.”

“I love touring, but I’m ready for some prolonged home-time.”

Kate heard voices then Lansten called, “Bye!” as the phone obviously changed hands.

“Hey, baby,” came Josh’s always soothing voice.

“Hey, yourself, blue-eyes.

“Whatcha up to?”

“Just out and about.” She wasn’t about to tell him her doctor had just confirmed her pregnancy.

“Finding anything sexy for our honeymoon?”

“You told me I’d be sexy in a sack.”

Josh laughed. “You would, but I thought you’d try something a little more sexy.”

“I’m not trousseau shopping today.”

His voice grew huskily. “Three more days and I’ll be home, Katie. Expect to spend some horizontal time.”

“I’ve learned you can do it vertical, too,” she reminded him, amused.

He chuckled. “I guess we have.” Then his voice grew quiet. “I miss you, baby. I’m not sleeping so good without you next to me.”

This from the man who could sleep standing up? “Only a few more nights, Josh, then we’ll have a lifetime,” Kate assured him softly.

“Have I told you I love you?”

“Not in the last 24 hours.”

“I do, Katie Beth. I didn’t know I could feel this way. It’s all a jumble: warm and desperate and comforting -- it’s everything at once.”

“Yes, it is. Now you know why I was so scared to let you love me.”

“Hey, C man, we gotta get movin’!” Lake’s voice came over the phone.

“Kate...” Clearly, Josh was reluctant to break the connection.

“You’d better go.”

“I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay. I love you, darling.”

“Thanks, Kate. Later.”

Ringing off, Josh was grinning. Kate didn’t do it often; but when she said she loved him or called him ‘darling’, he was on cloud nine.

True to his word, Josh made certain their wedding didn’t become a media event. They quietly flew to Lake Geneva. His parents came from Chicago. His brother and sister came from their perspective residences. Aunt Carla and the other four guys came from Orlando. Kate’s childhood friend, Sister Marie came from South Dakota. And a handful of Josh’s childhood friends made the trip. It was an intimate gathering at the cabin.

Until Joe handed Kate over to Josh in front of the priest, he hadn’t seen her dress. A simple off white silk dress with a tea-length skirt. The simplicity of the dress only served to let the beautiful bride shine brighter.

Kate smiled shyly when Josh took her hand, whispering ‘I love you’. He looked handsome in his navy blue suit with matching tie. The pale blue shirt emphasized his eyes. She was doing this. She was actually doing this, marrying Josh. It seemed she had been struggling for so long...and now everything was right.

Kate didn’t remember much of the ceremony. She must have said the right words at the right time, because Josh was beaming a warm smile at her. They exchanged rings. And when the priest pronounced them husband and wife, and said Josh could kiss his bride, he murmured, ‘with pleasure’.

“You didn’t hear a word of it, did you?” he whispered against her lips.

“Not a one,” she confessed.

He laughed then kissed her again teasingly. “You agreed to be mine forever.”

“Oh, good. I meant to do that.”

With his arm around her waist, Josh turned towards their guests. “I finally got her to the altar and got her to say ‘I do’!” he crowed and everyone laughed.

A line formed to kiss the bride. Josh’s father was first in line. “We’re proud to call you daughter,” he told her.

“Thank you. I’m proud you call me daughter.”

Josh’s younger brother Ty asked, “You sure you wanna be married to him?”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Kate laughed.

Lansten edged out Joe for third spot. “You’re a beautiful bride, Kate,” he told her.

“Thank you, sweetie.”

Joe stepped up. “The first time I get to kiss you---”

“And you’re last,” Josh reminded him.

“So, I’d better make it count.” Joe made a big show of bending Kate back over his arm as she giggled.

“Don’t drop me!” she laughed, before he brushed a sweet, soft kiss across her lips.

When he released her, Joe slapped Josh on the back. “At least, you kept her in the family. She didn’t make it easy.”

“Amen to that!” Josh grinned.

“My turn!” Lake announced, rubbing his hands together. “I’ve been tryin’ to lay one on this girl for almost two years.”

“Get yourself under control, sonny,” Kate admonished teasingly.

Lake, for all the lead in, merely kissed her gently.

Chris hugged Kate and kissed her cheek.

“You knew all along, didn’t you?” she accused softly. “I think you hide an awful lot behind your crazy act.”

“Just don’t tell anyone,” he murmured for her ears only. “It’s our secret.”

Kate was returned to Josh, who kissed her lingeringly.

“Mmm...I might get enough of that in may be a hundred years,” he whispered.

Kate smiled. “They’ll have to put us in the same casket -- in a lip lock,” she reminded him.

“Okay.”

“Let’s eat cake!” Joe called.

When Kate woke she reached across the pillow without opening her eyes. She found the pillow beside hers empty. She opened her eyes to look around. “Josh?”

“Here, baby.”

He stood just outside the bedroom sliding doors, on the deck, gazing over the peaceful Wisconsin morning. He’d pulled on his jeans but hadn’t bothered with the snap, so they rode low on his hips. He was a shirtless Adonis in the morning’s golden sunlight.

Reaching for his shirt on the floor, Kate slipped it on and went to him. She wrapped her arms around him from behind. “Good morning.”

“Morning, Katie.”

“Couldn’t sleep?”

“I woke up and you looked so sweet and peaceful, I didn’t want to disturb you.” Josh sighed happily. “It’s so beautiful and green here.”

“I’ve always loved it here. I think it’s my favorite place on earth.” Kate rubbed a hand over his chest. “I never thought I’d find myself in bed alone my first full day as your wife.”

Josh turned to face her, his arms going about her. “I thought I’d let you recoup your energy.” He grinned down at her.

“Are you so sure it’s me that needs to recuperate?”

Chuckling, he shook his head. “You could wear a man out.”

“We’ve got two weeks to see who wears out first.” Kate laid her cheek on his warm, solid chest. “Probably me.”

Kate was an enthusiastic lover. Josh was certainly not laying any bets against her!

“Know what’s especially nice about this place, Josh?”

“Being alone?”

“That, too. It’s only an hour or so from your parents.”

Josh had also appreciated that fact. He was close to his family and they adored Kate.

“That’ll be good for the baby.”

“Yeah, it’ll be great for our kids to...” Then it hit him what she had said. “The baby?”

She gazed up at him, trying to gauge his reaction. “I’m about seven weeks along.”

“God, Katie!...” They were pregnant! He gave out a joyous whoop and lifted her off the ground, then spun her around. “That’s fantastic, baby!”

Kate grabbed his shoulders to keep her balance. “You really think so?” she asked breathlessly.

“Of course, I do!” He set her back on her feet. “Don’t you?”

“Well...yes, I do. I just thought -- well, maybe it’d be too soon for you.”

“Too soon? It’s what I want -- What we both want.” He placed a gentle hand on her stomach. “I’ll love watching you blossom. You’ll be even more beautiful carrying our child,” he said reverently.

“The baby and I won’t interfere with your career?”

“You got that wrong, Kate.”

“I do?”

“Yeah. I won’t let my career interfere with you and our child.”

Kate was relieved to hear him say that. She didn’t think she could take the grueling schedule of a tour in her later months. “We’ll probably be apart most of my pregnancy.”

“We’re off tour until late winter. We’ll be in the studio.”

“Oh, then, you’ll just miss the baby’s birth.”

“Hell no!” he protested.

“I certainly won’t want to travel when I’m eight months pregnant.”

Josh could feel her body tense and her voice held a shrill edge. She was panicking already.

“Trust me, Katie Beth,” he murmured soothingly. He held her close to his heart, in the safe shelter of his arms. He’d have to remember pregnancy wasn’t an easy thing for a woman to go through. Her emotions could be on a rollercoaster for months. “I love you. And I love our baby. I’ll do whatever I have to do.”

“I’m sorry. I’m such a whiner---”

“No. You have the right to know your husband will be there for you.” He kissed her softly. “And yours will.”

When he lifted his head, Kate’s lips followed, wanting more. “I love you, Josh. You’ll have to forgive me if I turn into a raving bitch.”

“I promise,” he teased.

Kate rose on her toes to press a lingering kiss on his mouth. Her tongue stroked the seam of his lips and gained easy entrance. When he opened to her, she teased and tasted until his tongue chased hers back into her mouth. She moaned softly when his hand slipped beneath the shirt to caress her breasts.

Josh trailed his lips down her neck. Pushing the shirt off one shoulder, he nipped lightly. “I’ll love watching your body change,” he murmured against her skin. “It’ll be wondrous, awesome.”

“You’ll still be able to see your feet after several months,” she mused.

“I’ll let you know yours are still there.”

She slid her hands beneath the waistband of his jeans to discover he wore no shorts. He sucked in a sharp breath at the feel of her warm fingers against him.

“Josh?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Make love to me.”

“Oh, yeah.”

He swung her up in his arms and carried her back to bed. He lay above her, resting his weight on his arms, gazing down at her beautiful face. “You know, everytime I look at you, I fall in love all over again.”

Kate reached up to stroke his hair back. She wondered if he realized he had begun to tone down his wild-boy style, in favor of a more conservative look. Had he done that for her benefit or was he out-growing his ‘boy’ image? “This from the man who ignored me for more than a year.”

Josh nuzzled her neck. “But when I discovered you, I wouldn’t stop until you were mine.”

“You did come after me with rather a laser focus,” she mused.

“I knew what I wanted. I wanted your love.”

“You got it,” she said softly.

“And you made me work for it. That made winning your heart all the sweeter.”

“Joshua?”

“Hmm?...”

“Why are we still talking? Didn’t we get horizontal for a reason?”

He laughed and rolled away to lose his pants. “Are pregnant women horny or what?”

“I don’t know. I’ll let you know when I do.” Kate sat up to rid herself of his shirt. She hugged his back when he sat back down.

“I can’t make love to you from here, baby,” he reminded her, grinning. This was the best part of loving Kate, the easy was they were with each other now, comfortable.

“Mmm...I think I’ve changed my mind. I just want to hold you.”

“We can do that.” Josh turned so he could pull her onto his lap. She seemed to be all over map this morning. Uncertain one moment, a vixen the next. He’d better get used to it -- she had more than seven more months to go.

Kate snuggled against him, simply enjoying the feel of his warm body, flesh to flesh. She sighed happily, “We really got married.”

“We really did,” he assured her. “I got the paper to prove it.”

“And your family and the guys as eye witnesses.”

“So, there’s no going back.”

Kate took his hand and held it on her still flat stomach. “I think it’s definitely too late for going back?”

“I am totally blissed-out, Katie.”

“Are you? Are you really?”

“You, the baby, making a family...That’s what all my personal dreams were all about.”

Josh laid her back, and this time he lay beside her. He stroked her silky hair. “Believe me, baby, if I were any happier right now, I’d dissolve.”

Kate placed a kiss over his heart. “Me, too.”

When he lowered his head to kiss her, he was met with renewed heat. Kate was anything but predictable. He groaned into her mouth when her fingers stroked his chest, seeking his flat nipples.

“Katie...”

“Think the baby’ll know what’s rockin’ his world?” Kate asked as she sucked his lower lip into her mouth and nipped at it. Feeling him harden quickly, she urged him over her.

“If he doesn’t now, he’ll get used to it,” Josh murmured as he trailed kisses from her mouth to the sweet rosy buds of her breasts. “Will you breast-feed?”

“I plan to.”

That pleased him immensely. They idea of Kate nourishing their child from her body -- wow!

“Josh, hurry!”

He skimmed a caressing hand down her body, his fingers testing her readiness. Man, was she ever! She arched against his hand, begging.

“Ya know, when a guy finds out his wife is pregnant, he’d like to make slow, gentle love to her.” Josh slid into her. Would he ever get used to her fitting him like a velvet glove? He prayed not.

“Later,” she whispered as she nipped at his shoulder to urge him on. “We’ll make such slow love, you’ll melt,” Kate promised. She drew his head to hers as he started the forceful tempo would have her at her peak in no time. “Love me, Josh.”

“I do, baby!” He grabbed her hips to tilt her for maximum sensation for her and was rewarded with a gasp of pleasure. He gave her what she asked for -- hard, deep and fast. He could feel her body tense beneath his. “Ready, Katie?”

“Yes!...Oh, Josh!...” Kate flew apart and quaked with the force of her release.

“I love you, baby!” he groaned, burying his face in her neck as rapture gripped him.

Josh went limp and he felt Kate stroke his back in a comforting caress.

When they could finally breathe, she nuzzled his damp neck. “It just keeps getting better, darling,” she sighed.

Josh rolled to his back, carrying her with him so she lay against his chest. “Think how good it’ll be in sixty years or so.”

Kate laughed at that. “You really think at 85 you’ll still be chasing me around the bed?”

“If you’re still runnin’, I’ll still be chasin’ you,” he assured her.

Kate delivered a kiss so hot and slow, she had him ready to dissolve. If she got any better at loving him, Josh wasn’t so sure he didn’t know if he’d survive it!

“When do you want me to make love to you like I promised?” she asked huskily.

“Baby, kiss me like that again and it won’t be slow lovin’.”

“You are so easy, Joshua.”

“You know all the ways to make me crazy.”

“All of them?”

“I’m pretty sure you discovered most of them, if not all.” His big hands messaged her lower back to make her purr. “But I’m only easy for you, Kate. I’m all yours.”

She smoothed his damp hair back and kissed his forehead. “I can’t remember when I didn’t love you anymore. I don’t want to.”

Their love had added something missing from booth of their lives. For Kate, she learned to trust a man with her heart. His love allowed her to be the woman she always was: bold, confident, sexy, and sometimes vulnerable. For Josh, Kate had allowed him to mature, to be the protector he hadn’t even known he wanted to be. Kate had also taught him not to be so serious all the time. She liked to play -- and she wanted him to be her playmate. They had both needed healing -- and they had healed each other.

“We need to call my parents.” Josh was fairly certain they would be thrilled to know their first grandchild was on the way. “And Aunt Carla.”

“And Joe...and Lansten...and Chris...and Lake.”

“And Johnny. I want to be sure when the time comes, I’m with you. He’ll have to make the schedule fit somehow.”

Kate laughed at the list they had made. “Except for your mother, your sister, and my aunt -- the rest of the people in my life are men.”

“You’re good at collecting men, Kate.”

She ran an idyll finger along his ear and down his neck, eliciting a shiver from him and a familiar reaction down below. “You are so easy,” she whispered. Her soft kiss left him with a dazed smile. “I may collect men, but I had to let the one I love collect me.”

“You did make me work for it.”

“That a problem?”

He shook his head. “Kept my eyes on the prize. And sweet victory was mine. You said ‘I do’ yesterday.”

“Forever and ever.”

“Maybe that won’t be long enough to love you.”

“There’s still eternity.”

“Then may be I’ll get my fill of you.”

Josh lay her back. He’d said he wanted to make slow, gentle love to her and now was the time. “I love you, baby.” Then he lowered his head to blot out any other thought from her head.