Harlequin Dare December 2019 Box Set by Clare Connelly

Author:Clare Connelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

EPILOGUE

Christmas Day, one year later

‘MUM, WILL YOU stop flapping? Dinner is going to be great.’

‘But she’s a chef—a celebrity chef—what if it’s awful?’

I laugh. I can’t help it. Ever since Nate brought home his new girlfriend, Florence, six months ago, Mum has gone into panic mode, not wanting to scare the woman off.

Not that I blame her. Florence has been great for Nate. He’d come a long way since he and Lucas cleared the air, and then he met Florence and the transformation was complete.

Mum looks at me as if she’s going to tape my mouth shut. ‘Really? You think laughter is going to help right now?’

I take pity and give her a quick squeeze. ‘Mum, how many Christmas dinners have you cooked?’

‘Too many to count.’

‘And how many have gone wrong?’

She frowns. ‘Too many to count.’

Okay, bad choice.

‘Sorry to disturb the private party.’

Lucas appears in the kitchen doorway—my incredibly handsome saviour.

‘But your dad’s breaking out the champagne and itching to do a toast.’

He looks at me pointedly and a small smile lifts my lips as we share a silent exchange.

‘Come on, Mum. Champagne will make everything better.’

We coax her into the living room just as Dad pops the cork and begins to pour.

I take in the entire scene. Everyone is happy, content—even Frodo is asleep in front of the fire—and I know it’s about to get better. Inside my heart swells and Lucas wraps his arm around me as Dad starts to fill the last flute.

‘Just a small one for me, Dad.’

He stops pouring and they all look at me, concern flaring. My smile grows. I look up at Lucas, search his deep brown gaze and share my elation with him.

‘We have some news.’

The room falls silent. Everyone is waiting and I let Lucas finish it for me.

‘We’re pregnant.’

Mum gives a dizzying squeal. The men chortle. Congratulations stream through the air as Dad hands out the glasses and gives me my mini-one with a kiss to the cheek.

Nate comes up to us, patting Lucas on the back before giving me a hug. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’

‘Thank you.’

I look up at Lucas. He knows what I’m going to say next and part of me wants that final nudge from him first. I get it in the form of a kiss to the forehead and a squeeze around the waist.

‘That’s not all,’ I say, my eyes returning to Nate. ‘I’m going to need someone to look after things while I’m out of action, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have than you—if Dad can spare you, that is?’

Nate colours. His eyes blaze. ‘For real, sis?’

He knows how much this means. It’s the biggest statement I—we—could make to show that the past is long since buried.

‘For real.’

‘You’ve got it.’

He pulls Florence into his side and offers his glass to the room. ‘To the Beaumonts, the Warings and the mini-Beaumont-Warings!’

Laughter fills the room and my tummy gives the smallest flutter, calling my hand to it. Lucas traces the move, his hand coming to rest over mine.

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