Page 79 of Forsaken Trail (Runaway 4)

Brody laughed and leaned in to kiss my forehead. “You’re such a smart-ass.”

“You like it.”

“You’re right.” He put his forehead to mine and we both waited, our breaths held, until one tiny baby foot slammed into Brody’s palm. “That never gets old.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“I’ve got to get back to work.”

I’d see him in hours, but I always hated to watch him walk away. “I know.”

I was so in love with him.

The realization had snuck up on me this morning when he’d curled his strong, tall body around mine. He’d held me and I’d realized that the soul-deep loneliness I’d felt for years had truly vanished. Not even Clara’s hugs or August’s cheek smooches had chased it completely away.

Only Brody.

And our baby.

I loved him, more than I’d ever known it was possible to love another person.

Soon, I’d find a way to say the words. But in this moment, as the three of us huddled togeth

er in a bubble away from the real world, I closed my eyes and savored the moment. The peace.

The bubble popped before I was ready.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Marty poked his head into the room. He was grinning from ear to ear. “We’ve got some guests. Friends. I’d like you to meet them.”

“I better get back to work anyway.” Brody lifted his hands and framed my face. Then he dropped a soft kiss to my lips. “Don’t work too hard.”

“I won’t.” I slid off my stool and took his hand. “Will you take a plant with you? We got the coolest snake plant in this morning and I decided to steal it for the entryway.”

“There are already seven pots in the entryway.”

“Your point?”

He fought a smile, then looked to Marty. “Don’t let her lift anything heavy. Yesterday, I caught her trying to move a—what kind of plant was that?”

“A fiddle-leaf fig tree.”

“A tree. She was trying to move a tree.”

“It wasn’t heavy.”

Brody’s expression flattened. “Ask Marty for help.”

“She won’t have to,” Marty declared. “I won’t let her out of my sight.”

“Good.” Brody took my hand and together we followed Marty into the shop. The easy grin on his face faltered and his feet skidded to a halt when he spotted the older couple inspecting the shop.

“Ned. Stephanie. I’d like you to meet Aria Saint-James.” Marty introduced me to the couple. “Aria, Ned and Stephanie Backer. Former owners of Welcome Floral.”

“Oh.” I stood a little taller and extended a hand. “Hello. It’s so nice to meet you.”

Because Brody had bought the shop from them, I’d never known their first names. Marty didn’t talk about them much, but when he had, he’d referred to them as the Backers. Never Ned and Stephanie.

“You too.” Ned took my hand, shaking it with gusto. “It’s just a pleasure.”