Christmas Brides And Babies Collection. Rebecca Winters

father won’t expect you to ask his permission.’

      ‘I think he will and I’d like to do things properly. I need to at least tell him I intend to make an honest woman out of his only daughter before I tell him I knocked her up.’

      Luci laughed. ‘They probably wouldn’t believe you. It’s incredible, isn’t it?’

      Seb nodded. ‘It’s amazing.’ He got off the couch and went down on one knee. He slid his hands under the hem of her shirt, exposing her belly. He kissed it gently and the touch of his lips sent flames of desire racing through her. His hands were on her knees and she felt her thighs fall apart under the caress of his fingers as she waited for him to slide his hands up her legs, but his fingers went no further. He knelt between her thighs but his focus was on her face.

      ‘I came here to see if I could convince you to give me a chance to prove my love. I want to share your dreams with you. I want to share your life. Will you let me love you and our children for the rest of our lives? Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?’

      Luci pulled Seb to his feet and wrapped herself in his arms. She kissed him deeply, fighting back tears. Her dreams were coming true but it was not the time for tears. She was getting everything she’d wanted since the moment she’d first laid eyes on Seb. This glorious, gorgeous man wanted to make a life with her and she wasn’t going to refuse him.

      ‘I will.’

       EPILOGUE

      LUCI SAT ON the front veranda and watched the sun rise over the ocean as she nursed her baby. This was one of her favourite times of day.

      She and Seb had the best of both worlds. They had moved to the coastal town of Shellharbour after their wedding but were still only a two-hour drive from Manly. They could have a day in the city if they wanted and return to the relative peace and quiet of a large country town. They both had jobs at the local hospital in family and community health, and Luci was considering studying midwifery, but she had time to make that decision. Their daughter, Eve, was only four months old, she still had a couple of months of maternity leave and would only be going back to work part time. They had jobs they enjoyed, a lifestyle they loved, but most importantly they had their family.

      Sometimes Luci could hardly breathe when she thought about how wonderful her life was and how much it had changed. Blessed with a daughter, a gorgeous husband and a new life in Shellharbour, she still sometimes wanted to pinch herself.

      She lifted her daughter from her breast and held her up against her shoulder, inhaling her scent of talcum powder, baby lotion and love.

      She looked up as she heard soft footsteps on the wooden floorboards. Their house was full of visitors but she’d recognise that rhythm anywhere.

      Seb stepped out onto the balcony, followed by the two-year-old Labrador they had somehow inherited with their house. She smiled as she thought about the man she had first met—the motorcycle-riding man who’d been adamant that he was going to live a bachelor life on his boat. Now he was a husband, a father, a home owner and a pet owner who had swapped regular trips to the country with a permanent job in a country town. He had traded his motorbike for a family car but he still had his boat, which he’d named Diamond Sky, which was moored in the marina five minutes from home. Their lives had changed dramatically in the course of a year but she knew he was happy and content.

      ‘Merry Christmas, my love.’

      Luci lifted her face for a kiss as Seb put a mug of green tea beside her and plucked Eve from her arms.

      ‘Come here, my gorgeous girl.’

      Eve gurgled and laughed and reached for her father with chubby little hands. She was a real daddy’s girl but Luci didn’t mind. She was living her dream.

      ‘You’re up early,’ Seb said.

      He was bare-chested and Luci felt the familiar stirring of longing as she looked at him. Even the sleepless nights associated with a new baby hadn’t been able to diminish her desire for her husband.

      ‘You know I love it out here and I didn’t want to wake everyone else.’

      Seb’s parents were staying with them for Christmas. Seb’s dad in particular was smitten with Eve and Luci knew that her in-laws saw this time as an opportunity to enjoy the things they’d missed out on with their own boys. Luci’s own parents, not wanting to be separated from their first grandchild, had decided to retire to Shellharbour and lived just down the road, and Callum and Flick were also under their roof. Eve was being christened tomorrow and Cal and Flick were to be her godparents.

      ‘We haven’t taken on too much, have we? Hosting Christmas and then having Eve’s christening?’ Seb asked.

      Luci shook her head. She was surrounded by family and she couldn’t be happier. ‘No. This is just what I wanted. Having everyone here with us is perfect.’ She stood up and wrapped her arms around Seb and their daughter. ‘Life is perfect,’ she said as she raised herself onto her toes and kissed her husband. ‘I love you. I love you both.’

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