“And at the sticking point, we’re the least appreciated,” Rogan added. When Maggie snorted, Rogan held out a hand for her. “We’ve calls to make, Maggie.”

“That we do. We’ll look back in on you shortly.”

When they were alone, Brianna beamed up at him. “We have a family, Grayson.”

An hour later Grayson was anxious and suspicious when a nurse took the baby away. “I should go keep an eye on her. I don’t trust the look in that nurse’s eyes.”

“Don’t be a worrier, Da.”

“Da.” Grinning from ear to ear, he looked back at his wife. “Is that what she’s going to call me? It’s easy. She can probably just about handle it already, don’t you think?”

“Oh, I’m sure.” Chuckling, Brianna cupped his face in her hands as he leaned over to kiss her. “She’s bright as the sun, our Kayla.”

“Kayla Thane.” He tried it out, grinned again. “Kayla Margaret Thane, the first female President of the United States. We’ve already had a woman president in Ireland,” he added. “But she can choose whichever she wants. You look beautiful, Brianna.”

He kissed her again, surprised all at once that it was absolutely true. Her eyes were glowing, her rose-gold hair tumbled around it. Her face was still a bit pale, but he could see that the roses in them were beginning to bloom again.

“And you must be exhausted. I should let you sleep.”

“Sleep.” She rolled her eyes and pulled him down for another kiss. “You must be joking. I don’t think I could sleep for days, I’ve so much energy now. What I am is starved half to death. I’d give anything and more for an enormous bookmaker’s sandwich and a pile of chips.”

“You want to eat?” He blinked at her, astonished. “What a woman. Maybe after, you’d like to go out and plow a field.”

“I believe I’ll skip that,” she said dryly. “But I haven’t had a bite in more than twenty-four hours, I’ll remind you. Do you think you could see if they could bring me a little something?”

“Hospital food, no way. Not for the mother of my child.” What a kick that was, he realized. He’d hardly gotten used to saying “my wife”—now he was saying “my child.” My daughter. “I’m going to go get you the best bookmaker’s sandwich on the west coast of Ireland.”

Brianna settled back with a laugh as he darted out of the room. What a year it had been, she thought. It had been hardly more than that since she’d met him, less since she’d loved him. And now they were a family.

Despite her claims to the contrary, her eyes grew heavy and she slipped easily into sleep.

When she awakened again, drifting hazily out of dreams, she saw Gray, sitting on the edge of her bed, watching her.

“She was sleeping, too,” he began. And since he’d already taken her hand in his, he brought it to his lips. “They let me hold her again when I harassed them—said a few interesting things about the Yank, but were pretty indulgent all in all. She looked at me, Brie, she looked right at me. She knew who I was, and she curled her fingers—she’s got gorgeous fingers—she curled them around mine and held on—”