Nodding, he said, “You’ll take this year off from school, spend it with the baby, and then next summer, we’ll see how you feel about going back to finish. With your perfect grades, they’ll probably let you do whatever you want.”

“And you’d be okay with dragging out our time in Ohio even more than we already are?”

“If it means you’ll be happy, I’m fine with it. So what if it takes one more year than we’d planned. I would, however, really like to see you finish, but only because I suspect you might regret it someday if you don’t.”

“I probably would,” she said with a sigh.

“So we’ll take this year off from school and let you settle into being a mom?”

“I’d like that more than anything.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

She let out a happy squeal and hugged him as tightly as she could with the big belly in the way.

After a minute, Joe realized she was crying again. “What? I thought you’d feel better now that we figured out a plan.”

“I do.”

“Then why are you crying?”

“I’m happy,” she said with a laugh. “I’m so happy.”

She killed him when she looked at him that way. “That’s all that matters.”

“You need to be happy, too.”

“If you are, then I am. That’s all it takes.”

Her hand on his face took his breath away. “I love you so much. I have to be the luckiest person in the whole world.”

“Nope. That’d be me.” He brushed away the last of her tears and kissed her.

She smiled at him as her hand moved from his face to the back of his neck. “Do we really have all afternoon free?”

“Mmm-hmm,” he said against her lips, reluctant to end the sweet kiss.

“You know what I could really use?”

“What’s that?”

“A nap.”

Intrigued, he said, “What kind of nap?”

She let loose with her sexiest grin. “The really good kind.”

“I could be talked into that.”

Her laughter warmed his heart as it always did. “You’re so easy, Captain.”

“Only with you. Put your arms around my neck and hold on tight.”

When she did as he directed, he slid his arms under her, scooping her up with a grunt and groan for effect that had her pinching him. “Not funny.”

“Yes, it was.” He stole another kiss as he carried her to the bedroom, where he was more than happy to help her out of her clothes and into bed.

When he joined her, she snuggled up to him as best she could. Wanting to get in on their embrace, the baby thumped around between them, making them laugh.

“Joe?”

His hands and eyes were on her belly, watching the baby move around inside her and marveling at the miracle of it all. “What, honey?”