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  "Nothing's wrong. Everyone's healthy. And soon Colton will be, too."

  The apprehension didn't completely fade. "So, why are you carrying me?"

  "It's a primitive reaction." He took her into the living room and sank down onto the floor next to the Christmas tree. "A sort of me-man, you-woman. I carry you because you're carrying my child."

  Apprehension vanished. She put her tongue in her cheek. "I didn't think you had primitive reactions."

  He lifted an eyebrow.

  "Other than those reactions," she amended, smiling.

  Because Brayden wanted the feel of that smile on his mouth, he kissed her. Hard and long. Until they were both breathless and wanting more.

  But then, he always seemed to want more of her.

  "I think I'm having some of those primitive reactions of my own." Ashley buried her face against his neck. She brushed a kiss there, just below his ear and had his pulse jumping. "Not a good idea with your entire family in the kitchen. Besides, you have something to tell me. Something about the gender of our little O'Malley."

  "I have lots to tell you. For starters, I love you."

  Her head whipped up, her gaze racing to meet his. "Excuse me?"

  "I love you," Brayden repeated. "And I want you to marry me."

  Her breath shuddered. Not apprehension. Just the opposite. Happiness flooded through her eyes. Her face. Her smile.

  Almost perfect.

  Almost.

  "You're already in my heart," Brayden told her. "Occasionally in my bed. But I want you there a lot more often. Every night as a matter of fact. Here, in our home."

  She blinked. Her only reaction. "Yes."

  Brayden did some blinking of his own. He'd expected Ashley to hesitate at least a little, but was thankful that she hadn't. "Yes to which part?"

  No hesitation again. "To all of it."

  He tamped down the relief, and the happiness, just long enough to make sure. "You didn't even have to think about it?"

  Ashley shook her head. "No. I'm in love with you. And marrying you, moving in here with Colton and you, that's exactly what I want."

  Even he couldn't hold down the happiness after hearing that. "Back up to that I'm in love with you part. It's true?"

  Another duh sound. "Of course. Absolutely, emphatically, completely true. It's that forever kind of love, too. So, you should expect all sorts of mushy behavior from me."

  He smiled, loving the sound of that. "Define mushy."

  With a teasing look in her eyes, Ashley climbed onto his lap and whispered a very naughty suggestion. One that had him toying with the idea of sending his family on an errand so he could haul her off to bed. Or the shower.

  Later, he'd do just that.

  "This is perfect," she whispered.

  Not quite. But soon.

  "Well?" Garrett called out from the other room. "Pink or blue?"

  Brayden ignored him. "That leaves the ring. Which I just happen to have." He leaned over, pulled one of the branches from the tree and slid off the diamond engagement ring. The platinum and fiery stone had blended in perfectly with the twinkling lights and decorations.

  Her eyes widened. "When did you put it there?"

  "Weeks ago. I was just waiting for the right moment to ask you." He paused only long enough to kiss her. "It's the right moment, Ashley."

  Brayden slipped the ring onto her finger. "I'm thinking about a short engagement. Very short. In fact, I'm thinking about this time next week, I'd like to wake up in bed with you as my wife."

  Another smile. And no hesitation. "I'd like that, as well—both the wife part and waking up together. That'll include sex, too, right?"

  "Oh, yeah. Lots of it."

  "We're waiting." Katelyn this time.

  Ashley pulled back slightly and looked at him. "Well? Which is it—pink or blue?"

  Brayden didn't even try to fight back a smile of his own. "Both."

  Her mouth dropped open. She tried to say something, but her first attempt failed. Ashley only managed a few stuttered syllables.

  "Twins?" she finally got out.

  "Twins," he confirmed.

  He waited a moment, for Ashley's smile to catch up with his. Long enough for her to shriek with joy and launch herself back into his arms.

  And Brayden kissed her long and hard. It was the exact moment he'd waited for.

  Now, everything was perfect.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-8688-1

  SANTA ASSIGNMENT

  Copyright © 2004 by Delores Fossen

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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  Table of Contents

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen