style="font-size:15px;"> “You always were the unpredictable one,” his aunt said with a grin.
“Oh, no, Aunt Fiona, this baby shower isn’t for River, is it?” River already had a tiny touch of cold feet. This wouldn’t help. He strode out of the room to follow her.
“River?” She was putting some small, crustless sandwiches on a tray in the kitchen. “What’s going on?”
“Well,” River said, “apparently we’re definitely pregnant.”
His heart leaped for joy. Yet she wasn’t smiling, so he sensed a heartfelt “Hurray!” wasn’t appropriate. “And Aunt Fiona already planned a baby shower?”
She shook her head. “This isn’t for me, although the word is definitely out and plans are in full swing. I’m surprised you weren’t mobbed with congratulations when you walked into the house.”
He glanced over his shoulder to where the women were corralled in the den, chatting. “You could have called and let me know. I’d have liked to be first and not last.”
“Don’t worry. This is just a planning meeting for the upcoming Christmas ball.” River handed him the tray. “Six months is hardly enough time for Fiona to get everything done she wants, so the planning must begin now. Volunteers must be pressed into work, committees formed.”
“Yes, yes,” Tighe said, impatient, “but what did the doctor say?”
River shrugged. “That I’m healthy. The pregnancy is right where it should be, considering.”
He frowned. River really wasn’t happy about carrying his child. Somehow he was going to have to fix this. “That’s good. We’ll get you on some good prenatal vitamins, make sure you get lots of rest....” He glanced out at his aunt, who had called her committee to order. “It’s quite a coincidence that Fiona gathered all these ladies on the spur of the moment, just for an advance meeting about the Christmas ball.”
“They’re holding an emergency meeting because we’re expecting a baby. Which makes you ineligible for the Christmas ball raffle. If you recall, Dante was the grand prize last Christmas. Your aunt had already determined that you were this year’s sacrifice—I mean, prize. They’d planned advertising on barn roofs and everything, with slogans for you.” River smiled. “Too bad you’ll miss the fun.”
“Not at all.” Tighe was secretly relieved. “Who’s the backup sacrifice?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t ask.”
“It’s Galen’s turn, if you ask me.” He looked at Ash, who’d just walked into the kitchen. “You realize your turn at Fiona’s chicanery will arrive one day. The bachelors will swarm this county.”
His sister blanched. “I don’t want to be swarmed. Don’t talk about it.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be Galen or Jace on the griddle this year.” Tighe looked at River. “Good to hear about the baby. I’ll have Galen make you up a holistic protocol, if you’d like.”
“Oh, you told him!” Ashlyn grinned at River, then Tighe. “Congratulations!” She threw her arms around his neck, giving him an octopus-like squeeze.
“Ash—” River began, and he gazed at her over his sister’s shoulder.
“How does it feel to know you’re going to be the father of triplets?” Ash asked, and Tighe watched River close her eyes as if she was in pain.
“Triplets?” He put Ash away from him gently.
River nodded, distinctly uncomfortable.
Joy swept Tighe fast, and amazement, and maybe even a little light-headedness, so that laughter burst from him. He couldn’t stop laughing even if he’d tried.
“Whew,” Ash said, “he’s finally gone around the bend. One tap too many to the old brain stem.”
River looked concerned. “Is he going to be all right?”
He wrapped her in his arms, kissing her on the forehead. “This is great! I win!”
His sister shook her head as if he were mentally slow. “This isn’t Firefreak. You didn’t just win a buckle. I’m pretty sure you haven’t won anything—yet.”
“Three kids—that’s more than anybody else in the family. Just call me ‘straight shooter’ from now on.” He laughed with delight. “If I was playing the one-armed bandit, I just hit Jackpot!”
River pushed him away. “Tighe, I have to get back to the gathering.”
“We’re going to visit later,” he told her. “We have to talk this out, River.”
She disappeared into the den. Ash looked at him. “I remember the days when you claimed you had her in the bag.”
He did. Surely he did. He had to. “Are you part of Fiona’s whiz-bang planning committee?”
“To give away my brothers? I wouldn’t visit any of you on some poor unsuspecting female.”
He shrugged. “So let’s head out to find the chief.”
River walked back into the kitchen and put teacups on the counter. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not leaving me here with the gang of matchmakers. I’m going, too.”
Tighe blinked. “I don’t think the babies should ride over rough terrain, do you?”
Ash took his arm, led him toward the door. “I think it’s best if we head out before your feet get permanently stuck in your mouth, brother. Come on, River. We’ll put him in the back.”
* * *
RIVER WAS PLENTY annoyed with Tighe, but more than anything she was annoyed with herself. Triplets! She still hadn’t gotten over the shock. The physician said if she was very careful, she might last until February or even March. That meant giving up her bodyguard position soon. The doctor wanted to take every precaution.
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