“There’s no place like it.”
“Linc, why don’t you go play ball with Tally?” Josie asked, eyeing her son.
“Her tennis ball is on the deck.”
That was all it took to send Linc flying down toward the house with Tally, the two delighted to be reunited.
“How are you doing?” I asked, eyeing her cautiously.
“Things were rough,” she started, coming to a stop at my feet, manicured toes touching mine. “But now I’ve never been better.”
I reached out and stroked her cheek. “I’m happy to hear.”
“I love you,” she breathed, letting out a shaky breath, looking up at me with nothing but love in her eyes. “I know why you didn’t tell me.”
“Because I love you.”
She nodded, eyes glistening. “You loved me enough to let that weigh on you all those years. You didn’t hurl it at me when you hated me either. You could’ve crushed us all, and you didn’t.”
I shook my head, reaching out to pull her to me. “I would never destroy my family.”
She smiled, leaning close to rest her forehead against mine. “We are your family, and we’ll always be your family.”
Soft lips brushed against mine, just as magical as the first time years before in the same spot, and just like then, I was giddy, ready to give her my all.
“Marry me.”
Her eyes popped wide, and I realized I’d said what I thought aloud.
“Marry me,” I repeated, louder. It was impulsive, but it wasn’t a mistake. I’d never been surer of anything in my life. “Marry me. Make me the happiest man alive-”
Her lips crashed to mine before I could finish, hands sinking in my hair as her body melded into mine.
Epilogue
Parent-teacher conferences were no joke.
Especially when you had to meet with a teacher you once gave a hard time.
Thankfully, Mrs. Shaw had nothing but praise for Lincoln.
I trudged down the driveway with Tally, grabbing the wad of letters from the flimsy mailbox on its last legs, Josie backing it over one too many times over winter.
I sifted through junk mail, advertisements appearing more and more in the daily load for the businesses popping up downtown. I came across a square postcard, a picture of our pride and joy on the front, smiling ear to ear with a party hat on.
“Lincoln!” I called, knowing he’d lose it over getting another piece of mail. It was his third birthday party invitation in two weeks, Josie 2.0 morphing into quite the social butterfly at Briar Elementary. He had more friends than Josie and I combined.
He came sprinting from the house, sneakers digging in the gravel driveway with Tally close behind, Josie following the pair while waddling and squawking.
There’d be hell to pay for me, too, as I’d interrupted homework time, a sacred window in the eyes of Mrs. Barrett.
“What is it, Dad?” he asked, the title still foreign to my ears. He’d been calling me it more and more, something he’d picked up on his own one day.
“Come check it out,” I insisted, waving it. “Read it to me.”
I handed him the card, hoping to get back in my wife’s good graces by making him flex his brain a little.
“To Lincoln Cross. Please come to my rocking roller party Friday, May one, at five.”
“May first,” Josie corrected, hands pressing against her sore lower back as she came to a stop. “Who’s it from?”
“Gabe,” he replied, smiling.
Gabe was his latest best friend, his fifth so far in the school year. It seemed like everyone was Lincoln’s best friend, not that it was a bad thing. Just like his Mom, people adored him.
“Go put a G on the date on the calendar in the kitchen,” Josie ordered. “Leave the invitation on the counter for me so I can RSVP for you.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He took off toward the house, waving the invitation, excited he got to mark the calendar. It was one of his favorite new big-kid responsibilities.
Josie leaned up and pressed a light kiss on my lips. “How was the conference, baby?” she asked, resting her head against my arm.
“Good,” I replied, pushing aside the day’s minor inconveniences. “How’s the baby factory running today?” I rubbed her belly, our daughters, Hazel and Ruby, due to arrive any day.
“It’s running smoothly, but it better come up with an evacuation plan soon.”
I laughed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “A little birdie told me a fun way to make that happen.”
A throat cleared behind me, the two of us turning to see Trish.
She’d purchased the cottage for a steal from Dan when he was hard up for cash after his trust fund run dry. With the divorce settlement, my mother-in-law wanted for nothing, stripping down the walls of the old place and breathing life into it.
“I was coming over to make sure there were still babies in you since you never answer your cell phone.”
“My phone’s inside!” Josie defended. “And there are definitely still babies in here.”
“Well, keep an old lady in the loop, will you?” Trish griped. “Where’s Linc?”
Josie flicked her head towards the house. “Hopefully, finishing his spelling homework.”
“Why don’t you two head down onto the dock for a bit? I’ll go check on the spelling bee inside. Soak up a few moments of free time until you’re a family of five.”
Did I mention I loved my mother-in-law?
We headed down the familiar walk to the edge of the dock hand in hand, the place where it all started years earlier.
“Are you ready for all this?” Josie laughed as we came to a stop, gesturing to her stomach.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything.”
She smiled, looping her arms around my neck. “I love you, Luke Barrett.”
My lips met those of the woman I loved. “I love you forever, Josie Barrett.”
Introduction
Hiring a crush is foolish.
Hiring an obsession is downright dangerous.
I’ve built an empire I’d die to protect, only to plant a landmine at its center.
Keely Doyle is the air in my lungs.
The blood in my veins.
The muse to my madness.
Because of her, I’m worth millions.
And because of
