“Mr. Peanut uses a cane.”
That made me snort. “He does. I didn’t realize you knew Mr. Peanut.”
“That’s what Macon and Nate were talking about. I don’t know. I just remember that I like peanuts.”
I held back a laugh, wondering how I could even laugh at a time like this. “Well, that’s good, baby. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mommy.” He kissed my cheek before giving Macon a careful look and then looking back at me. “And I love Macon, too. We already talked about being a family, so if you can make that happen, that would be great.” He scrambled off the bed as I blinked down at him. I saw Cross at the door, his eyes wide. He leaned down and picked Joshua up, giving Macon a nod.
“On that note, I’m going to leave the two of you alone.”
“Good night, Mommy. Good night, Macon.”
Cross closed the door at Joshua’s words, and I looked over at Macon, shaking my head.
“What was that about?”
Macon smiled, sticking his hands into his pockets. “Kid always has to steal my thunder.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, my heart racing.
“You better calm down, Dakota. If you don’t, the nurses are going to come in and think you’re in trouble.”
I didn’t care what the nurses thought. I only wanted to know more about the man standing in front of me. The one who had saved my life. “Macon.”
He sat down in the chair next to me and took my hand, tracing my palm with his finger. I wanted to reach out and run my hands over his face, over his day-old beard, and just hold him.
“First. If you ever jump in front of a fucking bullet for me again, I’m going to spank that ass of yours so hard, you won’t sit for a week.”
“First,” I said, my cheeks heating, “we already discussed this kink. We don’t need the nurses in here. Second, I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect you, just as you would with me.”
“I don’t agree,” he growled.
“Deal with it.”
He looked at me then, his eyes full of something I couldn’t decipher before he nodded tightly. “Second, Joshua and I came to an understanding.”
Humor and happiness filled me, along with a little trepidation. “Oh?” I asked, cautious.
“He wants us to be a family. And I told him I would do everything I could to make that happen.” He looked up at me and squeezed my hand. “And he promised it wasn’t because he wants the cats in his life.” He paused. “Okay, he promised that wasn’t the only reason.”
I laughed, actually laughed aloud. I hadn’t thought it was possible to do that today, if ever again.
But he made me laugh.
“Are you serious?”
“I am. He wants me to be part of your family. And I’m just fine with that. Because I love you, Dakota. I didn’t realize I could feel like this. Ever. You’re it for me. You are the family I want. You and Joshua. And I’m going to do everything that I can to let you know that you’re it for me. I know it might be too soon, but with everything that happened? I don’t know if it’s soon enough. I want you and Joshua in my life forever. I don’t want you out of my sight ever again. I know that going back to your house might be too much right now, so you can come to mine. Both of you. And the cats. I’ll make it work. Or I’ll stick with you. I don’t know exactly what works or is best for us, but I know I want you in my life. Because I love you, and I never want to spend another night without you.”
The tears fell again, and I swallowed hard, looking at him. “I was going to try to find a way to make sure that you knew that I didn’t want you to leave. I hoped that this wouldn’t scare you away.”
He just shook his head. “What the hell could ever scare me away from you? I fucking love you, Dakota. You’re my family.”
“I love you, too. Of course, I love you.”
“You just have to promise to never stand in front of a fucking gun for me again,” Macon growled out once more.
“I honestly can’t make that promise,” I said, my hands shaking. “But let’s promise each other we won’t get into that kind of situation again. How about that? Because you saved my life. You saved my baby’s life. If you hadn’t used what you learned in the ring to protect us, Adam may have taken everything.”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t excuse the fact that I was fighting in some fights I shouldn’t have been.”
“Maybe not, but I’m not going to ever speak poorly about it again because it brought you to me, and it kept you in my life. And us in yours. So, yes, to whatever you’re saying. Yes. I want to be your family. You, me, and Joshua. And the cats. We’re a package deal.”
“That’s what I want, too.”
And then he leaned down and took my lips. The nurses came in soon after, the sounds of the alarms on my heart rate monitor echoing throughout the room.
I hadn’t meant to fall for Macon Brady, but when I allowed myself to feel again, allowed myself to believe, he’d been right there, ready to catch me as I fell.
I’d promised myself that I’d face the world alone, I’d be the best mother I could be without letting myself become the shambled soul I once was. But I’d been wrong.
Macon had found me, had fought with me, had fought for me.
And now, I would spend my days fighting for him, fighting for us…and fighting for our future.
He was my destiny.
And I thanked God I’d finally seen the truth.
