Every Moment with You (Redeeming Love #1)

by J.E. Parker

“Maddie, you know how much I love you.” She nodded. Lifting her hands to cover her mouth, she looked down at me. Her tear streaked eyes were filled with hope. “You’re my everyt...

“I’ve messed up countless times, but you’ve loved me through it all. You’ve never left my side even when you probably should have.” I was not on the verge of crying. Those were not tears forming in my eyes. Nah. “And when I kiss you, I swear I can taste the next sixty years of my life on your lips. But what’s more important, when I look at you, I can see it.” “See what?” she asked from behind her hands. “Everything. Marriage. A house. Kids.” I paused. “I can see our future. Together.” She dropped her hands and her head dipped towards me. “Ask me, Hendrix,” she sobbed. “Ask me so I can say yes.”

“Marry me, pretty girl,” I paused, “marry me so I can spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you.”

Jumping from her chair and slamming into me, Maddie knocked me backwards. My back hit the floor, and she landed on top of me. Her legs straddled my hips. Ring box still unopened in my hand, I laughed. “Yes.” She shouted, raising her hands to the ceiling. “...

“When I saw it, I knew it was the one.” I pulled the ring out and grabbed Maddie’s ring finger. “Oh my God,” she gasped. “It’s beautiful.” It was beautiful. Just like her.

Sliding the ring down her finger, I pushed it over her knuckles and secured it in place. It was a perfect fit. “I looked at a couple of diamonds but they were too plain. This ring, though, was perfect.” White gold. Emerald. Princess cut.

“You seem to be obsessed with all things green.” I shook my head. “Nah, baby. I’m just obsessed wit...

“Make love to me, Hendrix.” Her hands slid down my chest and her thumbs caressed my nipples. “Make love to your fiancée.” If possible, my cock grew harder. My fiancée.

“Make love to your future wife, baby.” She bit my shoulder. “Make love to me.” And I did. I made love to my girl, my fiancée, my future. I made love to the love of my life. I made love to Maddie. My Maddie.

I closed my eyes at the mention of my mother. I didn’t want to think about her. Not now. If I did, I’d have to confess that she was the only reason I’d wanted to go to Vanderbilt in the first place. I’d never met her, but I wanted to be like her, wanted to walk in her tracks. And I knew Daddy wanted it too.

And don’t even get me started on the fact that I would graduate debt-free thanks to my scholarship. I mean, how could I turn that down? Daddy and Grandmama certainly didn’t have the money to send me to college, and I refused to rack up thousands of dollars in debt that Hendrix and I would have to pay off later. That wasn’t happening.

To hell with Vanderbilt, to hell with college, to hell with everything. I could live without it. What I couldn’t live without was him.

“It’s only temporary. Swear to God, I’ll come see you as soon as I can, and your Daddy promised to make sure you’re home for every break and holiday.” It wasn’t enough. Nothing would be enough.

These two had never liked each other. Daddy didn’t think Hendrix was good enough for me, and Hendrix thought Daddy was an overbearing asshole. Both were wrong.

Hendrix was perfect for me. Unlike Daddy, I didn’t judge him based on who he shared DNA with. I didn’t care that he was the product of a dead-beat mother or an alcoholic father. The only thing that mattered was how he treated me. And there wasn’t a soul in this world that treated me better than Hendrix Cole.

On the flip side, Daddy wasn’t the bastard that Hendrix thought he was either. He was protective and had always been strict on me, but I was h...

“These two”—I looked at each of them— “can’t ever get along. Even on a day like today.” Grandmama scowled and ripped the dish towel from her shoulder before tossing it in Daddy’s face. Ooh, she was mad. “Keith Edward Davis. I raised you better than this.”

“All I did was tell Maddie that we needed to go. And this”—he pointed at Hendrix— “little asshole jumped in the middle of it.” Hendrix stood up from the swing. “What did you call me?” His body was rigid, his jaw tight. Daddy mirrored Hendrix’s stance. “You heard me. You. Little. Asshole.”

Hendrix moved in Daddy’s direction, but I stepped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. His chest hit my back, and I wrapped my fingers around his muscled forearm. “Don’t you dare,” I hissed. Instantly, he relaxed. ...

“Wipe that look off your face.” Hendrix laughed as Grandmama continued to rip into Daddy. He was enjoying this—immensely. “There was a time when all Melody Davis had to do was toss a smile in y...

Hendrix laughed and Grandmama glared at him. Raising a wrinkled finger in his direction, she began fussing at him next. Her tone was harsh, scathing even. “And don’t think you have me fooled. I know you’re not innocent.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Besides, I’m still mad as all get out at you, young man.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you did this morning.” Daddy raised his brows. “What did he do?” Grandmama cut her eyes at him. “Are you blind, Keith or do you just pretend not to notice certain things so you don’t have to deal with them?”

“What are you talking about?” Grandmama shook her head. “To be so smart you sure are dumb.” Still baffled, Daddy looked at me. I shrugged even though every nerve in my body was riddled with trepidation. He is going to lose his mind. “Grandmama,” I said, my eyes pleading, “not right now. Please.” Her eyes moved to my left hand before bouncing back to my face. “Why? There isn’t anything to be ashamed of, sweetheart.” I looked at Hendrix, and he smiled down at me before touching the tip of my nose with his index finger. “It’s all right. I’m man enough to explain.”

Man, enough to explain? It had nothing to do with that. Nothing. I was more worried about Daddy having a coronary or trying to kill Hendrix. Maybe when I came home for Thanksgiving break we could talk about it.

Damn it. I should’ve known Grandmama would see my ring. The woman had hawk eyes and a penchant for detail unlike anything I’d ever seen before. It didn’t help that I never wore jewelry—I was as far away from high maintenance as I...

Seriously, I should have known she’d see it. She’d have to ...

Wrapping his arm around me, Hendrix pulled me into his side. I leaned my head against him. “I asked Maddie to marry me.” Here we go. Cue Daddy’s stroke in one, two, three—

“You what?” Daddy screamed so loud my ears rang. Face turning redder than a beet, he looked down at my left hand. He spotted my ring and any control he had left snapped like a taut wire. “YOU WHAT?” I jumped out of Hendrix’s hold and covered my ears as his bellow echoed around us. Hendrix moved in front of me and shielded my body with his in a protective gesture. My Daddy would never hurt me but Hendrix was acting on instinct alone.

Daddy may have been angrier than a hornet but Grandmama was madder than a puffed toad. She put starch in her spine and straightened herself to her full five-foot-one height. Body trembling from the anger roaring through her veins, she screamed like a bans...

Hendrix stiffened in front of me the moment Grandmama claimed hi...

Daddy opened his mouth wide, no doubt to scream back but Hendrix jumped in before he could. “You raise your damn voice to Grandmama and I swe...

“Would everybody calm down for a minute? Please.” My voice shook with nerves. Grandmama shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m calm. It’s these damn men around here that are causing all the problems.” She puffed out a breath and pushed a stray grey curl out of her face.

How she went from spitting mad to calmer than a cucumber in two seconds flat, I’d never know.

“Go on, honey bun, tell us what you said.” She elbowed me again. Hendrix wrapped his arm around me from behind and placed his hand on my belly. “Yeah, tell him, Maddie.” He rested his chin on top of my head. “Tell him that you agreed to be my wife.” These two were seriously going to give Daddy a heart attack.

Standing tall, I placed my hand on the one Hendrix rested on my belly. There was no reason to hide this. I was proud to be his fiancée. Squaring my shoulders, I followed Grandmama’s lead and threw a little sass of my own. “You’re dang right I did.” Hendrix’s arm tightened around my waist and he kissed the top of my head. “Was there ever any doubt?”

Mouth gaping, Daddy snarled at all of us. “I can’t believe this.” He threw his arms up in the air. Then, with only inches separating us, he pointed his finger at me. “You are NOT getting married.” Then he pointed his finger in Hendrix’s direction. “Especially to him.”

Fire and determination bubbled in the pit of my belly. Ripping myself away from Hendrix’s iron-like hold, I placed two hands on Daddy’s chest and pushed—hard. He stumbled back a foot. I wasn’t necessarily strong but I was angry as hell. My chest heaved and I narrowed my eyes. I loved my Daddy with my entire heart but I’d be damned if I le...

Daddy’s head snapped back in shock. Whether it was from my outburst or the fact that I’d pushed him, I didn’t ...

It was the first time he’d ever yelled at me. He’d been harsh before but he’d never—not once—yelled at me. I’d cry about it later but right now I was too pissed for my feelings to be hurt.

Hendrix’s defiance must have been wearing off on me because I snapped right back. “I may be your daughter, but I’m his fiancée.” Hendrix sounded off from behind me. “You’re right.” For once, Grandmama remained silent.

Daddy’s nostrils flared but I stood tall. I wasn’t gonna let him think that he could push me around and make my decisions for me, especially when it came to this. He could either get on board or he could get the hell outta my way. “I’m eighteen, Daddy. I get to make my own damn decisions.”...

“Check … and … mate,” Hendrix whispered behind me. My head whipped around. His arms were crossed over his chest and he stood tall too. “You’re not helping, handsome.” “Sorry, baby.” He dropped his arms to his sides and shrugged befor...

Grandmama finally spoke. “Looks like it’s a done deal, son. Might as well get on board while you still can.” She lifted her hand and examined her perfectly manicured nails. “And remember, Maddie is the one who’s responsible for picking out your future nursing home. Don’t wanna go and piss her off now, do ya?” Hendrix snickered and I snorted. We were so refined. Gah. “Not to mention, you want to think of your future grandchildren. Whether you like it or not, they’ll be half Hendrix.” She lowered her voice a...

Daddy pushed against my other side. Swear to God, they were determined to kill each other. “You’re not good enough for her.” That was it. I’d friggin’ had it.

My anger came roaring back to life. “Daddy.” I whirled around so fast my hair smacked me in the face. “I am getting sick and tired of you saying Hendrix isn’t good enough for me. You’ve been preaching the same damn story since I was thirteen years old.” He opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. He could wait until I was finished to speak. “He’s plenty good enough for me. He’s more than good enough.”

Daddy looked at me, his features laced with anger. “Yeah? And what about when y’all get married? What about when he turns into a raging drunk like his father? Or what about when he walks out and leaves you just like his mother left him?” Hendrix moved faster than lightning. Shoving me to the side, he shoved his chest into Daddy’s. Daddy fisted his right hand at his side and I knew he was moments aw...

I don’t know how she did it but she managed to squeeze her petite body in between Hendrix’s and Daddy’s. “I can’t believe those words just came out of your mouth.” Her eyes were full of tears. Angry tears. “My own damn son.” She leaned forward and clutched her chest. The move scared me and I moved to stand behin...

It was beating out of control. This had to stop. If it didn’t, Grandmama would have a stroke, and that was no joke. She was old and had high blood pressure. She couldn’t han...

“It’s all the boy has ever known. He’s bound to repeat the same behavior, and I won’t have my daughter become a casualty of his upbringing.” Grandmama’s hand twitched, and I could have sworn she was about to slap him again. But she didn’t. Instead, she lowered her voice and said, “Yeah, because you turned out just like your father. Right, Keith?” Silence.

Wait. What did that mean? Was Grandpa a bastard or something? I’d never met the man and no one ever talked about him so I didn’t have the slightest clue. Daddy froze. Moments ticked by and neither said or did anything.