Ignite (Cloverleigh Farms, #6)

by Melanie Harlow

For fans of the Cloverleigh Farms Series, thank you for loving this world like I do. Welcome back.

You deserve someone who makes you feel like you’ve been struck by fucking lightning. Don’t you dare settle for fine. ROY KENT, “TED LASSO”

“Daddy,” a small voice whispered. I lay completely still and kept my eyes closed. My alarm was set for six and hadn’t gone off yet, but my daughters had been up for at least twenty minutes. I’d heard them talking through the thin wall separating my bedroom from the one they shared in my crappy apartment. Now they were playing their favorite game, which was to stand next to me while I slept and talk shit about me.

Mostly I’d just tried to keep my team alive and our gear intact. Which wasn’t that different from being a single dad, really.

But they were still breathing, which meant I’d successfully kept two humans alive for one more day. I called that a victory.

“I bet he’s one of those guys with a hard shell and a soft center,” I rhapsodized to my cat. “Someone who acts tough but has a big heart beneath his armor. A beast just waiting for his beauty!”

“No, I rewatch Friends for comfort like everyone else who isn’t ninety.

Damn, he was handsome. My heart was still fluttering. “It’s fine,” I told myself. “It’s fine that my new next door neighbor is a hot firefighter and single dad with muscles for days and dark, broody eyes. It’s fine, because I am the boss of my feelings.”

“Fuck,” I muttered, unable to find another napkin anywhere. “That’s a dollar-fifty, Daddy.” “A dollar-fifty!” I turned around and looked at them in the back seat. “You said yesterday the F word was only a buck.” Hallie smiled sweetly. “Prices go up on Sunday.” “Because of Jesus,” added Luna. Turning around again, I grabbed the wheel and slumped down in my seat.

“It’s like you took a bite of her dessert without being offered a taste, and then told her you didn’t really like it anyway.” Justin shook his head. “Dick move.” “I did like it,” I muttered. “I’m just too fucking old for it.” “She doesn’t know what’s in your head. Trust me, dude. I’ve got four sisters and a wife, and I know how women think. You insulted her, and you should apologize.” I exhaled, afraid he was right. “I don’t even want to face her.” “You live right next door to her. You can’t avoid her forever.” “Why not? I lived in the same house as Naomi for years, and she claims I was excellent at avoiding her.”

“Well, good for you. I think it’s—” Suddenly my sister stopped talking and burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?” I asked. “Oh my God, you don’t see it?” She shook her head, her eyes tearing up. “You have a crush on Dad, Winnie!” My spine snapped straight. “I do not!” “Yes, you do—ex-military, divorced single dad with daughters, swears too much.” She leaned back in her chair and kicked her feet. “It’s totally Dad. And you’re Frannie, complete with gigantic age gap! Just don’t let his daughters find you guys making out in the closet like we caught them.”

“I need to apologize.” “That’s not necessary.” “Yes, it is. I didn’t mean what I said.” “I think you didn’t mean for me to hear it.”

“It’s not your fault,” she said loyally. “Those unavailable asshole types really know how to get under your skin.” “I guess.” I fidgeted in my chair. “But he was so different than those guys. He wasn’t a selfish jerk. He sewed my dress, and he brushed my hair, and he cooked for me—badly, but he tried—and he’s so protective and brave and determined to be a good father . . . he isn’t an asshole deep down, Ellie. I know he isn’t.” She eyeballed me over her shoulder. “Don’t tempt me to like him again. I don’t want to.” I bit my lip. “He rescued children from a burning house.” “Goddammit, Winnie.”

“That’s how I want to be loved—big and crazy. Because that’s how I love.”

“So what exactly are you offering me right now?” She laughed bitterly. “A night? A weekend? A quickie?” “I don’t know,” I said desperately. “I just know I can’t see you and not want to be with you. I told you I loved you, Winnie. Isn’t that enough?” “No.” Wrenching free from my arms, she took a step back. “I want more than that. I want someone who isn’t afraid to take a chance on a future with me. I want someone who doesn’t hide behind excuses. And I want the fucking Frostys.”

“You might be asking the wrong guy here. But for what it’s worth, I knew the day I met Mariah I would marry her.” I groaned. “What is wrong with everybody? How can you know that shit so fast?”

Never let fear get in the way of being the kind of man you want to be. When you look back, what will matter most?

“Yes,” Winnie said, laughing and crying at the same time. She melted into my arms, and held me tight. “I love you too, and yes.” The girls rushed forward and circled both of us in their arms, and my heart had never felt so full. After a moment, we turned to face the stunned crowd. “I got that whole thing on video!” shouted Emmeline, holding up her phone. “You know,” said Winnie’s father, scratching his head, “something about this seems very familiar.” “I thought so too,” said his wife, slipping an arm around his waist. “And I think this calls for some cookies and hot chocolate. Who wants to come in for a minute and let these two have a moment alone?”

“Are you blaming this on me?” Dex asked. “Entirely. If you hadn’t moved in with your grumpy scowl and tight T-shirt, we all might have been spared tonight.” “Don’t make me give you a lecture on how a man’s clothes are not to blame for a woman’s behavior,” he scolded. I laughed. “Let’s call it even.” “Deal.” Leaning close, he whispered in my ear. “As long as I can call you mine.”

I only looked at the ring for a moment before leaning down to kiss him. He stood up, wrapping me in his embrace, and I looped my arms around his neck. As my feet left the ground and his little girls cheered, I felt his heart beating against mine and knew I was safe. I knew today was just the beginning of our life as a family. I knew I’d never forget this moment as long as I lived, and it would be a story we told our grandchildren someday. Overcome with emotion, I buried my face in his shoulder and shed tears of joy—I was loved, I was cherished, I was home.