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Happily ever after didn’t always mean pregnancy and a diamond ring. Sometimes it also meant only working forty hours a week and discovering who I was as an adult and as a woman.
“I’m proud of you both. You, for trusting him, and him, for being a good enough man to make you believe you could, despite what he grew up witnessing.”
A kid can be born happy, but it’s the love they receive that teaches their heart to be gentle.
“I don’t think there’s a single man on this Earth who loves someone more than he loves you.”
“I’ve never seen a man look at someone the way my son looks at you, Madison. Harry and Sarah included. That man is head over heels in love with you, and there’s not a soul who can’t see it.” She tipped her head toward the window. “And he loves that boy.”
“Ask him, Madison. Get it over with so we can all celebrate tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to turn my white noise on loud tonight.” Then she turned and ambled out, grabbing a cookie from the island as she did.
“I miss home every time I’m at work. Every day I walk out of our home and have to spend hours away from you and Jamie, I miss it.”
“Yes, you hot mess of a woman,” he said, answering my unspoken question. “Do I miss my mother and some of the memories I made in this town? Of course, I do. But my home is with you, wherever that may be.”
“Now get this ass naked so I can spend Christmas Eve permanently engraving my name on the naughty list.”
“Jamie’s asleep next door. Do I need to find something to tie around this pretty mouth, or can you keep quiet?” “I can be quiet,” I said, my voice already breathy and desperate. A year of being touched in every possible way by this man, and I was still putty in his hands. “Shame,” he said, dropping his hand and leaning down to whisper, “I like it better when you can’t.”
“Tell me you’re mine, Garrett Rowe.” He pulled back to look down at me, the glittering hazel of his eyes bright and fierce. “Fucking hell, Maddie, I’ve never been anything else.”
“If you think for even a second that I’m going to go a single night without seeing my future wife shatter beneath me,” he said, slamming so deep I saw fucking stars, “you better reevaluate your goddamn expectations, baby. Now, do it.”
“If you think I’m going to take this ring off until we’re home, you’ve lost your fucking mind, Maddie. It’s not going anywhere.”
Garrett’s smile only got bigger. Probably because he’d spent his Christmas morning burying his face between my thighs rather than sleeping in. “You’re not in trouble for eating extra muffins.”
“I am part of your family, bud. Your mom meant in a permanent manner.” “As in you’ll move into our side of the house?” “As in, I want to marry your mother.”
“I haven’t bought her a ring yet. Your mom beat me to the punch,” Garrett said, answering his unspoken question. “But, if you’re okay with this, I thought maybe you could go with me to pick one out.”
“Does this mean I’ll call you Dad now?”
“I’m going to make something very clear to you, Jamie Hartland. You are not, and never have been, a second thought. Yes, I love your mother, and yes, I want to marry her because I love her. But I am not only marrying her.” He tapped him under the chin with a knuckle, making sure Jamie met his eyes before he continued. “I slipped this ring on my finger knowing full well, that when I did, it’d mean I also got to have you.”
