“Sweetheart, you will be the perfect mother because of how awful your mother was. You would never treat our child like your mother treated you,” Ace whispered to her quietly. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. I can’t stand it.”
Daisy dabbed at her eyes. Ace suddenly stood and took her by the hand. “Excuse us for a moment,” Ace said to the group as he led Daisy out of the dining room and out a back door to a lovely patio. It was spacious with a firepit, a large BBQ grill, and a couple of tables with lots of chairs sitting around. Ace led her over to some chairs. He took a seat and pulled her into his lap.
“I’m sorry sweetheart. I shouldn’t have hit you with that in front of everyone,” Ace began. “I know we haven’t been together very long, but I want a future with you. I want to marry you, get you pregnant, and finally grow old with you. I love you. I knew the moment I saw you on that plane you were the woman for me. I just had to convince you. I am a patient man. I can wait until you are ready for all of it. But know this, I am not giving you up. You are mine,” Daisy was again speechless for a moment then she responded passionately.
“Ace, I agree we are moving a little fast, but you make me want all of those things, too. I have never felt like I feel when I am with you. I can see our future. I never thought I would have one. I didn’t deserve it, but now I want all of those things. I want to deserve to be happy. Thank you for not giving up on me when I was being such a bitch to you,” Daisy leaned down to place a kiss on his lips. Ace deepened the kiss. His hand moved up to her nape and twined his fingers into her hair. He angled her head like he wanted it. His other hand slipped under her blouse to cup a breast. Daisy moaned into him. She ran her hands over his biceps and up to his head. She held him to her. They were lost in each other for several moments until they heard someone clearing their throat followed by several others chuckling.
Daisy jerked away from Ace. He just licked his lips and continued to hold her. He causally slipped his hand out of her blouse and planted another kiss on her lips, before he turned to acknowledge their audience. Daisy was blushing profusely. She hid her face in Ace’s neck until she could get herself under control.
“Diner is over?” Ace asked the guys that had come out on the patio.
“Yeah, we thought it would be nice to enjoy the night air. We didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” Hawk said with a smirk. Charlotte came outside about that time with the twins in tow. She took in the scene and immediately swatted Hawk on the arm.
“Ouch! What was that for?” He yelped. He rubbed his arm as if it really hurt, but he was grinning like a fool. He knew exactly why she was chastising him.
“You shouldn’t have interrupted them,” Charlotte scolded him. “You surely haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be newly in love,” Charlotte smiles at him coyly.
“No, love I haven’t forgotten. I fall more in love with you every day,” Hawk said sincerely as he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. Charlotte smiled back at him. It was clear to see the love in their eyes as they gazed at one another. At that moment, Joshua squealed loudly wiggling out of his mother’s arms. He ran across the patio and jumped into Ace’s lap on top of Daisy.
“Aceeee!” He shrieked as scrambled up to plant a slobbery kiss on Ace’s cheek. Daisy was surprised, but pleased the little boy seemed to be enthralled with Ace and not at all afraid of her.
“Hey, sport! What are you up to tonight?” Ace easily took the boy in his arms and kissed his little head.
“Nothin’ Who’s this lady? She’s pretty, but I don’t want her to sit in your lap. That’s my spot,” Joshua pouted.
“This is Daisy. She’s my girlfriend and you are going to have to learn to share my lap, because I like her sitting in it,” Ace laughed as he settled the boy with him and Daisy.
“Why? Do you kiss her like Daddy does Mommy?” the little boy asked innocently.
“Yes, I do,” Ace declared and proceeded to demonstrate by kissing Daisy deeply on the mouth.
“Does she have a baby in her belly too like Mommy?” Daisy strangled on her own spit at the child’s innocent question.
“Um…no. Not yet,” Ace answered as Daisy proceeded to slap his arm much as Charlotte had Hawk earlier. The crowd laughed hardily at the antics going on in front of them.
“What? What’s so funny?” Joshua asked. No one ever answered the child as they were all laughing too hard. Once everyone had settled down, they joined in friendly conversation. The ladies went back inside to help Charlotte prepare dessert for everyone.
Daisy was surprised at how easy Charlotte, Lisa, and Elise were to talk to. They welcomed her with open arms. They were chatting with her as if they had known her forever. Daisy had never had friends like this before. It felt really good. Daisy was again thankful that Ace had never given up on her.
“Ok, Daisy time to spill. How did you and Ace get together?” Charlotte asked while they were making coffee and putting brownies and cupcakes on plates to take outside.
“On a cargo plane headed to Afghanistan,” Daisy laughed as she remembered the day they met. “I was hoping for a nice quiet flight, but instead I was accompanied by 10 badass Marines. They didn’t take the hint that I just wanted to sleep. Well I should say; Ace wouldn’t take the hint. He insisted that I tell him why I was going overseas. How many times I had been over there, and he had lots of other nosey questions. I finally just closed my eyes and went to sleep. I had a nightmare and he was consoling me when I woke. I tried so hard to not like him, but I couldn’t forget him. He gave me his name and email address. A week later they bring this lovely lady to my hospital ward to be checked out,” Daisy gestured toward Elise. “Ace bullied me into giving him my email address. He emailed me every day for 2 weeks, before I caved and wrote him back. He just got under my skin; you know?”
“I know,” Charlotte and Elise said at the same time and then laughed. “Tell us the rest,” Charlotte demanded.
“Well, several months later I went out on a rescue mission to recover some soldiers that their helicopter had crashed, but unfortunately our bird was shot down shortly after we had recovered the men. Ace and his team were sent to bring us home. He’s been practically glued to my side since. Well except for a couple of days when we first got back. He got called for a mission almost as soon as we got home,” Daisy laughed.
“Sorry,” Elise said, apologetically. “They were called to bring me home…again.” Daisy looked at Elise with concern. “It’s a long story, but I’ll fill you in sometime.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret about these men,” Charlotte said. “When they get latched onto you, they aren’t going to let go no matter what. You might as well get used to it. Ace is a good man. He will take care of you. You will never want for anything.”
“I have always taken care of myself. It’s a little hard for me to let go, but it does feel nice to have someone looking out for me,” Daisy confessed as she thought about the relationship she and Ace had formed. It was surprisingly comfortable. She didn’t feel smothered like she had expected to feel if she ever allowed a man into her life.
“Well you all can have those Alpha men if it makes you happy,” Lisa interjected. “As for me, I am done with men, dating, and the whole nine yards. It’s been nothing but heartache for me.”
“You haven’t allowed the right man into your life,” Charlotte admonished. “I know the perfect one for you, if you would give him a chance.” Lisa just rolled her eyes at her friend.
“Charlotte, I love you, but I am not going to let you play matchmaker. I told you, I’m done with it. I’m not ever going to get my heart broken again,” Lisa said, adamantly. Charlotte gave her friend a sad look, but didn’t continue to argue.
