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I don’t even have to think about my answer. “Yes.” It’s too soon. I’m fresh off a divorce, but this time it’s different. It’s not the logical next step. It’s passion and love and everything in between. I know that Declan is in my future. I know that the life he painted for us is one I can’t wait to live with him. I can’t wait to stand next to him as we make it all come true. Society standards be damned. I love this man, he loves me, and this is our life.
“Fuck yes.” He stands and lifts me into the air, spinning me around. Then he proceeds to strip me naked and make love to me. We make use of the hotel room twice before he demands that we go pick out an engagement ring.
“I want you to pick it out,” I tell him as we check out of the hotel. The lady behind the counter gives us a knowing look, but neither one of us can find it in us to care. We’re both on cloud nine. Nothing is going to break this spell that we’re under. This is who we are. This is how we love. Endlessly and without reservation.
“What do you want to do?” Declan asks once we’re back on the road.
“I want to go see Blakely.” I hesitate. “I need to call my parents, and Morgan, and… your family.”
“We’re going to go to my place. We’ll hold off on telling Blake. You can decide how you want to announce it. I know the ladies already know. I assume some of my brothers do as well. I know Sterling and Brooks know.”
“I guess I need to pack up my place in Florida and put it on the market. I’ll have to find storage and talk to Grandma about staying with her a little longer.”
“Whoa, now, hold up. You’re staying with me. In my bed. Every single night. You agreed to be my wife. There are no take backs, Kens.”
“I just thought until we told everyone, you’d want to go slow.”
“Fuck slow. I want you with me. I want to be there for the cravings and the nesting. I want to watch your body change and grow, and I want to make love to you every single night. I can’t do that if you’re not living with me.”
“We’re really doing this?”
“It’s done. You said yes.” He grins and leans over the console to kiss me. “Now, let’s go see our little girl.”
My heart is so full that it could burst. When I came to Willow River, it was to take care of my grandma. I never expected to fall in love and form such close friendships. I hate that my grandma broke her leg, but that fall brought me here. To the man who healed my heart and loved me with everything that he is.
“I love her,” I tell him as we turn on his road. “I promise you there will not be a day that goes by that that little girl won’t know how much I love her. Thank you for trusting me with her heart and yours.”
He pulls into the garage and turns to face me. He reaches out and places his hand over my belly. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Welcome home, Kens.” He smiles, and it's one I’ll never forget. Pure happiness and love radiate from him. I follow him into the house, and immediately Blakely comes running.
“Kenny! I missed you whole bunches.”
Dropping to my knees, I pull her into a hug. “I missed you too.”
My daughter.
It’s not my DNA running through her veins, but I’ll be the one to fix her scraped knees, teach her to cook, and help her pick out her wedding dress. She’ll never wonder what the love of a mother feels like. She’ll have all of mine.
I stand and go to Alyssa and pull her into a hug. “Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome. All good?” she asks.
“Perfect,” I tell her.
She smiles. “Told you it would work out.”
“You were right,” I tell her. I could never have imagined that this is how things would turn out, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hopeful that Declan would still want me. Want us, I think as I place my hands on my belly.
“Who’s hungry?” Declan asks.
“Me!” Blakely jumps, raising her hand in the air. “Can we have pizza?”
“Babe? How does that sound to you?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Kenny likes cheese like me,” Blakely tells her dad.
His eyes find mine, and he winks.
We spend the afternoon chatting with Sterling and Alyssa. When we finally get Blakely to bed, we form a plan to tell our families. We decided that inviting my parents to Willow River was the easiest. They just got back from an Alaskan cruise. When I call Morgan and ask her if she can come, she tells me she’s pregnant and has been sick, and doesn’t want to travel. It’s soon as Iris is just four months old, but she’s thrilled, and I’m thrilled for her. I spill the beans catching her up on all that’s happened since the last time we talked. I apologize for not calling her much while I’ve been gone. She said we have our own families, and no matter where life takes us, we’ll always be best friends.
