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“She was never yours. You signed away your rights before she was even born,” I hiss at Harry.
The man shows his stupidity and scoffs, “Because you were stupid enough to get pregnant.”
Tanner’s fingers tighten on my hip to the point it’s bordering on painful, but I’m not going to say anything. He’s trying not to turn aisle five into a bloodbath. I’m tempted to let him off his leash, but not in front of Shiloh.
“It takes two, fucker,” Tanner’s practically foaming at the mouth. “You were both there, but it seems Journey is the only one who had to deal with the consequences. I’m so fucking glad she did because now I have an amazing woman who learned from her past and a daughter who makes me proud with every breath she takes.”
I fucking melt.
Is this guy for real?
Swoon. Huge fucking swoon.
I cling to Tanner, hoping he knows just how much his words mean to me. How much they speak to my heart.
He glances down at me, and his eyes soften. Before he turns back to Harry, who is turning bright red, he kisses my lips with so much tenderness it makes me wish we weren’t in the middle of the grocery store right now.
“Let me make something very clear,” Tanner’s voice is so loud that I’d be surprised if people on the other side of the store near the frozen foods can’t hear him, “Journey and Shiloh are mine. I will not allow them to be disrespected any longer. If you have a problem with it, come and talk to me.”
Harry’s wife finally seems to get with the plot and gives his arm a tug. With a look of disgust, he turns and power walks down the aisle. His wife looks like a prized poodle as she follows behind him, her voice hitting a shrill note as she starts to question what our interaction was all about.
I guess Harry wasn’t very upfront with his wife. Shocking.
Tanner and I turn back toward the cart to find Shiloh looking at us. “What a jerk,” she mutters with a shake of her head and an eye roll. She looks at Tanner and grins at him, “Thanks, Tanner, for having our back.”
Have you ever seen a biker brought to his knees? It’s something to see.
He leans over the front of the cart and kisses my daughter’s forehead. “Always,” he rumbles.
“Can we go home and make cookies for Santa?” Shiloh holds up the frosting and sprinkles already in the cart. “He’s going to need my best work this year since he’ll need to deliver my presents somewhere new.”
I start to giggle as the weight of the past is gone from my shoulders. Shiloh joins me and then Tanner chuckles. I don’t think the day can get any better.
At least until hours later when I watch Tanner and Shiloh put their heads together with deep concentration on their faces while a mess of cookies and decorating paraphernalia covers Tanner’s kitchen island.
“I really think the mittens should be green,” he tells her seriously.
“But I have pink mittens,” she insists like it’s a real argument.
“How about red? You can decorate with pink sprinkles though.”
She nods and then smiles up at Tanner like he’s the smartest person in the whole wide world. It makes my heart pound in my chest.
I can feel it—something is about to change.
Shiloh bites her lip, and I can see the wheels turning in her head before she blurts, “You said that Mommy and I are yours at the store?”
“That’s right,” Tanner confirms. He looks into her eyes, showing her the truth of his words. “You are both more important to me than I could ever say. I want to make sure you’re both happy and protected for the rest of your lives.”
“I love you too,” Shiloh sighs.
Tanner looks at me and I swear there are tears in his eyes. When he looks back at Shiloh, he swallows hard, but his words still come out as a rasp, “I love you, Shiloh. I’m so proud that you’re one of my girls.”
Shiloh gives him a timid smile; one I can’t remember seeing on her face before. “Can I call you ‘Daddy’?”
My breath hitches and so does Tanner’s. He looks at me and I find myself smiling and giving him a small nod.
“If you want to, little one. It would be a great honor.”
