“Um, now?”
She smiled as she chuckled. “No, not right now. Maybe after hunting season or even around Christmas. I’ve always wanted to get married at Christmas time.”
Holy shit. I could hear my heart beating in my ears. When I didn’t say anything, her face fell. “If you’re not ready to…”
“Yes! Yes, I want to get married. Shit, I would do it today if you wanted to. But, what about a wedding? You don’t want a big wedding with our family and friends?”
Taking my hand in hers, she stared into my eyes. “I know this is going to sound insane, but with everything we’ve been through, I really want it to only be us. Somewhere amazing and romantic, with only me and you. Something we can share together. We can have a huge reception when we get back. But when your mom and my mom started talking wedding plans, I knew right then and there what I truly wanted.”
“Baby, if that is what you really want then that is what I want. Whatever makes you happy.”
She grinned wide and before I knew it, she was on my lap with her lips pressed to mine. It didn’t take my hands long to find her soft skin under her shirt. When she pressed her warmth into my hard dick, we both moaned.
“Sex in the truck … I like it,” I spoke against her lips.
We both yelled out when someone tapped on the window. Turning, we saw Dave.
“Oh. My. God. Two times in one day!” Emylie gasped as she quickly retreated and sat in the passenger seat.
I rolled the window down and Dave shook his head. “Dude, seriously?”
With a deep roar of laughter, I held up my hand. “Sorry! We got caught up in the moment. Leaving right now.”
He nodded. “Good.” Leaning in and looking directly at Emylie he said, “And stay buckled up. We don’t need him distracted while he’s driving.”
Her face turned fifty shades of red. “Right. Got it. Staying in my seat.”
“Talk to you soon, Warner.”
With a nod, I started up the truck and we headed to her folks’ place.
“I have one more surprise for you.”
There was no doubt I could feel the happiness pouring off of her and I knew this would be the cherry on top.
“Oh yeah? When do I get it?”
“Soon.”
Ten minutes later we pulled up to Mario and Kim’s house and parked on the street behind Mason’s truck.
“Wow how did everyone get here so quick?” Emylie asked.
“Well we did have that moment in the parking lot of the gas station.”
She giggled. “You mean the one where the cop told us to knock it off and get a move on?”
“At least we’ll have something to tell our kids when we’re older.”
Her smile grew bigger. “You think about kids?”
Lifting her hand to my lips, I turned it over and kissed her wrist, but not before running my tongue lightly over her skin. She inhaled a deep breath. “Yes. All the time. I picture you pregnant and standing on our back porch with my hands wrapped around you and resting on our child while we watch the sun set.”
Tears filled her eyes. “That sounds amazing.”
I placed my hand behind her neck and pulled her closer to me. The kiss was soft and tender, yet filled with so much love you could feel it pouring between the two of us.
“Ready for your surprise?”
She nodded her head. “I am!”
Pulling away from her, I opened my door and called out over my shoulder, “Then let’s get inside!”
I rushed around the front of the truck and took her hand in mine as she got out. We headed up the stairs of her parents’ house. The door opened and Carter stood there with a huge smile on his face.
“Carter?” Emylie gasped. “Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?”
She threw herself into his arms as he gave her a hug. Tori appeared next to him with a glow that practically lit up the entire room.
“Tori! Oh my gosh!” Emylie squealed with delight as the two women embraced each other.
Tori pulled back. “Let me see the ring!”
Carter reached out and shook my head. “Congrats, dude. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Carter. The same to you.”
“Let me see your ring!” Emylie exclaimed. Both girls took off for the living room to join Becca and a few other friends.
Carter and I hung back a little way. “So? I asked as I looked at him.
He pushed his hand through his hair and my heart dropped a little. Then he smiled the biggest megawatt smile I’d ever seen.
“Holy shit, dude. Are y’all?”
He nodded. “Yep. She’s barely five weeks so we don’t really want to say anything yet, but, Tori really wants to be the one to tell Emylie.”
“I understand, and I get not wanting to tell folks yet. Do your parents know?”
He shook his head. “No. Dad’s officially cancer free, so we’ve been riding that high for a few days. We decided to wait until we’re nine weeks, then tell everyone.”
I grabbed his shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. “I’m so happy for you both.”
His eyes watered up and he glanced over to Emylie. “I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t met Emylie up at Jamie and Jax’s place. I truly believe she was placed there at the right time and for the right reason. If it hadn’t been for her, I’m not sure if Tori and I would have found our way back to each other.”
My gaze was locked on my beautiful girl. Her long dark hair was pulled up and a few strands of hair framed her beautiful face. You could see the excitement of today shining off of her. From her rose-colored cheeks to the way her smile lit up the room.
She must have felt my stare. When she looked over at me, our gaze locked and I was overcome with the way she held my attention like we were the only two people in the room. This amazing woman loved me even after all the shit I had put her through. She was my rock. The only thing that I would ever need in this world to make me happy.
With a huge smile, I kept my focus on her. “Y’all would have found your way back to each other trust me. That’s the great thing about love … when it’s real and it’s meant to be … there is nothing that will stand in its way.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Carter added with a slight chuckle. “At times, it was an uphill battle that I thought I wasn’t going to win.”
I nodded in agreement. “We both walked along a broken road to get back to the women we loved. But every mistake, lost dream, and broken heart led us to right now.”
Emylie’s gaze never left mine as I spoke.
My chest tightened and I slowly lost awareness of my surroundings. I felt completely whole as we got lost in one another. “I’ll treasure this day for the rest of my life.”
For one moment in time it was only the two us in that room. No words needed to be said. We felt it. An emotion so strong it about brought me to my knees at least once a day.
Love.
Our love.
Thirteen months later
TRYING TO CATCH my breath, I leaned against the wall and watched everyone dancing.
“Don’t tell me the dancing queen is tired.”
Turning to face Carter, I rolled my eyes. “Hardly. But considering I’ve been dancing circles around you for the last few hours, I feel as if I deserve a break.”
He grinned and looked out at the dance floor. It was three days before Christmas and two days before my one-year wedding anniversary. Holden had decided to throw a huge hoedown, and of course, Carter and Tori had to be here. Their little girl Carrie was almost five-months-old and the apple of Carter’s eye.
My gaze drifted across the dance floor and landed on Holden. “Seems like someone is stealing your girl.”
Carter let out a gruff laugh. “Please. She knows who the true man in her life is. Her daddy.”
I could hardly breathe watching Holden dancing with little Carrie. It was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. No, that wasn’t true. The sweetest thing I’d ever seen was the first ti
me he held her. We had flown up after the birth and when Carter placed his daughter in Holden’s arms and he teared up, I wondered how I could possibly fall more in love with him.
“You excited?” Carter asked.
“Yes.”
“Getting closer,” Carter whispered as he nudged my arm with his.
With a light-hearted laugh, I nodded. “I know.”
“Don’t worry. Everything is going to be perfect.”
I chewed on my lip. “I hope so.”
Carter grabbed my arms and turned me to face him. “Talk to me, Emylie. I see it in your eyes.”
The sting of the threat of tears, forced me to close my eyes tightly then re-open them. “I’m worried that she’s going to show up again.”
His expression softened. “She won’t. You haven’t heard from her since that day you left California right?”
I nodded.
“Then stop worrying. Even if she did try something, you know Holden would stop it before it started.”
Sighing, I blew out a breath. “I know I’m being silly.”
Carter kissed the top of my forehead. “Yes, you are. Now come on, I think you have one more dance left in you.”
As we headed to the dance floor, “That’s My Girl” by Russell Dickerson started. Carter and I danced to the first verse before Holden cut in.
Motioning over to Carter’s daughter, Holden gushed, “I believe you have a blue-eyed beauty wanting you.”
A wide grin spread over Carter’s face. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
Holden wrapped me up in his embrace. “How’s it going?”
“It’s going.”
“You having fun?”
With a smile, I nodded. “But you know what I really want?”
His mouth trailed kisses across my neck until his hot breath hit my ear, causing my body to tremble.
“Tell me, baby.”
“I want to be wrapped in your arms in the back of your truck looking up at the night sky.”
“Hmm, that sounds like heaven. Me and you and no one else. The crickets playing our song while the moon shines down on us.” Pulling back, he observed my face. “You sure you feel up to it?”
With a nod, I smiled. “Positive.”
Holden soon had my hand in his as we bid everyone a good night and informed Carter of our plans. Tori leaned over and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. “Don’t get caught by anyone if y’all do the deed.”
My cheeks burned as I let out a chuckle. “Don’t stay up and wait for us.”
“Oh, trust me, we won’t. I’m going to crash when we get back to your place, and I know Carrie will be out like a light the moment she hits the car seat.”
Carter, Tori, and Carrie were staying with us while they were in town visiting. I loved having them stay with us. It brought such a new life to the house.
I laughed and gave Carrie a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, if not in the morning.”
Tori wagged her brows and teased, “Have fun!”
Holden practically dragged me away and out to his truck. It didn’t take us long to drive out to the south pasture and park in our favorite spot. Sitting in the back of his truck and looking at the stars wasn’t something new. We’d been doing it since high school. Holden always carried a blanket and two pillows in his truck, just in case we found ourselves in the mood.
After getting it all set up, he helped me up on the step that led to the bed of his truck. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I figured you would be more comfortable if we sat up.”
“Probably,” I agreed. I stood in the bed of his truck and looked up at the night sky.
His hands landed on my nine-month swollen belly. “How are you feeling tonight, Mrs. Warner?”
“Very pregnant.”
The moon shone perfectly on his face and I could see his wide smile. “You look beautiful.”
With a frown, I shook my head. “I don’t feel like it.”
He carefully led me over to the area he had set up for us. Holden sat first then guided me down. I let out a contented sigh and molded right into his warm body.
I felt Holden’s chest vibrate as he let out a chuckle. “You know, I really do think we conceived this baby in this exact spot.”
Warmth spread over my body. “I think so too.”
“Are you happy, Em?”
Dropping my head back against his chest, I looked up at the stars. “I’ve never been happier.”
His hands rubbed lightly over my stomach. “Oh, I think something will make you a bit happier if she would ever make her appearance.”
With a grin, I let out a soft sigh. “Are you nervous?”
“Yep. You?”
“Scared to death.”
His lips found that area beneath my ear that always made my panties wet. “Do you need a bit of stress relief?”
I let out a moan and whispered, “Yes.”
His hands expertly found their way to my clit as he softly built up my orgasm. The things he whispered in my ear that he wanted to do to me had me squeezing onto his legs as he slipped his fingers inside of me. I must have been desperate for the release because it hit me hard and fast. My eyes closed as bursts of lights danced behind my lids. With my body trembling, I called out Holden’s name into the night sky.
“Oh, baby, I love hearing you cry out my name when you come.”
My breathing was labored and my heart raced. When his hands touched my stomach again, I froze.
“Damn, why is your stomach so tight?”
I gripped his legs again. “Oh God. Contraction.”
“What!” Holden said as he somehow managed to get out from behind me without me falling back.
“Did you say … contraction?”
With a slight giggle, I looked up at him. I wasn’t sure if that was fear or excitement I was seeing on his face as the moonlight hit him.
“Looks like that orgasm gave her a little wake-up call.”
He reached and helped me stand. “Come on, let’s get back to the house. I’ll start timing them,” Holden said as he jumped off the bed of the truck and then helped me down but kept me in his arms.
“I can walk, you know.”
He laughed and then stopped walking. “Did you just pee on me?”
My smile fell.
Biting into my lip, I drew in a deep breath before exhaling it. “My water broke.”
He slowly set my feet on the ground and cupped my face within his hands.
“Holy shit!”
I reached up and took a hold of his arms. “I know! This is it.”
He shook his head. “No! That was so close. Thank God you weren’t in my truck when your water broke.”
And just like that, my fear slipped away and I started laughing.
Life from this point on would never be the same.
It would be better.
So. Much. Better.
Two years later
“ARE WE READY?” I called out while lighting the candles on Alana’s birthday cake.
I heard a loud crash and cringed. I didn’t dare ask what happened. “Almost!” Holden called out.
Sage came running into the kitchen. “Um, Aunt Emylie?”
“Yeah?” I asked as I lit the last candle. Our folks were running behind and told us to start since Alana was past her naptime and on the verge of a breakdown.
“Daddy and Uncle Holden broke Alana’s new swing set.”
My mouth dropped. “What do you mean, broke it?”
She placed her hands on her hips and I was instantly taken back to a time on a playground when her mother did the same thing at almost the same age. “I told them not to get on it, but they insisted it would be okay. The seesaw broke, but Daddy promised Mommy he could fix it.”
With a frustrated moan, I walked over and looked out the window to the backyard. I covered my mouth as I watched a very pregnant Becca yelling at Mason and Holden. Alana was standing next to her looking up taking it all in. Every now and the
n she would jump up and down laughing.
“Oh geesh. We better go save your dad and Holden.”
Sage’s gaze lit up. “Alana’s birthday cake is so pretty!”
I glanced down at the Winnie the Pooh themed cake. Winnie the Pooh was Alana’s favorite. Everything in our life was that stupid bear right now.
“Thanks! Okay, let’s get it out there and get this birthday party started. Will you grab the plates, Sage?”
“Sure!” She quickly grabbed them and was smart enough to grab the bucket full of plastic forks and napkins.
When I stepped out onto the back porch, I looked at Sage and nodded. We both started singing happy birthday. Alana shrieked with happiness as we made our way over to the table. Holden scooped her up and placed her on his shoulders as we sang to our two-year-old daughter. She clapped and laughed and screamed out “Pooh” when she saw the cake up close.
Leaning her over the cake, we all counted to three and blew the candles out with her then clapped. Holden set her on the table and before any of us could do a thing, her entire face landed on the top of the cake and she went to town eating it.
All we could do was stand there stunned as she lifted up her head and flashed a huge grin. “Yummy cake!”
I covered my mouth and tried not to laugh. Becca, on the other hand, lost it laughing, as did Sage.
Holden and Mason looked devastated. All they had been talking about for the last four hours was wanting a piece of cake.
Dropping my hands, I glanced around at everyone. Holden actually looked like he had tears in his eyes. “I had cupcakes made as well. They’re in the dining room.”
It was like watching a race with the way Mason, Sage, and Holden ran into the house.
Becca rolled her eyes as I attempted to get Alana away from the cake.
“Yummy cake, Mommy!”
Wiping her face off, I replied, “I wouldn’t know, princess. You face-planted in it.”
She laughed like I had told her the funniest thing in the world.
“Oh, man. I can’t wait to do all of this again,” Becca confessed while rubbing her stomach.
With a sigh, I shook my head. “I’m beginning to think I should have my head examined thinking I wanted another this soon.”
I picked up my little messy girl and nestled her above my swollen belly.