Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
She’s openly crying now, but her smile is still the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen when she says, “Yes. Yes, baby. There’s nothing I’d rather do with this one precious life than spend it with you.” She sniffs, adding with a grin, “And Elvis.”
It’s the perfect thing to say to get us laughing again.
But then, she always knows the perfect thing to say, a fact she proves when I tell her I booked us a three-day weekend in Austin to celebrate and she says, “I’m going to ride you wearing nothing but a cowboy hat and smile, future husband.” She arches a brow. “But that was kind of cocky, I’m not going to lie. Just assuming I’d say yes and planning a celebration trip.”
I grin. “The fact that you’re already sleeping in my bed every night and telling me you love me first thing every morning gave me hope. A little bit.”
She laughs. “Valid.”
I take her hand and nod toward the crowd of biker friends and family who are trying—and failing—not to stare at the scene we’re making. “Shall we share the news?” I whisper. She nods and I lift our joined hands into the air and shout, “She said yes!” A cheer erupts, making it clear all the people we love are overjoyed.
Sarah Beth runs over, her jaw open. “She said yes to what?”
“Tatum said yes to being my wife,” I say. “And your mom. We’re going to get married.”
The joy on my daughter’s face as she runs to Tatum, screaming, “You’re my mom for real! For real for real!” is enough to make me start crying all over again. I watch them hug and swipe tears off my cheeks with the backs of my hands, feeling so lucky it’s pouring out of my eyeballs.
Basically, I’m a hot fucking mess.
But Fred, ever an unexpected source of strength and wisdom, has a hanky and a word of wisdom for me, “You’re doing it all just right,” he whispers, patting me on the back. “When I proposed to Perry last month, I cried, too. There was snot everywhere. Snot proves it’s real love.”
I laugh and give him a hug, thanking him again for the part he played in helping me win the girl.
“My pleasure, buddy,” he says. “I had to. Any fool with eyes can see you two belong together.”
“Okay, let’s let Daddy and Tatum eat and get ready to go,” my mom says, putting an arm around Sarah Beth. “Remember, I told you they’re going on a surprise trip for a few days and you’re going to stay with me.”
Sarah Beth nods, still beaming like she just got her Christmas presents early. “I’m so excited. I get to be the flower girl, Grammy, Tatum said!”
My mom smiles. “And you’ll be a beautiful one.” She reaches for Tatum, pulling her into a hug, “Congratulations, sweet girl, and welcome to the—” She breaks off with an excited yelp and pulls back, pointing to the table behind Tatum’s back. “Is that what I think it is? Are we having another baby?”
Tatum laughs and nods. “We are. Surprise!”
My mother is apoplectic with joy and Sarah Beth does a spontaneous dance around the entire group gathered around us, singing, “I’m going to be a big sister! I’m going to be a big sister!” in a lovely voice she definitely didn’t get from me.
But that’s okay. My serenade still helped me win a chance at this woman’s big heart. And now she’s mine, and I’m hers, and we’re going to be a family for real.
A tight, loving, growing family.
No more waiting. No more faking it until I make it.
From now on, I get to live the life I’ve always wanted, with the woman of my dreams.
“We’re having trout pinball at the wedding,” Tatum says as we share a big stack of pancakes. “And you’re going to play inappropriately close to me and fondle my butt. For old times’ sake.”
I grin. “I won’t be able to keep my hands off of you, baby.”
She grins. “Good. That’s very good.”
And it is.
Barrett
Maybe it’s the romance in the air.
Maybe it’s the three glasses of champagne with too little orange juice.
But for some reason I can’t stop thinking about that night with Wren, that night that never should have happened. The one I swore I would forget the morning I got that text from her, the one stating that she was taking a three-month sabbatical and had arranged for Kinsey to take her place as head nurse until she returned.
I tried to text her back, to insist we talk about what happened before she ran away from me like a child, but she’d blocked my number.
Blocked. My. Number.
I was so angry; I swore I’d fire her the second she came back. But she’s the best nurse I have, the office hasn’t run properly since she left, and then there’s the irritating fact that I’m pretty sure I’m in love with her.