Love and Landscape (Rockland Falls Book 3)

by Lacey Black

  And just like that, he’s gone, the proposal now a distant second to eating a slice of his birthday cake.

  “I can’t believe you did that now,” she says, placing her hands on my cheeks.

  “It was Max’s idea,” he confesses, shrugging. “We were talking the other day about me asking you to marry me, and he said I should do it in front of Grandma and his aunts and uncles. We decided his birthday party was the perfect place to officially ask you to join our family.”

  She just smiles and glances down at the ring I slipped on her finger. “It’s beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful,” I reply, stealing one last kiss. “What do you say we join everyone and have some celebratory cake?”

  “I say lead the way, handsome,” she says.

  Standing up, I take my fiancée’s hand in my own, and slowly lead her to where my family is gathered to give hugs and congratulations. Max takes the biggest piece he can find over to the patio table and digs in. While Kate hugs my mom, I head over to where my big five-year-old is sitting, shoveling sprinkle-filled cake into his mouth.

  “Did you have a happy birthday?” I ask, even though his birthday was technically the day before. Ashley and I split the weekend, with her taking him all day Saturday and Kate and I having him all day Sunday.

  “Yep! And now Kate is my mommy too!” he says between bites.

  My heart hammers in my chest. I love the way he calls her mommy but know Ashley wouldn’t find it too funny.

  “Daddy? Do I call Kate mommy or Mommy mommy?” he asks, his blue eyes wide with concern.

  “Well, Max, your mommy will always be your mom. She loves you more than anyone else in the whole world. And Kate? Well, Kate loves you too, and she’ll have a special place in your life.”

  “So I’m not losing Mommy?”

  I ache at his young questions. “No, Buddy, you’re not losing your mommy. You know, I bet we could come up with a name that’s just for Kate. You know, something only you call her? It’ll mean she’s as special as your mommy but won’t ever replace her. How does that sound?” I ask, hoping I’m doing the right thing here.

  “How about Mama Kate? Can I call her that?” he asks, his trusting eyes boring into me with anticipation.

  “I think that’s the perfect name for Kate. Mama Kate. Then you can keep calling Mommy by that name, and you’ll have something different for Kate.”

  Max seems to consider it for a second before nodding. “Mama Kate. I like it. Mama Kate, come have cake with me!” he hollers, drawing the attention from everyone in attendance.

  I glance at Kate and see fresh tears swimming in her eyes. She gives Max a grin, grabs a small slice of cake, and heads in our direction.

  She slides onto the bench beside me. “Mama Kate?” she whispers, a hitch very evident when she says those words.

  I shrug. “It was Max’s idea.”

  “Do you like it, Mama Kate? Can I call you that? Then I can keep calling my mommy Mommy,” he says as he scoops another bite of cake in his mouth.

  “I love it. I’d be honored to be called Mama Kate. As long as I can keep calling you Maxalificent,” she insists, taking a small bite of her own cake.

  Max throws his head back and giggles. “It’s just Max!” he declares.

  “Oh, you’re right. I’m sorry, Just Max.”

  His laugher floats all around us as he dives back into his birthday cake.

  I reach over and touch her bottom lip, leaving a trail of icing in its wake. “You missed some…here,” I mutter, moving my fingertip to the seam of her lips.

  Kate opens her mouth and playfully bites the pad before licking off the remaining icing. “Tastes better when I’m eating it off you.”

  A wide smile breaks out on my face. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing.” I kiss her lips once more, savoring the mixture of pure Kate with sugary icing. “I love you, future Mrs. Grayson.”

  “And I love you. Always.”

  The End

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  Acknowledgments

  There are so many that help in the production of a book, and I’m going to try to not forget anyone!

  Sara Eirew – Thank you for another amazing cover photo.

  Melissa Gill – Thank you for bringing the photo to life with this phenomenal cover.

  Give Me Books – Thank you for your tireless work organizing the cover reveal and release.

  Kara Hildebrand – Thank you for your editing expertise.

  Sandra Shipman, Jo Thompson, and Karen Hrdlicka – Thank you for beta and alpha reading, and for your help in making the storyline consistent.

  Kaylee Ryan – Thank you for always being just a text or phone call away.

  Holly Collins – Thank you for always believing in me.

  Brenda Wright, Formatting Done Wright – Thank you for another amazing format.

  My ARC team – Thank you for the early reviews and for sharing the book with the world.

  Lacey’s Ladies – Thank you for your continual support and for making me laugh every day.

  My family, husband, and kids – Thank you for always standing by my side.

  Bloggers and Readers – Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  About the Author

  Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.

  Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com

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  Website: www.laceyblackbooks.com