by Baker, Tory
I kissed her check, then asked the obvious question, “You going to move back if that happens?”
“I just might,” she blew me a kiss and left me standing there speechless. All this time she’s been gone, healing and taking care of herself. Her newfound confidence is startling, but I love the look on her.
Now, I just have to figure out how I want to propose to Kinsley.
I make my way back home, knowing that Kinsley is there, cuddled up on the couch, flipping through the TV channels. I smile at that picture. A lot of the time, when I’m home, I’ll have the television playing softly in the background, and Kinsley will have a book out. I’ll catch her gaze engrossed on the TV, or looking at me, especially when I wear my reading glasses. I’m not ashamed to admit that those moments are some of my favorite.
Making it home in record time, thank you Sunday for little to no traffic in town, I park my SUV in the garage. Seeing Kinsley’s car already parked beside mine solidifies what I already feel deep in my soul.
I get out, making my way inside, and just like I suspected, Kinsley is on the couch, except she’s passed out, dead asleep. This weekend must have worn her out more than I expected, making a mental note to ask Kate to place a help wanted ad for the coffee shop. Kinsley has been meaning to do it, but things keep popping up.
“Kinsley, baby,” I whisper into her ear. My hip is on the couch as I move the hair that’s fallen over her eyes.
“Luke, hmmm,” she mumbles, slowly opening her eyes.
She’s so beautiful, but here like this, just waking up in my house, it’s probably my most favorite of all.
“Come on, let’s go on up to bed,” I look at my watch and realize it’s early. Really too early to go to bed, but if she’s tired, well, I’ll tire her out some more.
“No, I’m okay. Feel like going to get sushi instead?” she bats her pretty eyes.
“Yeah, let me change and we’ll head out,” I say and kiss her, deeply with all the built-up passion I have to give before leaving her in a blissed out state.
33
Kinsley
I open up Topped Off with some pep in my step. Unlocking the door, Stan is already ready and waiting.
“Hey Stan, how are you today?” I ask him.
“Hey Kins, couldn’t be better. How about yourself?” he replies.
“I can’t complain, life is going great my way. You want your usual?”
“That would be good, maybe add in one of those croissants with chocolate that Sloane bakes,” he asks as he pays for his coffee and food.
“Sloane’s croissants are amazing,” my mouth salivates thinking about the one I’m going to devour myself.
I hand Stan his change, he grabs his drink and food, making his way to his usual spot to read his newspaper.
Making my rounds, doing my usual routine around here, checking to make sure we’re well stocked. It only takes a few minutes. I’m really lucky to have the staff that I do, mentally make a new priority on top of my list though, hiring one more team member, it’ll give Kate and I both some relief.
I hear the bell ring from the door opening, I look up and there is Luke. He’s in a three-piece suit looking devastatingly handsome.
I’m behind the counter and instead of him coming behind here with me, he stops in front of the counter. That’s when I notice he has his own cup in his hand.
“Hey, is everything okay?” I ask him.
“Good morning, everything’s great. Can you fill me up?” he hands me his cup. I don’t recognize this one, it’s nothing I’ve seen at either of our places. I stop to look at it, and that’s when I see what he’s done. In his own refillable cup, he’s written, “Kinsley, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” I drop the cup on the counter, look for Luke, noticing that he’s come around to where I’m standing. He’s down on one knee, a ring box in his hand, but other than that, I have nothing left to say. I launch myself at him, kissing him with everything I have.
“Is that a yes?” Luke questions after our kiss.
“Of course, that’s a yes. I can’t believe we’re getting married,” I squeal.
Luke’s hands are wrapped in my hair, he moves me exactly the way he wants as he kisses me, our tongues are dueling against each other’s. We don’t care that the coffee shop has customers. Right now, it’s just the two of us.
That is until Kate comes in and clears her throat, “Congrats you two, but um…why don’t you take the day off,” she suggests.
Luke and I stand, “Thank you, Kate,” I give her a huge hug.
“Thanks,” Luke grunts and guides me out of the coffee shop. What he has planned, I have no idea, but wherever he goes, I’ll always be there with him.
Epilogue
Luke
One Year Later
Walking in the front door, hearing Kinsley talking to our daughter Ryleigh, it’s been a whirlwind of a year, one that started off with a wedding that went off without a hitch. Thanks to both of our moms. What was really a big surprise was finding out Kinsley was pregnant, turns out birth control isn’t always reliable.
“I think daddy’s home, did you hear the garage door open,” I hear Kinsley coo to our infant daughter.
“He couldn’t stay away, I knew he wouldn’t last all day at work, he misses our precious girl too much.” I walk into the living room where we have a makeshift baby area with a bassinet.
“Mommy was right, I can’t stay away from my girls, not just one though,” I kiss Kinsley, and then my arms are wrapped around our sweet baby girl.
Kinsley is taking her maternity leave from Topped Off, but she’s doing it spitting nails. Kate has really helped, but Kinsley still helps with the scheduling, ordering supplies, and bookwork.
I’ve loved Kinsley more and more with every stage life seems to have thrown at us, but motherhood on her, it’s one of my favorites.
Even with messy hair, swollen breasts from nursing our daughter, clothes she hasn’t changed, and was spit up on numerous times, she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“I knew you wouldn’t last, why don’t you put yourself out of misery and work from home for the time being?” Kinsley suggests.
“I think I’ll have to. Michelle kicked me out of the office today, saying I was being an insufferable asshole, she even threatened to call my mother,” I mutter with exasperation, rolling my eyes.
“You must have really pissed her off, what did you do?” she questions.
“Nathaniel, need I say more?” I reply.
“What could he possibly need now?” Kinsley lets out her own puff of air.
“He wasn’t happy with the junior associate I handed him off too, I snapped at him, and then let him go from our firm. It wasn’t the most professional, but at this point with that dumbass, I don’t really care.” I sit down on the couch with Ryleigh on one side of me, cradling her close, while Kinsley on the other side with her head on my shoulder. This right here, it’s perfection.
Epilogue
Kinsley
Eight Years Later
“Ma, mom, mommy!” Cole, our now six-year-old, says through the door.
“Daddy!!” Ryleigh who recently turned seven, exclaims.
“I think it’s time to call in the grandparents, have them all stay with the kids. We have an anniversary of sorts. I’d like be able to go balls deep inside my wife without an interruption once this year,” Luke grunts lazily thrusting inside of me.
“This does seem like it’s happening more and more these days, maybe we should have a vacation of our own?” I suggest.
I feel bad for Luke, I really do. I came, he unfortunately hasn’t yet.
“We’ll be right there,” I say trying my best not to moan.
“Just like that, Kinsley. Squeeze me tighter baby,” he demands.
I do exactly that, wanting him to find his release, like I’ve found mine.
He thrusts harder, I lift u
p to meet him, it doesn’t take us long to reach a tempo. Luke’s head is thrown back and he comes on a guttural groan. I feel him come deep inside me, it sets off another spasm and I come again.
“After all these years and it still gets better. Every single time,” his lips find mine, he gives me a soft kiss.
“I love you, Luke,” I tell him as he lifts off of me, hating that he disentangles himself from my body.
“I love you more, Kinsley,” I watch him walk into the bathroom, naked as the day he was born. I love looking at him.
We made some tough decisions after having Cole, we thought about having more children, but we wanted to give all of our love and devotion to the two children we already have.
Both of us have backed off from our vigorous careers, but we were happy and content. That doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes think about what it would be like to have a couple of more children.
Then I look at the two we have, Cole looking so much like his father. I know I’ll have to beat the girls off with a dang stick.
Though with Ryleigh, Luke says the same thing, that he’ll need stock in shot guns because she looks just like her mom.
Luke comes out of the bathroom with a pair of loose cotton pajama bottoms on, I’m too sated to get up just yet.
“Stay in bed, I’m going to get the kids breakfast. You want to sleep a little more?” he suggests.
“Yeah, maybe we have a lazy day with the kids?” I ask.
“Pizza or sushi?” he replies.
“Is that even a question? Both, sushi for us and pizza for the kids,” I reply. We try to make a family day once a week, and if we can’t, we’ll have a lazy day watching movies, eating junk food, and lounging around.
“Why did I even ask, I’ll see you in a little bit,” Luke gives me one last kiss and heads out the door.
I hear the kids laugh and squeal, knowing they’re both jumping on him, and Luke, he just takes it like the great father he is. Carrying both of them, one will be on his back, and the other in his hands.
As much as I want to sleep just a little more, I’d rather be out in the living room with my family.
Taking a quick shower, throwing on some clothes, I sneak down the stairs. I love sitting on the bottom of the steps listening to the way Luke gives his undivided attention to Ryleigh and Cole. So much has changed since I once met the man I wrote sweet nothings on his coffee cup to get his attention.
“Daddy, I don’t want pizza. I want sushi,” Cole says. I hide my giggle, Cole has no problem eating what Luke and I do. It’s Ryleigh who is the picky one.
“Oh man, that means no pizza. Thanks, Cole,” I can already see Ryleigh standing with her hand on her hip.
“We’re getting both. You know mom will sneak cold pizza for breakfast tomorrow when she thinks we’re not looking,” I sit here listening to them until my own stomach growls, letting me know it’s time to join my family.
Our life couldn’t be more beautiful, and it’s all ours.
The End
Author Links
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Also by Tory Baker
Spreading Christmas Joy
Mail Ordered Bride
Nailed
Doctor For Hire
Going All In
Getting What He Wants
Accidental Daddy
Love Me Forever
Gettin’ Lucky
It’s Her Love
Meant To Be
Breaking His Rules
Can’t Walk Away
Carried Away
In Love With My Best Friend
Must Be Love
Sweet As Candy
Falling For Her
All Yours
Carter Brother Series
Just One Kiss
Just One Touch
Just One Promise
Sweet Enough to Eat Series
Sweet Cheeks Book 1—Olivia Turner
Sweet Curves Book 2—Aria Cole & Mila Crawford
Sweet Nothings Book 3—Tory Baker
Sweet Dreams Book 4—Jamie Schlosser
Sweet Tarte Book 5—Dani Wyatt
Sweet Spot Book 6—Frankie Love