by Lola Kidd
He nodded. “Okay.”
“Yeah, and also, I was wondering if you wanted to do joint holidays while George was young. You don’t have to answer that now, but that was where my head was at. I think we can get along and neither of us have to miss out on any of the special memories while he’s young. My family would love to have you and I think it would be good for George too. But if you don’t want to, that’s fine too. Totally up to you and I’m fine with whatever you decide.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
Now for the hard part. So far it had been all about their son, but now she had to tell him what she was feeling between them.
She rubbed her hands together. “Look...I like you, okay? I know I’ve been awful these last few days, but I’ve been fighting a lot of emotions. I like you more than I thought I would and it’s been tough for me. I don’t know how to balance out what’s good for my son and what’s good for me.”
“Are those two opposite here?” he interrupted. “If you do what’s good for George, shouldn’t it also be what’s good for you.”
She shook her head. “Not really. I would like to get to know you more. Go on dates with you. But while you might be good for single me, I don’t know if you’ll be good for George and me as a little unit. There’s so much more to consider now.”
“I’m going to be a damn good father,” he told her. “You don’t need to worry about that. If that’s your fear, give me time. I’m going to prove all your fears were unfounded.”
“I hope so.”
“And if you want to date me, that would be wonderful. I mean, I don’t want to freak you or anything, but I think it would be great if we could start seeing each other seriously in the future. I never imagined having a cub with anyone but my mate, and if that’s you, that would be wonderful. That would be a dream come true really. I’ve been looking for you, you know. Since the last time we met here. I was looking for you. But I didn’t have anything to go on so it was hard. But I liked you since I first saw you. I don’t know what our future holds, but I do know that I hope we’re in it together.”
The words tumbled from his mouth and it was all too good to be true. “That’s what I hope for too. The both of us together with our son. Not just because it would be easier, but because it feels right when I think of us together like that.”
He got off the bed and took her in his arms. He kissed her deeply. “Then let’s do it. Let’s try. You and me and our boy. A family. Let’s be a family.”
“Okay.”
They kissed again. “But you should probably tell your parents and sister before I show up with a moving van and my stuff.”
She laughed. “I just need to tell my parents. Kelly already knows.”
He nodded. “Great...great.”
So it wasn’t all figured out, but she was hopeful. She had her son and now she had her man. They were going to be a family.
Epilogue
“He is going to be one spoiled little boy,” Professor Game said to Nick.
“I’ve never gotten to buy him anything,” Nick said. “I’m making up for the birthday and Christmas I missed.”
“Leave the boy alone,” Mr. Game told his wife. “Let’s remember I have picture evidence of how much you bought Kelly for her first Christmas.”
“Some of these are for Pearl and you guys too,” Nick said after depositing an armful of packages under the tree.
“That’s so sweet. You sure you don’t want help getting everything in?” Professor Game asked.
“I only have one more trip. It’s fine, really,” Nick assured her. He was enjoying himself. Pearl and George were upstairs still getting ready. Nick had wanted to surprise her for their first Christmas together and had stored most of his presents at Kelly’s and her parents. She thought he’d only bought three presents that were currently under the tree.
After he got the presents under the tree and arranged, all he had to do was wait for Pearl to bring the baby downstairs. The anticipation was murder. He made small talk with her parents while they waited. Kelly was coming with her boyfriend a little later, but it was still a full house as far as Nick was concerned. He’d never had this many people to celebrate with.
“They’re coming,” Mr. Game said. “I can hear the steps on the top of the stairs.
“Wow, are you sure you aren’t a shifter?” Nick joked. He had barely heard the first steps on the stairs. He held his breath as Pearl came down with their son.
“Oh my gosh!” Pearl stopped at the entryway to the living room. “Mom, Dad, you guys went all out, huh? I thought you weren’t going to go overboard this year.”
“It was not us,” Professor Game said. “This is all Nick. He clearly loves giving gifts.”
“Nick?” Pearl came over and kissed him. Handing him the baby, she went to crouch next to the tree. “Where did all this stuff come from? You couldn’t have been hiding it here.”
“At your parents,” he confessed. “It was so hard to keep it all a secret.”
“You are too good to us.” She kissed him and then little George. “You guys sit down and I’ll start passing all the gifts out.”
“Anyone want another cup of coffee?” Mr. Game asked.
Nick shook his head. “I’m good. Thanks for asking.”
As everyone got comfortable and Pearl started passing the presents out, Nick couldn’t help but reflect on the year. When it had started, he’d been morose over the woman he’d never be able to find. The mate that had gotten away. Now, closing out the year, he had not just a mate but a beautiful cub. And three future in-laws that seemed to adore him already. He had moved in with Pearl and now every morning he got to wake up at her side and take care of her and their son.
He wasn’t sure how any year was going to top this one. He hadn’t asked Pearl to marry him yet, but he had the ring upstairs so that was coming too. Even without it, he had everything he had ever wanted already. Pearl loved him. He had a family, and finally, a place to call home. There wasn’t anything better than that.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thank you so much for reading Polar Bear Daddy. If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review on Amazon/Goodreads :)
Up Next:
Small Town Shifters Book 5
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A Note from Lola
Thank you so much for reading Polar Bear Daddy. If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review. It really helps other readers decide to take a chance when looking for new authors to try out. I would really appreciate it if you have the time!
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Other Books by Lola Kidd
Small Town Shifters
Reindeer Games
Claws and Effect
Fight or Flight
Tooth and Nail
Shifter Brides Everafter
The Dragon’s Fated Mate
Beastly Bear
The BilLIONaire’s Ball
Shifters Everafter
Tiger Bite
Red and the Tiger
The Tiger’s Tale
Holiday Mail Order Mates
The Mountain Lion’s Valentine
Lucky Lion
The Bull’s Bride Hunt
The Tiger’s Summer Bride
The Jaguar’s Halloween Bride
The Silverback’s Christmas Bride
Mail-Order Mates
Loving the Lion
Wolf Seeks Wife
The Bear’s Bride
Taming the Tiger
A Wife for the Wolves
Surrendering to the Stag
Pursuing the Panther
The Leopard in Love
Safari Island Shifters
Rhino You
Love Me
Between Two Crocs
Elephants Never Forget
Once a Cheetah
Don’t Kiss and Gazelle
Witch and Wolf Universe
The Witch and the Wolf
The Vampire and the Bear
The Lost Tribe
Black Oak Shifters
Taken by the Shifters
Captured by the Shifters
The Shifter's Wife
The Shifter's Surprise
The Shifter's Choice
Blood Royals
The Vampire’s Claim