“Thanks for coming.” I smile at her. “I didn’t plan to celebrate my birthday this year, but there is just so much to celebrate. How could I not? Ya know?” I say.
“Absolutely! Are you ready for your night away?” Julia grins.
“I am. We need some alone time. The past several months have been a whirlwind.” I look over to Jack, who’s holding our daughter. We haven’t left Mylie’s side since she was born four months ago. He smiles down at her lovingly, ever the doting father.
Tonight will be harder on him than it will be on me. He does not put her down unless I fight him for her. Julia has agreed to watch the kids overnight so that Jack and I can spend a night alone. The past year has been nothing but amazing, but the past few months have been all about the baby. It’s time to have a few hours for us.
Nor has he left my side. I can’t tell you how happy he’s made all of us. The girls adore him and I fall more in love with him every day.
Yes, it’s love. A far deeper love than I have ever experienced before. We both entered this cautiously, taking our time to build a solid foundation. We built a family over the past several months, and I’m ready to dive in head first for that forever that I deserve. We all deserve it.
Jack hands Mylie off to Julia, winking at her. She grins back, and now my interest is piqued.
“What’s going on, you two?”
Jack leans down, whispering in my ear, “I’m ready to get a head start on tonight.” I blush, knowing that Julia overheard him.
“Is that so?” I flirt.
“Definitely.” He smiles adoringly at me. “But first!” He claps his hands, drawing everyone’s attention his way. His parents and my parents are here along with Julia and Hayley and our girls.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” he calls out, all eyes snapping to him. “We came here today to celebrate my girl.”
Everyone around us sighs. I roll my eyes at his possessive caveman talk. Although I truly love it.
“She’s been my rock the past year and I can honestly say my life is whole now that I have her and our girls.”
He looks around to Ashlyn, Mandy, and finally to our little Mylie. The girls smile brightly, sharing his affection. “I love these girls with my whole heart.” Bringing his gaze back to me, he smiles.
“I love you,” I mouth, earning a brilliant smile.
“I love you, Kate,” he says, making me blush. I turn away for a second to compose myself, not wanting my leftover hormones to get the better of me in front of all these people.
When I turn back, though, I gasp. Jack is on his knees in front of me, pulling a little black box from his pocket. I inhale, allowing the air to escape my lungs in a peaceful exhale. “Marry me. Be my one and only forever.” My face lights up and the tears I’ve been trying to keep at bay win the battle, trickling down my cheeks.
“Yes. A million times yes, Jack.” At that he stands, pulling me into a crushing embrace.
“Claim me, baby. Forever,” he murmurs.
“Forever.”
We are crazy, stupid, happy and ready to live our lives just that way. He’s claimed my heart and I’m never taking it back. Age hasn’t divided us and neither have our pasts. If anything, it’s helped us be more confident in what we have, our forever.
The End
Afterword
Don’t miss out on all the other stories available in the Sex, Vows & Babies Kindle World!
All I Want by Elle Christensen
Cherry Picked by Kristen Hope Mazzola
Claim Me, Baby by Heather Stone
Do Not Disturb by Layla Frost
Mixed Into Love by Rochelle Paige
No Regrets by HJ Bellus
One More Night by Sarah O’Rourke
Save Me by Tia Louise
Surviving Harley by K Webster
Wedding with a Baby Bump by Heather Hiestand
They’re all crossover stories with characters from the Sex & Vows and/or Yeah, Baby series by Fiona Davenport.
Acknowledgments
Editor: Flynn Books Words & Ideas
Cover Design by Cover Couture (www.bookcovercouture.com)
Photo © Shutterstock
Also by Heather Stone
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Obedient: The Plunge Crew
Plow: Brighten Sisters Duet
Peep: Brighten Sisters Duet
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Sex, Vows & Babies: Claim Me, Baby (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 8