by M Andrews
“She doesn’t do those paintings anymore.” She giggles again. At least, not that Bailey knows of. Lucky has always been the wild one of Lucy’s friends. At our wedding, she drank my Uncle Patrick under the table, and this was a man who starting drinking whiskey at birth. But from what Lucy has told me, she has settled down since she married Ryder. I don’t know if you can tame a wild horse like her.
“She has one with blue flowers at Mom’s shop that would look perfect here.”
“You sure do like blue, don’t you?” I tease.
“It is my favorite color.” She shrugs.
“Why blue, don’t most girls like pink and purple.”
“Because Mom once told me that blue was your favorite color. Whenever I see blue it reminds me of you.” That hits me right in the heart. I tug her over to me and give her a side hug and kiss the top of her head.
“I love you, kiddo.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Just then there is a knock on the door. “That must be the pizza.” I get up from the couch and walk over to the door. To my surprise, it’s not the pizza guy staring back at me, it’s Kara. “Kara, what are you doing here?” She wasn’t supposed to be here for another month.
Bailey appears at my side. “Hi, you must be Kara, my Dad has told me all about you.” She smiles up at Kara.
Kara holds her hand out to Bailey. “Hi Bailey, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Bailey shakes Kara’s hand while I stand there in shock.
Bailey turns her attention back to me. “Daddy, don’t be rude, ask her to come inside.”
“Sorry, please come inside.” I step aside letting Kara into the apartment.
“I’m sorry for just showing up like this, I didn’t know you were with Bailey. I can come back tomorrow,” she whispers.
“I don’t mind,” Bailey says, her eyes darting between me and Kara. “I’m going to go unpack my stuff, with my door closed, so you can talk grown up stuff.” Bailey smiles then turns on her heels and disappears down the hallway to her room.
“She’s beautiful,” Kara says, then turns back to me. “I’m sorry for just showing up like this. I couldn’t wait any longer to see you. You know me, I need to know you are really doing okay.” Protective Kara at her finest.
I relieve her anxiety and pull her in for a hug. She lets out a relived sigh as she melts into my arms. “I’m glad you are here. I’ve missed having my best friend so close.”
“Charlotte doesn’t feel the same without you.” She nestles against my chest. “I’ve missed you so much.” There is that sadness in her voice again. “I’ve been thinking about it and what if I moved to Seattle, just for a few months to see where this goes. Being in our old place without you feels so empty.”
I’m not the only one who has been feeling that emptiness. “I know that feeling, I’ve been feeling it too. Are you sure you want to leave your life in Charlotte for me?”
“There is no life there for me without you.” She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “Colton, you are my life, and I will do whatever it takes to get you back. It doesn’t matter if you are Christian or Colton, I love the man that you are. I fell in love with your heart not your name.”
A flood of relief washes over me hearing her words. I love Kara more than anything. Lucy is right, my heart and soul fell in love with Kara, and to hear Kara say she still loves me, no matter what, gives me more hope than she will ever know. Having her in my arms again makes me feel whole again. My life isn’t complete if Kara isn’t in it. I will walk through fire to be the man she deserves and keep her by my side.
I take her face in my hands and look lovingly in her eyes. “I love you more than life, Kara. You are my lifeline, and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. You own every part of me, and I want you here with me.” I lean in and kiss her softly. From the hallway I hear little giggles. Both Kara and I look over to see Bailey with her head out her door watching us.
“Is Kara staying for dinner?” Bailey asks.
I look down at Kara and ask, “Would you care to join us for dinner?”
“I would love to.” She smiles up at me. This road isn’t going to be easy, but as long as I have Kara by my side, I can get through anything.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Lucy
My bag drops with a heavy thud on the kitchen counter, and the jingle of my keys is the only sound in my quiet house. Bailey is spending the night at her dad’s and Hunter is stuck at the gallery. After the long day of handing out coffee to tourists, I’m ready for a glass of wine and my cozy bed. I slip off my jacket and my sweater before heading to the wine fridge to grab a bottle of wine. With my glass in hand, I kick off my shoes as I make my way to the stairs. Next goes my dress and my leggings. My panties land on the floor in the hallway, the trail of clothes acting as a treasure hunt for Hunter when he gets home. I drape my bra over the handle of my bedroom door.
I flick the lights on and I smile to myself seeing Hunter’s bottles of hair gel and cologne, and his tooth brush sitting on the charger at the sink that has stood empty since I bought the house. Hunter has pretty much moved in. His clothes are hanging in the closet, and his favorite coffee mugs appeared in the kitchen the other day. He spends every night here with me and Bailey. I haven’t officially asked him to move in, but I haven’t told him not to keep bringing his stuff over here. I love waking up in the morning with his arms around me and coming home to him every night. The emptiness that used to haunt me is gone. I wake up every day with a smile on my face. Hunter makes me so damn happy.
While the bathtub fills with warm water and bubbles, I run my hands over the stacks of Hunter’s t-shirts sitting in the closet, deciding on which one to wear to bed. Hunter loves it when I wear his clothes. I take one from the stack, a blue New England Patriots vintage tee, one of Hunter’s favorites. I drop the shirt down on the counter then climb into the tub and sink into the warmth. The lavender bubbles send me into a tranquil trance. That could also be the wine.
Just as I sink further into a relaxed bliss, I hear the click of a camera, and I instantly know Hunter is home. Having a photographer for a boyfriend is like living in a zoo with people constantly taking your picture. I’ve actually grown to like it. My hate for having my picture taken has turned into a love for it. Maybe it has to do with the fact that Hunter is taking them, and the way he has of making me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. The things I used to hate about my body I now love, because he has made me see myself in a new light. The walls of the house mainly had pictures of Bailey, and now they are filled with pictures of the three of us, and in the bedroom, there are a few sexier ones of Hunter and me.
My eyes open and there he is, standing in the doorway of the bathroom with his camera in one hand and my panties and bra in the other, with the sexiest smile on his face. “Hey handsome.”
“Hey beautiful. How’s my girl doing?” My heart skips a beat at his question.
“I’d be doing better if you were in this tub with me.” I barely get the rest of the sentence out before Hunter is setting his camera down and running straight for me. In his haste to get to me, Hunter doesn’t bother to take off his clothes before he jumps in the tub, sending water and bubbles flying all over himself and the bathroom floor. “Hunter, you are crazy!” I squeal with laughter.
He reaches a hand behind his head and pulls off his wet shirt and tosses it to the floor. “I’m crazy about you.” His smile radiates across his face as he bends down and seals my lips with his.
My hands work open his wet pants and tugs them down off his hips. I giggle into our kiss as Hunter struggles to get his pants all the way off. He relents and breaks our kiss to huff and growl at his predicament. He finally stands up to get his legs free then he slams the wet fabric down on the floor and returns to his place between my legs. Our bodies come together in one long so slow thrust. I run my hands through Hunter’s thick curls. “How would you feel about moving here permanently?” I ask while kissing down his fac
e.
“I think you already know my answer. I’ve been sneaking my stuff in for the past couple weeks.” He kisses my giggling lips and accentuates his point with a deep thrust. “I want to spend every day of the rest of my life with you.”
“Good, because,” I pause ready to tell him I’m ready for more than just moving in together, “if we are going to make a baby, I need you here with me.” His cock pulses inside me, and I know he approves with my reasoning. I don’t care that Hunter and I aren’t married before we start having kids. It will be a beautiful celebration of our love for each other bringing a baby in the world. I love Hunter with all my heart, and I want to give him everything he’s ever dreamed of, because that is what he has done for me.
“Are you really ready to have our baby?” When he says “our baby” it brings tears to my eyes. It’s never been him or I with Hunter. For him, everything he has done is for us and for our lives together. Beneath his shallow womanizing ways and closed off manner was a good man with a big heart. I was the one that opened his heart and brought that good man back to life, and that is something I will never take for granted.
“I’ve never been more ready.” I bring his lips back to mine, sealing my promise with a kiss.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lucy
The living room floor is covered with shredded wrapping paper and empty boxes. Bailey is sitting in front of her mountain of Christmas presents taking inventory of all her gifts. With my parents, Colton’s parents, and now Hunter’s dad, Bailey got spoiled this year. This is nothing new for her, being the only grandchild for Colton’s parents and mine, she gets spoiled for Christmas, Easter, and her birthday. After everything that happened with Colton coming home, I think everyone went a little overboard. But her most prized gift sits protected in her lap, a signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone that Hunter got her. I thought she was going to fly around the room with how excited she was when she opened the wrapping. Between the Time Turner necklace that Colton got her and now this, no one will ever be able to top those gifts.
Hunter walks in from the kitchen holding a huge box in his hands. “I think Santa forgot to leave this present under the tree.” He sets the box down in front of me.
“What in the world is this, Hunter?” I cock an eyebrow up at him from behind the box. Hunter gave me the best gift imaginable already, his heart. There is nothing in this world that he could ever give me that could top that.
“I have no idea. I guess you’ll just have to open it and see.” He tries to look innocent when he shrugs his shoulders, but I can see behind those wild curls hanging over his eyes that he is up to something.
This massive box tweaks Bailey’s interest. She presses her book against her chest, scoots across the carpet, and stares up at the box in wonder. “Just open it Mom.”
I set my coffee cup on the table and slide to the edge of the couch. My fingers trail over the green and red wrapping paper, stopping at the edge where the paper meets tape. Hunter sure went through a lot of trouble wrapping this thing. This box is the size of the box that my dishwasher came in. I pull the tape back and tear away the paper while Hunter looks on with an anxious look on his face. This box is so big I can’t imagine what could be inside, and there are no indications on the box itself. No Amazon Prime smile or product logo to be seen. It’s just plain brown cardboard. My Christmas list was pretty short. All I asked for was a quiet Christmas at home with my two favorite people. That didn’t stop Hunter from lavishing me with books and some new beautiful lingerie, most likely for him to rip off of me, so basically a present for him. Not that I mind, I love it when he goes all ravenous alpha male on me. Unless this is a box of panties, I have no clue what this could possibly be.
The flaps open to reveal layers of tissue paper in a flood of colors. I dig through the colorful paper searching for the contents. Layer after layer all I keep finding is more tissue paper. It’s not until I’m bent over the box with my head buried in paper that I realize there is nothing in here. “Hunter, is this some kind of weird joke?” My question comes out muffled through the paper. I push myself out of the box and find Hunter on his knees next to the box.
“It was meant to be a distraction while I got your real present ready.” I look down at his hands and there waiting is a red box with a diamond ring staring back at me.
My bottom lip quivers as I realize what that ring symbolizes. If I would have let him, Hunter would have whisked me off to the courthouse to get married the moment the ink dried on my divorce papers. I was closing a huge chapter of my life, and I needed time before I rushed into my next marriage. Hunter, being the amazing man that he is, agreed to wait until I was ready. Me telling him I was ready to start having his babies was my way of saying I was ready for more. I’m glad to see he got the hint.
Bailey kneels next me with tears in her eyes and a joyful smile on her face. Her expression matches mine. I may have been unsure in the beginning, but now I know, without a shadow of doubt, that I am ready to be his wife and spend the rest of my life with him.
“I’ve had this ring for two years, waiting until I could put it on your finger. The moment I felt your hand in mine, that first day we met, I knew you were different. You changed my life for the better that day. Every day that I waited for you was torture, but I knew I needed to change, to be the man who deserved to be with you. Lucy, you made me a better man. You are my queen and I will spend every day of my life making you and Bailey as happy as you both have made me. Lucy, will you do me the greatest honor by being my wife?” The tears stream down both our faces and love radiates between us.
I leap at Hunter, sending both of us crashing to the floor. Bailey giggles as I rain kisses all over his face. “Can I take that as a yes.” Hunter chuckles.
“Yes, yes, yes, and yes.” I smile down at him. “Yes, Hunter McCoy I will marry you.” I seal my answer with a kiss. Hunter whispers an “I love you” into our kiss. My heart is so full it could burst.
Hunter sits us both up and slides the ring on my finger. I never thought I would see a ring on this finger again. I made my peace with the fact that it would just be me and Bailey, then Hunter came along and made me believe I could find happiness again. He opened my heart to love again.
“There is one more thing I have to do.” He smiles and reaches under one of the couch cushions and pulls out a small black box. “You aren’t the only one getting a ring today,” he whispers so Bailey can’t hear. I slide off his lap and start to cry again as he scoots over to Bailey. “Bailey, I have an important question for you too. Your mom isn’t the only one who has brought joy into my life, you have too. Bailey, you are the most amazing girl, and I am so lucky to get to spend every day with you, laughing, talking books and photography with you. I love you so much, Bailey, and I will continue to love you like you were my own daughter for the rest of my life. Bailey, will you be my step daughter?” He opens the box, revealing a golden snitch ring inside.
“Yes.” Is all she gets out before she bursts into tears. The book in her hands falls to the floor, and she mirrors me, jumps into Hunter’s arms, and hugs him. I slide up behind him and wrap my arms around the both of them. Just when I think I can’t love Hunter any more, he does something like this that makes me fall even harder.
“You both have made me the happiest man alive. I love my girls so much.”
****
I still can’t wipe the smile off my face as Hunter and I walk hand in hand into Lucky and Ryder’s house. Bailey immediately goes straight for the living room to get her chance to hold baby Logan before I get my hands on him. Logan was Brooke and Brian’s Thanksgiving surprise, and a reminder on why we should never throw parties during the last trimester of Brooke’s pregnancies. She went into Labor at the dinner table before we had a chance to cut the turkey. At least this time, Logan waited until we got Brooke to the hospital. Matthew’s birth in the back of Ryder’s squad car still holds the record for craziest births in our little group.
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br /> We turn the corner to the living room, and to my surprise, I see Brooke and Lucky standing next to each other, both holding babies, and there is a young girl sitting on the couch next to Ryder. “Um, Lucky why do you have a baby?” Surprise fills my voice as I walk over to her.
“I wanted to call you and tell you our news, but as you can see we have been a little busy.” She smiles over at Ryder. Ryder has the biggest smile on his face. “Lucy, I would like you to meet our granddaughter Charlotte.” She places the baby in my arms. The baby coos up at me. She’s so sweet and beautiful. “This is our daughter Lily.” She points in the direction of the girl next to Ryder. Lily shyly waves at me.
The name brings tears to my eyes. That was the name they had picked out for their baby before they lost her. “Lucky, how is this possible?”
“The night before Christmas Eve, Ryder was leaving the station when he heard a baby crying in the alley. He went to investigate and found Lily and Charlotte cold and alone. Lily’s mom left her and Charlotte in the hospital when Lily wouldn’t give Charlotte up for adoption. She had nowhere else to go and Ryder couldn’t bear the thought of turning them over to the state, so he brought them here. They have breathed so much life into this house the past couple of days. I think this is a sign that they are supposed to be here. Ryder and I talked it over with Lily and we decided to adopt her.” Tears stream down Lucky’s face. Over the past couple of years, I have seen Lucky breakdown too many times. It’s finally nice to see tears of joy wet her cheeks.
I wrap one arm around Lucky’s shoulders. “I’m so happy for you and Ryder. This is such a blessing.” I look down at the baby and say, “Welcome to the family Charlotte.” I look over at Lily on the couch. “And Lily.” I give her a welcoming smile.
Logan starts to fuss behind me. Brooke steps around in front of me and gets Logan close to Charlotte and he stops fussing. “Logan must be missing his girlfriend.” Brooke giggles.