by Blaire Edens
“But it wasn’t a real marriage,” she said. “We agreed that it was on paper only.”
“My heart didn’t get the memo.” When he grinned, he looked boyish, and if she weren’t already in love with him, she would’ve fallen in that moment.
“Mine, either,” Anna admitted. “But what if the heat is all there is?”
“No way. The heat is fantastic, but it isn’t the best part.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Okay, it’s tied for the best part.”
“What’s the other part?”
“You. I really like you. You make me laugh. You make me feel at home. It’s like you’re the other half of me.”
It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her. “Thank you.”
“But the kid is really what closed the deal for me.”
“He is pretty special, isn’t he?”
“Chewy misses him like crazy. We can’t keep the boy and the dog apart. It’s just wrong on so many levels.”
“You want to stay married for the dog?”
“Is that such a bad reason?” He smiled at her and her insides warmed.
“I’ve heard worse. So what’s with the costume?”
“Jake helped me to see some things I’ve been missing, and I wanted you to know I’ve changed. I’m a fixed fixer. I’m going to learn to keep my nose out of other people’s business.”
“I’m glad you were a meddler when I met you.”
“You are?”
“I wouldn’t be Mrs. Wainwright if you hadn’t insisted, but I would like a hiatus on the meddling.”
“If I agree to step down the meddling, will you stop being so damned determined not to need anyone?”
Anna couldn’t stop the smile. “I’ll give it my best.”
“Will you stay, Mrs. Wainwright?”
Anna looked into Clark’s eyes. She’d missed him. Every day, every hour. She missed his laugh, his smell, his taste. Just months ago, she’d have sworn she never wanted to take a chance on love again, but now, with this man so close to her, she realized she did want to try again. With him.
“For Chewy, I’ll give it a shot.”
“Was it the costume that convinced you?” He pointed to his chest and then wrinkled his brow. “Damn. The sign was the best part, and I’ve lost it.”
“You can tell me all about it while we’re peeling these avocado briefs off you.”
He opened his arms, and she walked into them. He kissed her. It was sweet at first, but it quickly turned supernova. Hands, lips. Anna ran her hands along his back, pulling him close. She ran her fingers lower until she felt something strange.
The sign wasn’t lost. It was plastered to his ass. Anna felt it when she reached around to check out the goods.
“This the sign?” Anna asked, taking it off his backside and holding it between them. It read Capt. WTF. “Why are you Captain What the Fuck?”
He shook his head. “Captain Won’t Try to Fix It. Maybe I took some liberties by abbreviating to make it fit.”
Anna laughed. “Don’t ever wear this costume again, especially the sign.”
“You got it, wifey.”
Epilogue
Clark applied a whole bottle of baby powder before he slipped into the Redhawk suit this time. The bathroom smelled like a talcum factory, but it beat the rash he’d gotten last time he wore the outfit. He inched his legs into the spandex leggings and prayed that by Louie’s ninth birthday, he’d be into a character than didn’t require a cape.
Or a costume at all.
But any costume beat Captain Won’t Try to Fix It.
Although recent developments meant he might be wearing ridiculous costumes for many years to come. He smiled. There were a lot worse fates. Unless the fate included a princess costume.
He’d gone thirty years without squeezing into nylon leggings, and in the last twelve months, he’d shoved his way into three pairs.
Maybe he should’ve embraced lame fabric earlier.
The last twelve months had been the best of his life. Sure, there had been a few bumps along the way, but in the end, everything had turned out okay. Not perfect, but perfectly okay. Clark was learning that perfectly okay was the best of all possible outcomes.
He slipped his feet into the shiny black boots and looked in the mirror. This year, he was prepared. Louie had taught him all he needed to know about Redhawk. The kids couldn’t stump him this time.
Through the bedroom window, he saw Anna and a smile spread across his face. His wife, along with Taylor’s help, had placed several tables on the front lawn of the cabin and covered them with red and black tablecloths. Anna had rented an inflatable in the shape of Redhawk’s lair for the kids to jump in all afternoon.
When she turned to the side, he smiled even more. In the summer knit dress, it was easy to see her baby bump. Still small, but unmistakable. His wife. His baby. His little boy running around the yard with Chewy close on his heels.
Clark was going to be a papa. Again.
Louie was thrilled with the prospect of a little brother. He was less enthusiastic about the possibility of a little sister.
He was also thrilled about the addition to the cabin. When they’d discovered Anna was pregnant, they’d known the cabin couldn’t hold another person. They also knew they didn’t want to live anywhere else. Clark drew up some plans that included a new master suite for Anna and him. Including a shower made for two. He smiled at the thought.
After some impressive lobbying from Louie, they’d also agreed to put in a swimming pool.
With one last look in the mirror, he decided he was the best Redhawk he could be. He crossed his fingers and walked out the front door.
…
Five months pregnant and the sight of Clark made her want to yank him into the pantry for a timed orgasm.
Or into the hot tub for a untimed one.
Clark stood on the porch, shaded by the roof overhang. He gave her the thumbs-up, the signal to let the kids know he’d arrived. She could see the smile underneath the feathered mask, and she knew it was just for her. It made her heart pound.
He loved her and Louie.
She couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect partner.
The day after his Captain WTF costume, she and Louie had moved back to the cabin. The heat hadn’t cooled at all. Clark was no slouch in the bedroom. Her face flushed and she focused her mind on the pantry. Party. Party. Not the pantry.
“Kids,” she yelled. “Come find a spot at a table. Our special guest will be here any minute.”
Most of the kids had attended last year’s party, so as soon as she made the announcement, they all scrambled into chairs.
“Are y’all ready?” she asked.
The kids cheered, and Clark ran from the porch into the middle of the tables.
Anna smiled and rubbed her growing stomach. The sight of her husband in a superhero suit did something to her. Every time. She was glad he purchased the Redhawk one for Louie’s eighth birthday party. She hoped they’d be using it again. In the bedroom.
In his deep, gravelly voice, he said, “Thanks for inviting me back, kids. I appreciate all the help last year.” Every eye was trained on him. “I have a new mission for you this year.”
“He’s really fantastic at this, isn’t he?” Taylor whispered in Anna’s ear. “I would’ve never guessed acting was one of his talents.”
“He has a lot of those,” Anna said.
“This time, keep the details to yourself,” Taylor said.
Did you love this Entangled Select Contemporary? Check out more of our titles here!
Don’t miss Blaire Edens’s next book! Sign up for our newsletter here!
About the Author
Blaire Edens lives in the mountains of North Carolina on a farm that’s been in her family since 1790. When she’s not plotting, she’s busy knitting, running, or listening to the Blues. Blaire loves iced tea with mint, hand-stitched quilts, and yarn stores. She refuses to eat
anything that mixes chocolate and peanut butter or apple and cinnamon. She’s generally nice to her mother, tries to remember not to smack her bubble gum, and only speeds when no one’s looking.
Also by Blaire Edens…
Wild About Rachel
Coach Maddie and the Marine
Discover more Entangled Select Contemporary titles…
Without Words
a novel by Delancey Stewart
Firefighter Roberto DeRosa’s career is over. After an accident leaves him struggling with words, communicating with people is difficult, but Dani Hodge has a way of seeing through the walls he’s put up, and being with her makes him want to try.
The Negotiator
a novel by Avery Flynn
Workaholic Sawyer Carlyle needs a “buffer” between him and his marriage-obsessed mom. But when the woman he hires turns out to negotiate like a pitbull and look like lickable sunshine, he’s soon agreeing to things straight out of his comfort zone.
Love on Tap
a Brewing Love novel by Meg Benjamin
Wyatt Montgomery knows a barrel of legendary Zoria imperial stout will help his Denver gastropub stay on top, and when he hears the brewmaster has only one barrel left, he won’t stop until it’s his. When Wyatt rushes into Bec Dempsey’s small-town cooperative offering to buy the last barrel of her precious Zoria, she’s thrown for a loop. She’s been burned before, and she’ll be damned if she’ll let it happen again. But when things start heating up between them, Bec decides to make Wyatt a counteroffer. One she hopes he won’t refuse.
Grounds for Seduction
a Seattle Steam novel by Shelli Stevens
Madison Phillips is focused on making her new coffee shop a success. She also wouldn’t mind if the sexiest cop in Seattle, Gabriel Martinez, would start seeing her as more than just his best friend’s little sister. When her shop gets robbed and she’s the only one who can identify the increasingly violent Espresso Bandit, Gabe’s there to keep her safe. Having Gabe act as her personal bodyguard is certainly no hardship, and Maddy’s ready to try anything to tempt him into providing some hands-on protection.