All Ember heard was “Daddy,” and her eyes went wide. She was horrified. Oh no! He’s going to panic and disappear. This wasn’t supposed to happen! Ember’s heart was racing so fast she wasn’t even sure what he had just said. Blake was standing in front of her and watching her intently when he finally put his hands on her shoulders to get her attention.
“Are you okay?” As calm as he was, Ember wondered if he had even heard Kaylen.
“I’m sorry.” she whispered. She was so embarrassed that her family had heard it too, and they would probably judge him for not wanting Kaylen to call him that. How could they even understand how much he was already doing. He didn’t have to have a title to have their love. She was already trying to come up with his defense when she realized Blake was still watching her curiously.
“Sorry for what?”
“You didn’t hear her?”
“I heard her.” He waited to see what Ember’s reaction was, and he was not disappointed; she was shocked. He grinned at her. “That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Ember’s expression didn’t change, nor did she say anything.
“I would like to adopt Kaylen.”
Ember’s green eyes filled with unshed tears as she glanced down at her little girl, who was standing beside Blake, holding his hand. She looked back up at him. “She knew.” It wasn’t a question. She realized he must have talked to Kaylen about it, and the thought of him considering her input in the matter made her love him even more.
He nodded.
Kaylen started jumping up and down giggling as she squealed, “Say yes, Mommy, please?”
“Yes, yes of course…” Her voice trailed off as she thought of how that would work. “Can you do that, though? I mean legally?” She looked up at Blake, concerned that Kaylen would be let down if this didn’t work out.
“I’m hoping to make all this legal.” He looked a little embarrassed. “I wasn’t expecting her to catch you off guard like that, so I missed a step.” Kneeling before Ember, he took her hand in the one that Kaylen wasn’t clinging to and looked up at her. “I love you, Ember. I’m grateful for getting to be a part of your life. I never knew how good having a family of my own could be, but this small taste of it just makes me want more. It’s not just having a family, though; it’s having you. I want you as my wife, and I want Kaylen to be my daughter. I want us to give her siblings.”
Before he could even finish, she exclaimed, “Yes!” as she went down to her knees in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him hard. Then she felt a little arm reaching around her neck as Kaylen grabbed them both in an embrace.
“You forgot something.” Ridge was trying to act like he was not happy, but the way his mouth twitched gave him away.
Blake looked at him, confused, as Ember looked around at all the smiling and crying faces. Then she noticed Jenna rubbing her left ring finger like she was trying to give Blake a hint without saying anything aloud. Ember stifled a giggle.
“Oh, yeah.” He looked back at Ember, who was grinning so big her face was starting to hurt. “It’s a really good thing I don’t ever have to do this again. I suck.” Ember laughed, and he smiled back at her. Looking at Kaylen, he said, “Okay, it’s time.”
Looking up at him with her giant emerald eyes, she asked, “Daddy, can I do it? I wanna put it on her, please?”
He glanced at Ember and grinned. “I’m doomed. How am I ever going to be able to say no to that?” Ember smiled. He looked back at Kaylen’s expectant face and nodded.
Kaylen took the box out of her purse, and Blake helped her open it. “I need your hand, Momma.” Ember held her left hand out and blushed at how much she was shaking. Blake pointed to her ring finger and helped to hold her hand still for Kaylen to slip it on her. Ember knew the stone was huge, but she could barely see it with the tears in her eyes. Finally, after wiping them a few times, she saw that it was a huge marquise cut emerald with round diamonds down the sides set in white gold.
“I helped pick it out,” Kaylen said, sounding very proud of herself. "Daddy said this one looks like our eyes.” She pointed to the emerald.
Ember grinned at her. “It’s perfect. I love it!”
“Can I go swim now?”
“Hmm, ask your dad…” Ember grinned as Kaylen looked at him, and he shook his head and chuckled.
“Have fun,” he said and gave her a kiss on her cheek. Then speaking only loud enough for Ember to hear him, “Doomed.” She laughed.
They walked over to everyone still waiting to give congratulations. Blake had already made plans for Jade to take Kaylen home with her.
Lance was the first to leave, though. Brooke was over the whole family thing, and she was intent on making him miserable if he stayed.
Jenna was almost as excited as Ember was. “Don’t let Ridge fool you, look at him.” She nodded to where Ridge was talking to Blake, and she noticed that he did look happy. Ember smiled, knowing that he did approve of Blake because that meant a lot to her.
They walked over to where Ridge and Blake were, and Ember wrapped her arms around Blake again kissing him on the cheek. Looking at Ridge, she smiled and flashed her ring in front of her face. He raised his eyebrow and chuckled shaking his head. “Come here, brat.” He pulled her into a bear hug and kissed the top of her head. “Maybe he can keep you out of trouble.” She just smiled as she squeezed him back.
They said good night to everyone else, making it short and sweet, though, because she was in a hurry to celebrate.
****
Lying in bed, Blake pulled her into his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck. “Will you move in now?”
“You know the answer to that, Blake Miles O’Neil. We’ve had this discussion before.” Her tone was serious, but she kept it light enough not to hurt his feelings. She knew how much he wanted her to be with him, but she wanted to wait until they were married for Kaylen’s sake. It was important to her to wait, but she loved that he was so excited to share his life with her.
“Fine.” He sighed. “We’ll get married next week.”
“What?” She laughed and mockingly smacked him on the arm. “I want a real wedding, silly! We are not throwing something together in a week.” She twisted around in his arms and cupped his cheek. “But soon, I promise.”
“I’m holding you to that.” He smiled as he rolled her onto her back and kissed her softly…. again.
THE END
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Table of Contents
Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
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Wildest Dreams (Dreamers Series Book 1) Page 14