Curves in the Road (The Southern Devotion Series Book 2)

by Amy K McClung

  We never made it to the bedroom. The kitchen counter had never seen action like this before. The bra fell to the floor; she began to unlink the garter belt when my hand stopped her. "Leave them on," it came out as a growl. I grabbed her leg and pulled it over my shoulder as I slipped inside her. The fierce passion expressed in her face almost caused me to come undone more quickly than I wanted.

  After the counter, I lifted her up, pushed my way through the kitchen door and moved to the couch. Sitting on the couch, she straddled me and eased back down over me as her fingers dug into my shoulders with each motion. The couch offered more comfort for us both. When we were both spent, we laid on the couch snuggled up together with a blanket thrown over us for warmth. With a gentle kiss to her forehead, I held my hand out with my father's wedding ring on it. "I can't believe my mom gave this up."

  "When I told her that I was going to propose, she offered it to me. She said your dad hasn't worn it in years because his hands would swell too often. He offered it to Ash when he was getting married but Ashton told him he couldn't take it because he may want to wear it again one day. Your mom said that…."

  "It doesn't matter now that he's gone?" I guessed, filling in her silence.

  "Yes. So she wanted you to have it."

  "Derrick Evans has a nice ring to it," I said teasingly adding her last name to my name.

  She smiled, "Oh no you don't. I've been waiting too long to be Mary Jane Collins."

  When she said my last name with hers it hit me hard, I tipped her chin up to see her beautiful pale green eyes staring back at me. "I've never loved the sound of my last name more than when you said it just then."

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  **Mary Jane**

  In the morning, I woke up in Derrick's arms still lying on his couch. Squinting at the clock on the wall I realized his mom and Katelyn would be here in less than an hour. I sprang from the couch taking the blanket with me. When I turn, Derrick is still sound asleep sprawled out in all his naked glory. Holy smokes, I can't believe I'm marrying this beautiful man.

  "You could take a picture it'd last longer," he said with his eyes closed but a smirk on his face.

  "Oh this will be etched in my memory forever, trust me."

  He opened his eyes, grabbed me around the knees pulling me back down on top of him. The look on his face was the happiest I could ever remember seeing him since we'd met. His smile was contagious as I started to giggle at how giddy he was acting. "Where were you running off to, Mrs. Soon-to-be Collins?"

  "Your mom and Katelyn will be here soon. We have to get showers and start breakfast and we're running short on time."

  "Well, I have a great idea. Let's reduce that to one shower and cut out a few minutes." He suggested, winking at me.

  "Race ya." I said, before pushing myself off the couch and running up the stairs. When we reached the bathroom he grabbed my waist then pressed me against the wall capturing my mouth with his in a flaming hot kiss. "If we keep doing this it isn't going to save us any time," I mumble against his lips.

  After a nice long shower we get dressed and Derrick runs downstairs to start breakfast while I clean the living room up. He pushes through the kitchen door and clears his throat, "Good thing we got in here before my Mom did." In his hands he has my bra and underwear along with his clothes from the floor of the kitchen where we first made love.

  As soon as the words left his mouth, the doorbell rang. "Go! Run those upstairs," I whispered loudly. One hair check in the mirror and I opened the door.

  Katelyn jumped when she saw me, "MJ! I didn’t know you were going to be here." She grabbed me around the waist in a fierce hug. It's hard for me to believe I wanted to give this up.

  "Go in and help your daddy with breakfast." I said, as Derrick made his way back to the kitchen. "Hi Mrs. Collins."

  She hugged me and said, "It's Maria, sweetheart." Then she whispered, "Don't keep me in suspense. Did you ask already?" I nodded with a smile on my face indicative of the excitement I was feeling. She covered her mouth, her eyes grew misty, and she said, "Craig would've been so happy at this moment. He's been rooting for you and Derrick since the beginning."

  "I hope Derrick and I are as happy together as long as you and Craig were."

  Maria lets a tear fall from her eyes, her voice cracks as she says, "I hope you get many more years together than we did." She held me tightly when I offered her a comforting hug.

  Derrick and Katelyn were in the kitchen whisking eggs to scramble. Katelyn looked up at us and exclaimed, "Daddy's letting me make the eggs."

  "Did you put extra shells in mine?" Maria teased.

  "Gramma you don't put the shell in," Katelyn said, rolling her eyes and giggling.

  "Do you think you could let your daddy finish those? I want to talk to you a moment." I took Katelyn's hand and led her to the kitchen table. "You know I love you, right?" Katelyn nodded her head in response. "Well, I love your daddy too."

  "Are you leaving again?" Katelyn asked sadly.

  Brushing her hair back from her face, I said, "No, sweetie. I wanted to ask you if I can stay with you both. I want to be part of your family. I'd like to marry your dad and I want your permission."

  Katelyn's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "Really? Will you be my mom?"

  "If you'll have me." I said, holding back my emotions with everything I could.

  Katelyn threw her arms around my neck, bouncing up and down squealing. "YES!" Derrick came over and hugged her from behind, sandwiching her between us.

  "So, it's official," he said. "We're engaged."

  "Daddy, are you going to give Mary Jane her ring too?" Katelyn asked.

  "My ring?"

  Derrick's look of shock mirrored mine, "How did you know about that?"

  "I found it a long time ago in the drawer." Katelyn said with a mischievous grin.

  My stomach clenched and I leaned down and whispered, "It's ok if it's one you bought for someone else. I know she wouldn’t understand."

  Derrick's gentle smile as he caressed my cheek put me at ease, especially when he added, "Sweetheart, I've never considered proposing to anyone else before. Wait here." A few moments later he returned with a small square box. "I bought this when we were secretly dating long distance before, actually the night before you called me to end things." He opened the box and inside was the most beautifully elegant princess cut diamond ring.

  "Seriously, you've had it this long?" I ask, feeling a number of emotions at hearing that news.

  "Still have the receipt if you want to see it," he teased.

  "I believe you," I said then started bouncing up and down with my hand out to him. "Put it on me!" I exclaimed giddily. When he slipped it on my finger it was a perfect fit.

  An hour after we finished breakfast we were knocking on Gracie and Ashton's door. The peephole darkened letting us know someone was standing there. I held my hand up and knew it was Gracie when I heard squealing right before the door was flung open. She grabbed my hand still squealing excitedly. "We're going to be sisters!"

  Next she tackled Derrick in a hug, "It's about time you asked her."

  "Actually she asked me," he said.

  Gracie flipped around to gape at me. "What?" Derrick held up his hand to show his ring.

  Ashton walked up behind me at that moment and said, "Dad's ring looks good on you, bro." Ashton then turned to wrap me in his muscular arms. He kissed my forehead and whispered, "I'm glad you decided to stay." Then louder he said, "It's going to be great having you in the family."

  Gracie squealed again while clapping her hands. "We have a wedding to plan," she exclaimed in a singsong voice while bouncing up and down excitedly.

  The day had been somewhat surreal and I needed a moment to gather my thoughts so I snuck downstairs to their rec room while everyone was bustling around the kitchen making snacks and preparing for a celebration. Once downstairs I felt a moment of clarity and I sat to just cry for a moment. "Mary Jane?" Gavin said as he sat next
to me on the couch. "Why are you crying?"

  When I glanced up at him, he had Baby Addy cradled in his arms which seemed to round this moment out. "I'm happy. I've had so many crazy good things happen to me in the last two years. I was lucky enough to have two dreams come true and I needed a moment to sit and contemplate the impossibility of that for most people. And this little girl…" I said, reaching out to caress Addy's cheek, "helped me make your dreams come true. It's been an amazing journey and there is still so much ahead. It's a bit overwhelming. I was pregnant a few months ago and now I'm going to be a mom to a six year old. It's crazy and amazing all at the same time."

  "Would you like to hold her? I don’t think you've done that since you were in the hospital. If it's too weird though, I understand."

  Holding my arms out he placed Addy into them. It occurred to me this moment would be difficult, and it was a little hard, but mostly I felt love and protection for her. It made me happy to see Cameron and Gavin happy. We shared blood but she didn’t really feel like mine. Basically I donated an egg and my body in order for this life to be created. She will always be precious to me, but I know my place in her life. "I'm your godmother, Addy. You have the two best dads a girl could ever hope for. Don’t let Daddy Cam turn you too far to the diva side though. Always be brave like both your daddy's. They've been through a lot to get you in their lives. They will protect you with all they have in them. You're the luckiest girl on the planet, more loved than most people will ever know in their entire lives." Bringing her up closer to my face I kissed her soft hair and whispered, "I'll always be here for you, no matter what. I love you."

  Gavin let one tear fall before wiping his eyes. "Katelyn's a pretty lucky girl to be getting you for a mom. You're a natural, MJ."

  "She is a natural for sure." Derrick said as he came down the stairs. "Gavin, Cam needs you upstairs for a moment."

  Addison had fallen asleep in my arms at this point. Gavin gave me an awkward look, and then looked up the stairs and back. "I can hold her while you go up. We're fine."

  Gavin grinned then kissed Addison's cheek and snuck away upstairs. Derrick took his place on the couch. "Are you alright holding her? Is it difficult for you?"

  "Glancing down at her soft porcelain skin, her chubby cheeks, soft blonde hair, I do see myself in her face and it stings a little. She's not mine though, I know that. One day I would like to have another one. If you do, of course. It would be nice to have someone to get excited over ultrasounds and kicks with. I experienced that through Cameron and Gavin but kept myself as distant from it as possible so I didn’t become too attached."

  Derrick pushed off the couch, leaned over and pressed his lips to mine. He was careful not to lean too far over the baby while still able to deliver a kiss full of passion. "You're still the most amazing woman I've ever known. To answer your question, yes I want to have a baby with you one day as well. Finding out about Katelyn was scary, but she ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me. I’d be glad to have four or five babies with you."

  I gulped, "Wow….four or five? Let's slow down and start with one."

  A soft gurgle that slowing turned into a cry interrupted our conversation. Addison had awoken; I lifted her up to cradle her better swaying her back and forth with soothing words to calm her. The crying intensified and I looked up to Derrick for aid. "Can I try?"

  When Derrick took Addison from my arms and cradled her in his strong muscular ones, it was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. She was tiny against his chest as he gently swayed her back to sleep again. Addison turned her head and let out one last choked sigh as her sobs extinguished and she was in dream land again.

  "That gave me a little glimpse of your first year with Katelyn. And I gotta say, it kind of made my ovaries explode seeing that side of you." I grin as he shakes his head at my metaphor.

  "That would be the first time I made someone's ovaries explode, I believe. I suppose that’s a compliment?" he whispered so not to wake the baby.

  "Something tells me you've done it before and are unaware. It's the highest compliment these days from a woman," I winked at him.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  **Derrick**

  It was Monday afternoon around three when I heard the door shut. "Derrick, we're here!" Gracie called out. When they came into view I noticed Katelyn sulking on the couch. Before I could ask her what's wrong, Gracie pulled me aside. "She's been quiet on the way home. I'm not sure what's up, she wouldn’t tell me."

  "Thanks, Gracie. I'll call you later when I find out the issue." I kissed her cheek then walked her out.

  Katelyn was still on the couch when I came back in. Taking the seat next to her, I tried to start with our normal talk. "How was your day at school, kiddo?" She shrugged and stuck her bottom lip out. "Did something happen?" She shook her head no. "Then why the sad face?"

  She sighed and reached into her backpack pulling out a piece of paper. At the top was written 'Mother's Day Assignment'. Behind the instructions was a slip of paper decorated with flower borders that said 'All About My Mom' and had a list of questions to answer. "This is my homework for the week. I can't do it." She curled up into a ball on the couch with her face buried against the cushion.

  This was the day I knew was coming eventually. Once she started school I knew it would be difficult to avoid Mother's day assignments that would raise questions and insecurities. "Sweetie, Mary Jane and I will be married soon. Why don’t you answer the questions about her?" I offered.

  Frustrated she cried out, "Look at the questions!" I’d never seen Katelyn so upset before. When I glanced at the questions I understood further.

  "'My mom and I have the same blank,' is that the question that bothers you?" I asked.

  "I don’t know if I have my mom's eyes or her hair color. I know that I don’t match Mary Jane. No one will ever believe she is my mom."

  I sighed, then set the paper down and lifted her up onto my hip. "It's time I show you some things."

  Once upstairs, I pulled down the box of memories that I had kept of her mom. I handed her a picture of myself with her mom fully pregnant and smiling. "She looks like Mary Jane. Well, she has blonde hair I mean." Katelyn said, smiling at the picture.

  "See. You look like me. Your black hair and blue eyes came from me. Lots of kids look like one parent and not the other." I started to pull out more pictures and she put her hand over mine to stop me.

  "It's ok, daddy. I don’t want to see anymore right now. Can you call Mary Jane over to help me with my assignment?"

  Mary Jane came over in less than an hour so I left them to get to work. Before I forgot, I went upstairs to put away all the remnants of the memory box before Mary Jane saw it again. If anyone had ever been Katelyn's mother, it’s MJ. She cared for her more than any other woman in my life ever had that wasn’t related. There was a knock on the door bringing me out of my thoughts. Mary Jane peered inside, "Hey, can you come downstairs. Katie wants to show you her project."

  I smiled and took her hand in mine, "Thanks again for coming over to help her with this; it means a lot to her and to me."

  Katelyn was beaming up at me when we stepped into the kitchen. She eagerly handed her paper to me. "Read it out loud daddy."

  "Ok. My mother's favorite color is blue because it's the color of my eyes. My mother's favorite thing to do with me is have tea parties. I have my mother's eyes and hair color. My mother's name is Derrick but I call him Daddy." I choked back tears on the last line as I read it out loud. I held it out to Katelyn, "You wrote about me?"

  She shook her head, "You've been the best Mommy and Daddy that any girl could ever have. I asked Mary Jane if it would be alright to write about you as my mom and she thought it was a great idea. Do you think so too?"

  I wrapped my arms around her waist, lifting her up into a bear hug. "I think it’s the best paper I've ever read. I'm honored that you wrote it about me." When I set her down I said, "Now run upstairs and get ready. We're going to go sho
pping for a little while."

  While Katelyn was upstairs, I reached for MJ and pulled her into a passionate embrace, melding our mouths together in one steamy hot kiss. She pulls away breathless and asks, "What was that for?"

  "I need a reason to kiss my fiancé?" I asked before leaning in to plant kisses along the neckline of her shirt; tasting inch by inch of her exposed skin.

  "No reason needed. And I'm not complaining for sure."

  "Thanks for what you did for Katelyn, talking her into doing that report about me."

  "I didn’t talk her into anything. She said that she thought of it after you showed her pictures of her real mom and she realized that she looked exactly like you. She's a very smart girl, that daughter of yours."

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  **Mary Jane**

  Angel and Tristan were in the living room when I came downstairs from packing a bag to stay at Derrick’s for the next few days at least. They didn’t hear me round the corner and I stopped when I heard my name mentioned in the conversation.

  “So, did you ever tell Mary Jane how you feel?”

  Tristan’s voice sounded confused when he answered Angel’s question, “How I feel about what?”

  Angel sighed, “How you feel about her of course. I’ve seen how you look at her Tristan. I also noticed your face when she announced the engagement.

  “I’m happy that she and Derrick are together,” he said.

  “I know you are. You’re a good guy and you’re in love with her and want her to be happy.”

  My breath caught in my throat as Tristan said, “Do you think she’s noticed my feelings?”