“Daddy,” Luca said and pointed at Sam while he wrestled with his tie. Sam helped Luca fix the tie and patted his shoulder.
“Luca said yes when I asked him, by the way, but he’s three. He doesn’t know what’s good for him.” Sam winked at her and she knew her answer.
She didn’t even need a lot of time to think about it. It was as natural as hearing Luca call Sam Daddy.
“I think he does know what’s good for him. You’ve already proven to be a better father than his biological one. If you’re sure, Sam. I would never push this on you.”
“I know you wouldn’t. That’s why—” He leaned down and whispered something in Luca’s ear. Luca nodded and reached in his pocket. He stepped closer to her and pulled out a diamond ring, holding it up proudly.
“Pretty for Momma,” Luca said. She looked at the ring and then her gaze moved up to Sam as he knelt next to Luca. Was this really happening?
“I want it all, Ri. Call me selfish, but if I’m going to have a kid, I want a wife too. The whole package. A family.”
“You don’t need to do this,” Riley said. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel some sense of obligation.
“I do need this. I need you and Luca in my life forever. Please say yes, so we can all go out to eat as a family.”
He picked up Luca who was still holding out the ring saying, “Pretty.”
“Do you want Mommy and Daddy to get married, Luca?” Sam asked before he whispered something in his ear.
Luca giggled and then yelled, “Yes!”
“Is he always going to take your side?” Riley asked.
“Of course. We men need to stick together.”
“You’re sure about this?” she asked, giving him one last chance to change his mind, since she’d already made up hers.
“I’m sure.”
Riley took the ring from her son and slipped it on her finger. “Then yes.”
Sam wrapped his free arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Thank you. You won’t regret this. I promise.”
She already knew she wouldn’t.
Epilogue
Leaves crunched under tires as he noticed Riley pulling in at the jobsite where Sam was working. He hadn’t told her much about this project, mainly because he wasn’t sure how she’d feel about it.
His wife got out of the car and the late autumn sun glinted in her golden hair. He could already hear Luca in the back seat calling his name. Daddy. He never thought hearing that word would feel so good.
As soon as his feet hit the dirt Luca was tearing off toward him. Sam crouched down and waited for impact.
The boy had a paper fluttering in his hand. No doubt another piece of artwork. Luca was four now, and his artwork had improved from colored blobs and squares to actual trees and people with giant bodies and little heads.
“Hello there, Mr. Brooks,” Sam said with a wink at Riley. The adoption had gone through easily, and now Luca had Sam’s last name. Luca was his son.
“Daddy, I drawed this for you.”
“You did? That’s awesome. We can hang it inside.” He looked over at Riley and leaned down to give her a kiss. The wind was biting and she pulled her jacket tighter around her.
“We brought you lunch,” she said.
“I’m glad you’re here. I could use your help picking some things for inside.”
“This is beautiful,” she said as she took in the structure behind him. The outside was mostly finished. The cedar siding was set off by the river rock accents. It was a handsome-looking house. But to him, she was the only thing he found truly beautiful.
They’d only been married a month, but every day with her and Luca was even better than the day before. He felt so lucky to have them. And sure, Sam had to listen to the guys tease him about how right they were every time they got together for drinks, but it was a small price to pay.
They’d had a simple ceremony. Just a few friends and family. Mrs. Fisher sat next to Sam’s sister and cried as if she was his own mother. Riley had her sister as her matron of honor, and Sam chose Luca to be his best man. It wasn’t every day the best man sat on the groom’s shoulders for the duration of the wedding ceremony. But Luca produced the ring when asked, and he made the cutest damn speech.
Sam began working on this house the week after she’d agreed to marry him, knowing it would take a while to finish it. He swallowed as he led them inside.
“Oh, my God,” Riley said as she stepped through the front door and looked around. He hadn’t bothered with a foyer in the design. Instead the door led right into the great room. Open timbers and skylights were the only details in the whole open space for the moment.
“So I have some samples over here of flooring, and cabinet finishes. Countertops and backsplashes. Also, what color do you think the walls should be?” he asked as she gazed at the large fireplace that took up most of the side wall.
“Shouldn’t you ask the person who’s going to live here?”
“Well . . .” He swallowed. “Actually, I hope I am.” Every muscle in his body was tense as he watched the news sink in. He’d taken a chance by doing this without having her involved from the start.
This was his dream house. He’d worked on the plans for years. He’d saved up restored pieces he thought would be perfect from jobs here and there. But that had been before he knew Riley. Before he planned to live in this house with her and Luca. He’d made some changes since then to accommodate children. They’d talked about having another baby. At least one more. She went off her birth control two weeks before the wedding so they were going to see what happened.
Her eyes were huge as she turned to look at him. “You hope you are what?” she asked, clearly confused.
“I hope I’m talking to the person who’s going to live here. I designed this house. For us. Dalton’s having it built and if you like it, I’m going to buy it from him. If you don’t, then he’ll sell it to someone else.”
“He’s not going to sell our house to someone else!” she said adamantly. He smiled as he picked her up and spun her around.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“This is amazing, Sam. You designed it?”
“Yep. Come on. Let me show you the rest of it.” He stopped to kiss her. “God, you make me so happy.”
* * *
Riley watched Sam as he showed her the rest of the gorgeous house he’d designed. He seemed nervous at first, but she quickly put his mind at ease. It was perfect. She loved seeing the pride on his face when she pointed out something she particularly liked.
Luca was in his normal spot on Sam’s shoulders and he giggled every time Sam pretended to run into a beam or a wall.
When they got to the master bedroom that looked out over the yard she decided now was the time to let him in on her secret. She was just as nervous as he had been, hopefully it would work out the same way.
“It’s perfect, Sam. I can’t wait to make it our home.” He kissed her while Luca looked out the windows.
“I’m so glad you like it. I wanted it to be a surprise, but then I realized I was going to need your input on the details. This could have blown up in my face.”
“You did good.” She swallowed and pulled away. “Luca, why don’t you show Daddy your picture.”
Sam knelt down while Luca held up his drawing proudly.
“So what’s this?” Sam asked while his brows creased. Luca’s art still wasn’t very identifiable, since all the people were the same size, but all Sam needed to do was ask and Luca could fill him in.
“Dat’s you and Mommy and me and baby sitter,” Luca said while pointing at the four blobs on the page.
“This is McKenna?” Sam asked, having misunderstood because Luca didn’t say it clearly. McKenna had watched Luca over the summer when she was home from college, giving Anita the summer off to take a trip.
“No. Baby sitter,” he repeated getting a little indignant.
“Yeah. McKenna is your baby sitter.”
Sam looked confused.
“I believe he’s trying to say sister instead of sitter. Not that we know it’s a girl yet, but I guess he’s decided—”
She didn’t get the chance to finish. Sam was holding her and kissing her again.
“Are you fu—Are you kidding me? You’re pregnant? We’re having a baby?”
“Baby sitter!” Luca said excitedly.
“Yep. I just found out for sure this morning. Luca came with me while Nichole ran the test.”
“You’re going to be a big brother.” Sam picked up Luca and gave him a high five. Luca nodded. “I guess I’d better get this house finished.”
“Guess you’d better.” Riley laughed as Sam kissed her neck and Luca giggled in her ear. She had everything she could ever want. And she wasn’t afraid.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allison B. Hanson lives near Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her novels include women’s fiction, paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy and mystery suspense. She enjoys candy immensely, as well as long motorcycle rides and reading. Visit her at allisonbhanson.com.
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WHEN LEAST EXPECTED
Whispering breezes, clear mountain lakes—and her ex.
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Ian Montgomery feels like life is spinning out of his control. He’s got a new girlfriend, even if he can’t remember why he’s supposed to want one. His family clearly likes his ex-wife more than they like him. And then he inherits the romantic family cabin in the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, where he and Alexis honeymooned. Or rather, they both inherit it. Together.
A weekend alone with fresh air and fresh wounds seems like the worst thing that could happen to an ex-couple trying to keep it civil. But life is full of surprises—and Ian and Alexis are in for a big one . . .
NICK OF TIME
A romantic cabin in the mountains. And a man who knows how to get lost . . .
With a brand-new M.D. behind her name and a wonderful man by her side, Nichole Atherton thought she had her happily-ever-after all sorted out. Then her fiancé told her he was gay. Nic can fake a smile better than anyone, but she’s hanging by a thread. She just has to make it through her best friend’s wedding . . . and an encounter with his nightmare little brother, Tucker Matthews.
Weddings make Tucker antsy—he’s got a bad track record with “forever.” The family screw-up became a screw-up famous rock star, and bottomed out fast. Now he’s putting his life back together, and the last person he wants to see is perfect Nichole. No matter how hot the fantasies he had about her growing up, Nichole is out of his league and he knows it. It’s just too bad they have so much chemistry. Because there’s no way the two of them could ever make it last . . .
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