Wiley Johns

by Ciana Stone

  She saw Elisi walk out of the front door. She met them at the car. "Change of plans."

  "What kind of change?"

  "I forgot that Kaylee and I are going out to eat with Netta and Nellie Mae and then afterwards we're making cookies for the church daycare center. They got all the Minion movies for Kaylee, and she gets to help make the cookies, and we're going to have a girl's sleepover at Netta's."

  "Yay! A sleepover!" Kaylee jumped around and whooped. "And I get to make cookies."

  "Really?" Molly asked. "You didn't say anything about this earlier."

  Elisi shrugged. "Sorry. Come on Kaylee. I already took our stuff over to Netta's, and she said you can take a bath in her big tub."

  "The giant one? Yay! Come on Elisi. Bye Mama. I had fun. I love you."

  Molly leaned over for a hug and then watched as Kaylee took Elisi's hand and skipped across the yard.

  "Well, damn." She grabbed the beach bag and her purse and walked to the house. As much as she hated it, she felt a little put out and more than a bit abandoned. Then again, maybe it was a blessing because despite her best efforts to put on a cheerful face, all she really wanted to do was take a shower, crawl in bed and cry.

  No matter what she said to others, she wasn't ever going to get over Wiley. Not ever.

  She walked inside, shoving her keys into her purse. She closed the door and turned.

  That's when time stopped.

  Maybe even her heart stopped for a moment.

  Her vision blurred then sharpened.

  "Hey, Foxy."

  Everything she held hit the floor and Molly staggered, reaching for purchase. "Wiley."

  His gaze captured hers as he walked to her. She could barely breathe as he ran his hand behind her head and leaned in to kiss her softly.

  Molly felt physically weak and completely overcome with emotion. All she'd wished and prayed for stood there in front of her and part of her feared it was only a dream. Did wishes such as hers really come true?

  "Wiley." The way she breathed his name, the emotion in her voice, sounded like an invocation to prayer and brought tears to his eyes that he was not in the least ashamed of.

  "You came home to me." She reached up to touch his face.

  "I love you, Molly and I heard you. I heard you, and I survived for you, and I want to spend every day of the rest of my life with you. Will you please be my partner, my lover, my best friend and my wife?"

  "Are you—is this for real?"

  He took her hand and moved it to his chest. "Completely. So, what do you say, Foxy? Me and you? Happily-ever-after?"

  "Yes." Her smile could have lit a city it was so bright. "Oh god, yes. I love you."

  "And I'll never love anyone else," he promised.

  This time it was Molly who initiated the kiss, and it was not shy or chaste. Wiley had once read in a book Trina's mother had that the heroine of the tale was claimed by her lover's kiss. He'd laughed it off as a line from a silly romance book.

  Until now. Until Molly claimed him with her kiss. Until this moment he'd never known what it meant to have your body, heart and soul belong to another. Now, he was willingly ready to surrender all he was and would ever be to this woman.

  In his own way. He couldn't change his basic nature, and right now it demanded that he stake his own claim. Wiley broke free of the kiss, took hold of the neck of her t-shirt in both hands and with one jerk, ripped it straight down the front.

  The look Molly gave him was like throwing gas on a fire. The drawstring shorts she wore were quickly disposed of. Her swimsuit would not be usable again because he took no care in tearing the straps loose and peeling it off her.

  God almighty, he'd dreamed of her the entire time he was in that hell, and now here she was, naked and willing. It was a struggle to slow down and being gentle was a challenge.

  "Take me hard."

  Her words proved their connection, along with the little grunt of excitement that came from her when he pushed her against the wall and splayed her arms out beside her hips, pinning them to the wall.

  Wiley feasted on her lips, her breasts, and her sex and when she screamed in pleasure, he stood and released her hands. She tore at his pants, fumbling in her haste to unfasten them. It took no encouragement at all for her to wrap one leg around his waist as he guided himself inside her.

  Two strokes and she had both legs around his waist. "Now, now, now." She chanted and banged her head back against the wall.

  Damn, she knew exactly how to strip away his control. Wiley gave up on slow and gentle and took, claimed and worshipped until they were both covered in sweat and growing weak.

  "Lay down, Wiley." Her words were nearly a moan. "Carry me to the couch and lay down. I'm gonna take you there."

  He did as ordered, and she hung on so that she was astride him when he lay on the couch. With her hands on his chest, she started to move, a sensual undulation that was probably the sexiest thing he'd ever seen in his life.

  "Don't move," she ordered.

  He gladly complied and when she gasped "Now," he was a goner.

  Molly rode out her climax then lay down on him, breathing fast. After a minute, she pushed up and looked at him. "I need you to do something for me."

  "Can I catch my breath first?"

  "Not that. At least not yet. I'm serious."

  "Anything. What do you need?"

  "Use your ability. Look inside me."

  It scared him. Was something wrong? Was she sick? He didn't – couldn't look for that. It would kill him. "Are you okay, Foxy?"

  "Trust me, Wiley. Just look." She took his hands and put them on her belly.

  Hoping he wasn't going to find something that broke his heart, he closed his eyes and opened his mind. At first, all he was aware of was her heart, beating steady and sure and the blood pulsing in her veins and that light, that pure light that filled her.

  Then he heard it. Another heartbeat. His eyes flew open. "You're--?"

  "Yes. We're having a baby."

  "We're –" His voice choked, and he sat up to wrap his arms around her. What he'd never dared to hope had become real. "You're my dream come true, Molly Little Fox."

  "And you're mine. Want to take a shower and then sleep in my arms?"

  "More than anything."

  They got up and headed for the bathroom, but she stopped and put her hands on his chest. "I do need to ask something of you."

  "Anything."

  "Can you – never mind, I can't ask that."

  "You can ask anything."

  "Never put me through anything like what happened ever again?"

  He knew what she was asking, and to his surprise, it wasn't a difficult decision to make. "I promise."

  "I don't want to take from you what you love, Wiley, but it nearly ended me when I thought you might die. Before you I knew how to live alone, to be a mother and a daughter and a friend, but now… now I've given you my heart, and I don’t know that I could take losing you."

  "You won't. I promise. No more missions."

  "You don't mind?"

  "Not in the least. I have something I want a lot more. I'm yours Foxy."

  She smiled up at him. "Yeah?"

  "Yep."

  "Well, in that case, I have this thing I've been wanting to try, and I think it just might take you there, stud."

  "Oh, you're gonna take me there?"

  "Repeatedly."

  "Well, have at it, Foxy."

  To his great delight, she fulfilled that promise.

  Chapter Fourteen

  "Best day ever"

  Molly had the table set and breakfast ready when Elisi and Kaylee walked through the kitchen door.

  "Hey baby girl, did you have a fun time last night?" Molly asked.

  "Yes, it was fun. That smells good, Mama."

  "Well, go wash your hands, and we'll eat." Molly waited until Kaylee scampered off then looked at Elisi. "Thank you."

  "I figured you two could use some privacy. Did you tell hi
m?"

  "Tell him what?"

  Elisi snorted. "Seriously?"

  Molly laughed and hugged her grandmother. "Yeah, like I could keep it from you."

  "I'm happy for you, for all of us. He's a good man."

  "Does that mean I have your blessing to marry your granddaughter?" Wiley asked from the doorway.

  "Indeed, it does."

  "Thank you, Mercy."

  Elisi nodded and then cut her eyes behind Wiley. He turned, and a split second later the sound of Kaylee's voice rang out. "You're home, Mr. Wiley! You're home!"

  He knelt, and she flew into his arms. "I'm so glad to see you, Kaylee."

  "I missed you." She hugged him tightly. "And Mama cried and cried. You can't leave her like that no more, Mr. Wiley. She was really unhappy. We were all unhappy."

  "I won't leave you anymore, I promise." He knelt and set her down but remained kneeling. "In fact, there's something really important I need to ask you."

  "What?"

  "I was hoping it'd be okay with you if I married your mom."

  "Marry? You mean like be a family?"

  "Yes, exactly."

  She smiled, but it quickly faded, and she looked at her mother. "Will it be okay with my dad in heaven?"

  "Oh yes, honey. Kayden would be pleased about it. He wants us to have a family."

  "One with a real live Dad?"

  Molly bit her lip and blinked at the sudden rush of tears.

  "Yes," Wiley answered. "Would you like that?"

  She nodded and asked meekly. "Can I call you Daddy?"

  "I sure would like that."

  Kaylee squealed and threw her arms around his neck, gave him a noisy kiss on the cheek then raced across the room to Molly and Elisi. "I've got a Daddy, Elisi. A real live one. Mama, I need to call Bernice and Lily and tell them I have a Daddy."

  "How about we do that later?" Molly asked, feeling very close to crying out of sheer happiness.

  "A family breakfast!" Kaylee crowed. "I get to sit beside Daddy."

  "Absolutely," Wiley agreed and let her lead him to the table. Molly and Elisi brought the platter of eggs, bacon, and pancakes to the table, filled coffee cups and pour juice and then everyone sat.

  "If you all don't mind." Wiley looked around. "I'd like to say something."

  At a nod from Molly, he continued. "I never dreamed that I could be this blessed, but I promise all of you that I will protect and take care of and love every one of you as long as I live."

  "And be my Daddy," Kaylee added in a serious tone.

  "Yes indeed. That's my most important thing to be. Your Dad."

  Kaylee grinned and looked at Elisi. "It's the best day ever, Elisi. Just like you said."

  "Oh?" Molly gave Elisi the side eye. "You said, huh?"

  "I did." Elisi dead-panned her response and stabbed a pancake.

  "Well, you nailed it," Molly said and grinned. "It is the best day. Ever. Now, dig in, we've got a big day ahead of us."

  "What're we doing Mama?"

  "It's a surprise."

  "I wanna know. Mama!"

  Molly laughed and looked at Wiley. "The best day, ever."

  "Amen to that, Foxy."

  "Foxy!" Kaylee laughed. "Daddy called Mama Foxy."

  "Okay, Squirrely Jo, eat up," Molly said with no sting in her voice.

  "Okay, Mama. But can we call Bernice and Lily after we eat? I need to tell them about my Daddy."

  "Yes, ma'am. We sure will. I think I might need to tell their mommies about your new Daddy, too."

  "And I might need to tell Netta and Nellie Mae," Elisi added.

  "Why not tell everyone at the same time?" Wiley suggested.

  Everyone looked at him, and he grinned. "We could have a party."

  "Yes, we could." Molly looked at Elisi. "What do you think?"

  "I think I should enlist help. You know Netta and Nellie Mae would love to be part of things."

  "Then let's ask them."

  "Yes, let's do. Good idea, Wiley."

  "Good idea, Wiley." Molly smiled at him.

  "Yes, indeed. Best day ever."

  *****

  Wiley came up behind Molly and nuzzled her neck. "Best day ever?"

  She turned, right into his arms. "Every day with you is the best day ever."

  "I think that's my line." He claimed a kiss, and a few seconds later they both heard Kaylee.

  "Elisi, they're doing it again!"

  "What?" Wiley waited for Kaylee to get close enough and grabbed her up. "You ratted us out?"

  "You're s'posed to be getting everything ready for the party."

  "Slave-driver," he teased and then nuzzled her neck, making her squeal and giggle. After a few moments, he put her down. "And what are you supposed to be doing Miss Kaylee?"

  "I'm helping Mrs. Netta in the kitchen."

  "Then you better get to it."

  "Okay. No more kiss breaks."

  Molly and Wiley watched Kaylee head back inside then resumed setting up tables and chairs. "You think we have enough?" She asked. "I think we invited everyone we know."

  "We'll be fine and hell yeah we did. We have something to celebrate."

  "I can't get over feeling like I need to pinch myself to make sure it's real."

  "Oh, it's real, and if you wanna be pinched, I'll oblige you."

  Molly laughed. "Later, hot stuff. Right now, we need to finish this and check to see if the gals in the kitchen need help."

  "I think they'd got it covered. Deac and Grady are both bringing grills, and didn't you say Cody was, too?"

  "Yes. Everyone's been so nice, haven't they?"

  "I think they're all just genuinely happy for us. You've made good friends here."

  "We both have, and you have family here. Which reminds me, have you told Trina about the baby?"

  "Not yet. There hasn't been an appropriate time, and I think I'd like to tell all the family at the same time."

  "Whatever you want."

  "You're what I want. You, and our family."

  "Are you sure you're okay with Kaylee calling you Dad?"

  "More than okay."

  "She's so happy. I've never seen her so excited. Elisi, too."

  "I'm one lucky man to be marrying into this family."

  "I hope you still say that a year from now."

  "No worries. Okay, that's it for table and chairs. What's next?"

  "A shower. People will be arriving in an hour."

  Wiley scooped her up in his arms and headed for the house, and Molly giggled. "This is supposed to be a cleaning event."

  "Oh, we'll get clean."

  "We have a house full of people, you know."

  "I do, so you're gonna have to keep it down."

  Molly hugged him and laughed. "You're bad."

  "You ain't seen nothing yet."

  Fifty minutes later, Molly walked into the kitchen, clean, dressed and well satisfied. Nellie Mae was standing at the counter, spooning deviled egg mixture into hard-boiled egg whites and Netta was at the table, icing a cake. Elisi was mixing up coleslaw and Kaylee was stealing finger dips of icing from Netta's icing bowl.

  "Well, don't you look like the cat who licked the cream," Netta teased.

  "I don't know if I look it, but I sure feel like it," Molly returned.

  "Oh, you sassy little vixen," Nellie Mae said over her shoulder then lowered her voice. "I don’t blame you one bit, girl. He's all kinds of fine."

  "Why thank you, Mrs. Nellie Mae," Wiley said from the door at the same time Molly replied. "Oh yes, he is."

  "Sneaky Pete," Nellie Mae scolded Wiley.

  He grinned and took Molly's hand. "Can we tell them?"

  "I've been dying to, and it's a miracle they'd haven't guessed."

  "Child, we know you're getting married," Netta said.

  "Yes, but we have a secret, and you're the only ones who will know so keep it under your hats until Wiley has a chance to tell his family."

  "What?" Netta asked.

  "W
e're having a baby."

  Both women squealed, and Kaylee ran over to Molly. "We're having a baby?"

  "We are."

  "How are we having it?"

  "Remember when we told you about how babies grow in Mommy's tummies?"

  "Yes, like Mrs. Wilson's cat. She had four kittens in her belly."

  "Right. Well, Mommy has one baby in her belly, and sometime after Christmas, it will come out and be part of our family."

  "Do I get to hold it?"

  "Of course, you do. It will be your brother, or sister, depending on whether it's a boy or girl."

  "And it'll be just my brother or sister? I don't have to share?"

  "No, it'll be just yours. Well, it'll be mine and Wiley's and Elisi's too. And it will call Mrs. Netta and Mrs. Nellie Mae Aunts because they're our family."

  "They are?"

  "They are now." Molly looked at the elderly women. "If that's okay."

  Nellie Mae pulled a tissue from her apron and dabbed at her eyes. "Oh, my goodness … so sweet… so so sweet, honey. I'm delighted."

  "Thank you." Molly looked at Netta. "Yes?"

  "Yes." Netta smiled. "Most definitely."

  Molly grinned at Elisi who returned the smile and then she looked at Wiley. "You better hope it's a boy. You're severely outnumbered."

  "And loving it," Wiley said and picked Kaylee up. "You're gonna be a heck of a good big sister, kiddo."

  "Yes, I am. I'm gonna be a big sister."

  "Yes indeed."

  A knock at the door had Wiley setting Kaylee down. "Now remember, it's a secret about the baby, okay?"

  "Zipped lips for secrets." She made a motion of zipping her lips then headed for the door. "I'll get it."

  "I'll help." Molly offered and chased after her.

  She opened the door to Cody and her family, and the first thing Kaylee said was "Bernice, guess what? Wiley's gonna be my real-life Daddy. Not like my dead Daddy, but a real live one."

  As Kaylee and Bernice ran off toward the back of the house, Molly gestured and smiled. "Come on in."

  "Were you planning on keeping it secret?" Cody asked as she entered, laden down with bags. "I have two coolers in the car."

  "Let me help." Wiley offered as he reached the door and offered Jax a hand to shake. "How's it going, man?"