Before we got married we talked about adopting a baby. We both wanted kids and since I couldn’t have them, we thought this was the best route. When we went to talk to a caseworker last year we were told that it was really hard to get a baby to adopt, but there were always older children ready to be adopted. We looked at each other and immediately we knew. At the same time we said, “Let’s do it.”
Within a month we were the proud parents of a son, Bray Michael Thompson. He was two years old and had the prettiest blonde hair and big green eyes. He actually looked a lot like Briar.
“Tell your momma that tomorrow is a big day for the Thompson family, Bray.”
“Momma…my sissy comes tomorrow,” Bray squealed.
Taking Bray’s hand, I said, “I know, baby. Tomorrow you are going to become a big brother. Momma is so excited.”
“Daddy is too. Now let’s get home and finish getting our little princess’s room ready,” Briar smiled.
“Yes, sir. I guess she does need a room.”
Briar laughed and led Bray and I out to the truck.
“I can’t believe she’ll be here tomorrow, Briar. Tomorrow we’re gonna have a baby.” We were lucky enough to get the call from our caseworker about a brand new baby girl that was on her way into this world. We jumped on the chance to adopt her.
“I know we are, sweetie. She’s so damn tiny. I’m afraid I’ll break her.”
Kissing Briar on the cheek, I said, “I’m not worried about you breaking her, sweetheart. Look what a great job you did at putting me back together. Our little Baylie Marie is the luckiest girl in the world to have a daddy like you.”
“Nah, she’s lucky ‘cause you’re her momma.”
Smiling over at him I intertwined our fingers and whispered, “Thank you, Briar. I love you.”
“Love ya too, sweetie.”
***
I’d have to thank Tanner for everything he did. I could never have bad feelings against him, because if it wasn’t for him I would still be miserable with Paul. Tanner saved me and for that I will be forever grateful.
Without Tanner I would’ve never gotten to this point. I would have never met Briar and I wouldn’t be a mommy. So if I could say one thing to Tanner today it would be: Thank you for everything.
Daniel
Five Years Later
“Mr. Talbot?” My wife purred as she peered up at me with those sexy brown eyes.
“Yes, Mrs. Talbot?” I asked. We were lying in our bed in the home we’d been sharing since we arrived on this island five years ago.
A look of sadness passed across her face. “Do you ever regret what happened that day in the airport? Do you ever wish I hadn’t been there?”
I placed my hand under her arms and roughly pulled her up to where we were practically nose to nose. “How could you ask me something like that? You have to know that I don’t regret one minute of my life that has been spent with you.” I pressed my lips to hers and plundered her mouth with my tongue. Pulling away, I muttered, “Not one damn minute.”
She smiled and then slid down to where she was straddling me. I could feel her heat pressed against my erection that was trying it’s damndest to escape my shorts.
Moving back and forth a few times she moaned and then placed her palms on my chest and ground down onto me.
“Holy fuck!” I screamed as I flipped her over onto her back. “What the hell, babe? You trying to kill me this morning?”
“Nope. Just trying to fuck my husband. Didn’t think there was anything wrong with that.”
“Not a thing wrong with it, but shouldn’t we be careful? I don’t want to wake Sabrina up.”
“She’s only six months old. It’s not like she’ll know what her mommy and daddy are doing in here.” She giggled.
I waggled my eyebrows at her and whispered, “Then I guess we should get back to the fucking, shouldn’t we?”
As she raised her hips up to meet mine and rubbed against my groin, she said, “Yes, we should definitely get back to it.”
Taking the hem of her tank top between my fingers, I quickly jerked it up over her head. Then I grabbed the waist of her pajama pants and tugged them down to her ankles.
“Have I ever told you how much I love it when you don’t wear panties? Because if I haven’t I should be damned ashamed of myself.”
“You may have mentioned it once or twice.” She smiled while she tugged my shorts down and took my erection into her warm welcome little hands.
Gripping me like a vice she never moved her gaze away from mine.
“Shit…holy shit, baby.” My eyes were closed and I was trying to focus but all I could think about was being inside her. Feeling the warm slick walls of her pussy begging for me. The feel of her squeezing around me and pulling my dick so hard that it would explode inside her. “Stop. Fucking stop. I need to be inside you. Now.”
Just like that her little hand was gone and with one long hard thrust I was fully seated inside of her welcoming warmth.
“Oh, fuck, Daniel!” She cried as her orgasm took over her entire body. She was writhing beneath me and screaming out my name over and over again. When she started to come down from her high I thrust once more and reached between us and squeezed her tight little bud, causing another orgasm to float through her system. “Too much. Not enough. Holy shit!” She screamed as she raised her hips to meet mine.
Pressing on my shoulders she pushed me over until she was straddling me again. “My turn,” she groaned.
She pressed down onto me so hard that I thought we would both go through the goddamn mattress. “Oh my god, baby,” I moaned.
All it took was a couple more of those for me to scream out in ecstasy. “Becca. Fuck, Becca!”
She laid her head on my chest and I could feel our hearts beating as one. They were racing and we were both exhausted. Sabrina picked that time to start screaming bloody murder.
Gently, I scooped Becca up in my arms and laid her down beside me on the bed. She looked so beautiful and completely satisfied. What an amazing combination.
“I’ll get her, baby. Rest. I know I wore that cute little ass of yours out,” I grinned.
Walking down the hall to our daughter’s room, I thought back to that day in the airport. The day I was escaping from everything.
I had sat in the café flirting with the little redhead for hours. It was taking forever for my plane to be ready to head out.
“Is there a Mr. Talbot here?” I heard someone ask from the doorway that led into the café.
“Yeah, that’s me. Is the plane finally ready?”
“All set, sir. If you’re ready to board I’ll take you out to the tarmac.”
Shooting the redhead a sexy glance, I whispered, “It’s been fun.” I placed my hand on her knee and squeezed. “Maybe we’ll see other again.”
She smiled and I left the café and headed out to board my plane.
Once I boarded and everything was ready to go, I heard the attendant say, “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but this is a private plane. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard, “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
When I turned around I saw her standing there with a scowl from hell on her face.“Becca? How…? What the hell are you doing here?” Standing up from my seat, I put my arms around her and squeezed her tight. I’d always known how important she was to me, but I don’t think it hit me until that moment exactly how important she was. I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted to take her with me.
She sat down in the seat across from me, so I sat back down in my seat. She had her arms crossed over her chest. She was so pissed at me. You could practically see the steam coming off of her.
“You were just going to leave? Leave me?” I caught a look of sadness in her eyes, but the pissed off glare quickly returned.
“I have to leave, Becca. I’ve fucked everything up. Just like you knew I would.”
“Yeah, you totally fuck
ing did. I knew all of this was going to blow up in your face. I hate to say it, Romeo, but I told you so, repeatedly.”
“Yeah, I know you did. I should’ve listened to you, but it was too late. I’d already fallen for them. I couldn’t stop it. It went to hell in a hand basket real damn quick.”
Leaning over she braced her elbows on her knees. Gazing up into my eyes, she said, “I have a confession to make, Daniel.”
I couldn’t take my eyes away from her. I bent forward and placed my hand on her knee. “And what is that, Becca?”
She looked away and then quickly looked down. I reached up and grabbed her chin. Tilting her head up to where our eyes met again. “What do you need to confess?”
She bit her lip and started to look really nervous. I couldn’t understand what the hell was wrong with her. Becca was never nervous.
“I’m just going to say it. Then I’ll get off this plane and you can leave and get the hell out of my life. I love you, Daniel. I think I’ve always loved you. Seeing you with those other women fucking killed me. I couldn’t stand the thought of you being with anyone but me. When I read your letter, I thought…well, I thought maybe you felt the same way about me.”
Apparently, the courier had listened to me and got his ass right over to Becca’s place with those letters. She had obviously persuaded him to tell her where I was too.
Standing up, I took both of her hands in mine and pulled her up with me. Pulling her close to me, I whispered, “I’ve always loved you, Becca. When I wrote that letter to you my heart was breaking. I didn’t think I deserved you after everything I’d done. I couldn’t stand the thought of hurting you even more than I already have.”
“Daniel, your leaving would hurt me worse than anything else.”
“I think I’ve always known you were it for me. I was just so afraid that I would screw everything up and lose you.”
“You won’t lose me, Daniel. I love you.”
“I love you too, and I always will.” I loosened my hold on her and looked down into her big beautiful brown eyes. “Please come with me, Becca. Let’s go find our happy.”
“I found my happy.” She placed her hand on my cheek. “He’s standing right in front of me. And right after I kick his ass for trying to leave me, I’m going to show him exactly how happy I can make him.”
“That sounds like a great plan, Mrs. Talbot.”
“What the hell? Another new name? Seriously?” She gave me an incredulous look.
“Yes. I’m Jamison Talbot and since we are going to get married as soon as this plane lands, you’re going to be Mrs. Talbot.”
“Does that mean I get to pick a new first name?” She asked with a little grin.
“Of course. I’ve always been a little partial to Becca, though.”
“How about Maggie May. I love that song!”
We laughed and when she pressed her lips to mine it was like fireworks going off through the whole fucking plane.
It was right. She was my future. I lived my whole life to get to this time with her.
It’s been five years since that day. Five years of living with the woman who made me whole. Right after the plane landed I told her about Paul. She knew that it had to be done and that I wouldn’t have done something like that if it hadn’t been necessary.
After six months on the island, we were married and happy. I knew in my heart that Skye, Lilly, and Adlee were better off without me. They deserved so much more than what I could give them.
I couldn’t say that I didn’t miss them, because I did. I loved each of them, and probably always would.
Lincoln and Abbi were a different story. I was missing them so much. I just wanted to know that they were okay. I knew Lilly would take care of them, and I’d left them with enough money to know that they would never want for anything. But they wouldn’t have a father.
I had a friend of a friend keep tabs on them. Once a month I received a package with information about them. Pictures and accomplishments. Anything he could find out for me, he did. Those packages were always the highlight of my month.
After Lilly married that rocker the kids were in the public eye a little more than I would like. However, I did like the fact that I could do an internet search and see pictures of them whenever I wanted to.
When Becca found out she was pregnant with Sabrina I was so happy, but I also felt even worse about leaving Lincoln and Abbi. I knew that they were okay. I had to just know that. The more time that passes it gets easier…no, no it never gets easier. But hopefully when they are older they’ll understand that I couldn’t be what they needed me to be.
Sitting in the rocker, Sabrina cuddled up into my chest and we rocked until she fell back to sleep. Her little brown curls were sticking out all over the place and she was noisily sucking her thumb. She was perfect. All of my kids were.
When I looked up, Becca was standing in the doorway staring at us.
“You make me so happy, Daniel.”
“You are my happy, Becca.”
***
If I could say one thing to Skye, Lilly, and Adlee it would be this: I loved you. I really did.
***
Where am I?
Well, that’s for me to know and everyone else to wonder about…
THE END
Look for other titles by this author
Destined to Change
(Book 1 in the Destined Series)
Loralei Harper’s destiny was determined before her birth. It was very simple. She was expected to graduate from high school, marry Declan Sharp, and have two kids. She would stay at home with them, while her husband worked on the family farm. But the funny thing about destiny is…it can change in the blink of an eye. Now Loralei has to figure out what to do when everything changes.
Declan Sharp, a sweet country boy, grew up with Loralei. Their parents couldn’t have planned their relationship any better. Loralei was the love of his life and their future was bright, but sometimes life gets in the way of your plans.
Jaxon Daniels, a pierced, tattooed, badass with a gentle soul, just wanted to get out of the city and relax in the country for a little while. The last thing he was looking for was right in front of him. With skeletons in his closet, will he be able to hold on to the woman he loves, when the past comes out to play?
Cade Walker, a cocky cowboy, never gave love a second thought. Sex? Now that was a different story. After a drunken night, all of that changes when he feels something for Loralei…with his heart. This good ole boy learns that alls fair in love and war.
What happens when all of these lives cross paths? Whose destiny will change and who will get their happily ever after?
Destined to Succeed
(Book 2 in the Destined Series)
What would you do if what you worked your entire life to build was suddenly destroyed?
Cade Walker is a cowboy Casanova. He’s cocky and he doesn’t care who knows it. He was raised on Walker Ranch and was destined to one day take it over. What he didn’t know was how soon that would happen. After his parents are killed in a car accident he is thrust into becoming a responsible adult. Well, sort of. Cade is always responsible when it comes to business, but pleasure, now that’s a whole other story.
Suzanna Mallory is a redheaded spitfire, who also happens to be Cade’s best friend. She has loved Cade since they met when they were nine years old, but Cade just isn’t the type to get married and settle down. Suzanna finds herself in an abusive marriage and the only thing that keeps her sane is her daughter, Isabella, and working with Cade at Walker Ranch.
When a fire threatens to destroy the future of Walker Ranch, Cade and Suzanna have to work together to save it.
What will this mean for her marriage or to the feelings that she has for Cade?
And now that Cade thought he found love with Loralei Harper, only to realize she didn’t feel the same way, is he ready to settle down?
Is Cade Walker Destined to Succeed?
Destined to Forgive<
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(Coming Soon)
About the Author
Lisa M. Harley~
I grew up in a really small town in Missouri. Very similar to the fictional towns I write about. I moved to the big city right after I graduated. I work full-time and I am mom to a beautiful little girl.
I started writing in October 2012 when a group I am a member of had a prologue contest. I didn’t win the contest, but everyone who read my prologue asked for more of my story. I decided I had to finish it and get these characters that were in my head out on paper. During the writing process it became clear that these characters had a lot to say. So I realized my story was really a series:
The Destined Series
Destined to Change (Available Now)
Destined to Succeed (Available Now)
Destined to Forgive (Coming Winter 2013)
Destined to Rock (Coming Winter 2013)
Destined to Overcome (Coming Early 2014)
I am a really boring person, so this bio is super short! This is really about all there is to know about me. Sad, isn’t it. lol
I love music and honestly couldn’t write without my Spotify playlist. I am kinda obsessed with frogs (not real ones) and office supplies are my downfall! I could spend my whole paycheck at the stationery store…boring, didn’t I already say that? lol
Also, I am slightly addicted to Facebook and Voxer. Please message me on either one…I would love to hear from ya’ll.
Contact Information:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Destinedtochange
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lharley77
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18168296-four-letters
Blog: http://lisamharley.blogspot.com
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