by Marie Force
His hips came off the bed, silently begging her for more, but still she made him wait.
“Fuck, Mary. I thought you loved me.”
“I do.” She drew the head into her mouth and sucked lightly, pulling a deep groan from him. “I love you so much, it’s crazy. You’re all I can think about.”
“Baby, let me touch you.”
“Not yet. I’m not done.” To punctuate her words, she cupped his balls and squeezed lightly as she took him in as far as she could, using her tongue and lips to pleasure him.
“Mary!”
She heard the warning, knew she was playing with fire and didn’t retreat.
“God, Mary…” His hips came off the bed, and he grasped her hair in the second before he came.
She stayed with him until he sagged into the bed, the act so personal and intimate, she felt seared in the aftermath. She’d never done that for anyone else, had never wanted to. But with him, all her walls had fallen and nothing was off-limits because of how much she loved him.
Kissing his belly and chest, she worked her way to his neck as his arms came around her.
“You are so incredibly sexy,” he said.
“I’ve never felt sexy until you came along.”
“That’s a goddamned shame.” He kissed her until he was hard again, and Mary took him in slowly, coming down on top of him as he dragged his thumbs over her nipples.
Patrick sat up and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him as they moved together in perfect harmony.
She’d never experienced anything better than the exquisite pleasure she found with him, and the thought of a lifetime of such pleasure filled her with giddy joy.
His hands dropped to her ass, squeezing as she moved. Then he hit a spot deep inside her that triggered a powerful release for her and then him.
She sagged into his embrace, exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. If he asked her right now to give up everything she’d ever known for him, she’d do it. She’d do it in a New York minute. The pun made her giggle.
“It’s not polite to laugh when a man’s penis is still inside you.”
“I’m not laughing at you or your delicate penis.”
“My penis is not delicate, as he has proven many, many times.”
“Stop,” she said, laughing uncontrollably now.
“Not until you tell me what’s so funny.”
“I can’t.”
He rolled them so he was on top of her. “Tell me.”
“I had this thought.”
“I’m listening…”
“That if you asked me right now, I’d give up my whole life in a New York minute if I got to spend the rest of it with you. It was the New York minute that made me laugh.”
His expression turned fierce. “I’m asking. Right here and now. Marry me, Mary. Live with me. Travel the world with me. Sleep with me every night. Wake up with me every morning. Be my love.”
“Patrick…” Her eyes filled with tears that slid down her cheeks. “I was joking. I wasn’t asking you to propose.”
“I’m dead serious. Hang on a minute.” He withdrew from her, got up from the bed and went to root around in his bag, returning with a black velvet box that he held out to her.
“What…” She looked up at him. “You…”
“Open it.”
Mary’s hands trembled as she opened the box, gasping at the sight of the most incredible ring she’d ever seen.
“I had it made for you. I was planning to propose on our trip. You just gave me the perfect opportunity.” Dropping to his knees next to the bed, he reached for her hands. “Will you please marry me, Sweet Mary from Vermont?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Yes.”
“Really?”
She nodded and tugged on his hands to bring him back to her. “Really.”
He took the velvet box that had fallen to the bed and removed the ring to slide it onto her finger.
“It’s so beautiful.”
“It’s not too much?”
“No, it’s perfect. I love that you had it made just for me.”
“It’s one of a kind, like you.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Believe it. Believe in me and us. This is forever.”
“We can’t tell anyone. This is Hunter and Megan’s weekend. We can’t steal their thunder.”
“And I probably ought to tell my daughter we’re together before I tell her we’re engaged.”
“That, too.” She smiled at him.
He smiled back at her. “I’ll tell her tomorrow after the wedding.”
“We’re really engaged?” She’d thought she felt giddy before. Now, her heart beat so fast, she feared she might pass out.
Patrick kissed the hand that now sported his ring. “We’re as engaged as it’s possible to be.”
“And we have to act like nothing special has happened in front of everyone I know.”
“Just for a little while longer. After the New Year, we’ll come back from our trip and tell everyone the good news. The engagement part can be our secret for now.”
“It’s the best secret I’ve ever had.”
He snuggled up to her and drew the comforter over them. “Me, too, sweetheart.”
Mary floated on air that weekend, through the festivities at The Pig’s Belly, when she had to pretend that she and Patrick were just friends, and the next day when Hunter and Megan tied the knot in a touching, beautiful ceremony at Linc and Molly’s big red barn.
Mary stood with Patrick during the ceremony and the speeches that followed. Megan’s sister Nina was toasting the bride and groom when a shout from behind them had Mary and Patrick turning in time to see Cameron land in a heap on the floor.
Will cried out in distress.
Patrick ran to her, dropping down next to his son-in-law.
Cameron came to a few seconds later, asking what happened and then apologizing to Megan for stealing her thunder.
“I don’t care about that,” Megan said. “As long as you’re all right.”
Cameron looked up at Will, a small smile occupying her lips. “I’m all right, and I’m pregnant.”
While everyone else cheered the good news, Mary went cold inside, knowing what she did of Cameron’s family history.
“A baby?” Patrick asked, his voice filled with wonder.
“So it seems, although this wasn’t how I’d planned to tell you.”
Patrick hugged her, holding her for a long moment. By the time he released her, some of the color had returned to Cameron’s pale cheeks.
Will and Patrick helped her up, then Will scooped her into his arms to carry her out of the room. Mary, Patrick, Molly and Lincoln followed.
“I’m so sorry to worry you all,” Cameron said. “I stood too close to the fireplace, and the heat did me in.”
Molly brought her ice water and ushered everyone from the room, so Cam and Will could have a minute alone.
Patrick looked like he’d been electrocuted.
Mary guided him into the kitchen and encouraged him to breathe.
“Oh my God,” Patrick said, stricken. “She’s pregnant. She can’t… I can’t… I can’t lose her, Mary. I’d never survive it.”
“We’ll give them a minute, and then we’ll go talk to her. You can tell her what you’re worried about and give her all the information she needs.”
“I should’ve told her. Before they got married, but she was so happy… I couldn’t. I couldn’t do that to either of them.”
Mary took his face in her hands, not giving a flying fig if anyone came upon them in an obviously intimate moment. “Thirty years have gone by since Ali died giving birth. Everything has changed since then. Cameron is young and strong and healthy. She’s going to be just fine, and you, my friend, are going to be a grandfather.”
“A grandfather,” he whispered. “How do you feel about being married to a grandfather?”
“I may ha
ve to reconsider in light of this development. I’m still a very young woman. I ain’t nobody’s granny.”
His mouth lifted into a small smile that was a welcome change from the sheer terror of a few minutes ago. “You’re going to be the sexiest granny ever.”
“Let’s go talk to Cameron and put your mind at ease.”
They found Will and Cam still in the den. She was on his lap, and his arms were wrapped around her.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Patrick said haltingly.
Mary rested a hand on his back and sat with him on a love seat.
“You’re not,” Cameron said. “Come in. Sorry to cause such a scene.”
“It’s not your fault you fainted, babe,” Will said.
“Still, I never like to be a drama queen.”
“You’re not,” Patrick said. “You never have been.”
“The best part of being pregnant is no more skiing lessons for almost a year,” Cameron said with a grin for her husband. “Why do you look so freaked out, Dad?”
“I… Um… It’s just… Well, I’m so excited for you guys. I hope you know that. But, um… your mom and what happened—”
“That’s not going to happen to me,” Cameron said adamantly.
“How can you possibly know that?”
Cameron glanced at Will, who nodded in encouragement. “Before we started trying to get pregnant, I spent two nights at Mass General, where I had a full cardiac and obstetrical workup that found absolutely no reason for concern. I’m perfectly healthy.”
“You did? You are?”
“I had the same concerns, Patrick,” Will said. “I insisted we make absolutely sure that having babies wouldn’t be too dangerous for her. I wouldn’t hear of even trying until we were one hundred percent sure. And now we are. Of course, she took five years off my life by fainting just now, but that was only because she was too warm standing by the fire.”
“God, that’s such a relief,” Patrick said.
“I’m sorry you were worried,” Cameron said with a sweet smile for her father.
Patrick glanced fleetingly at Mary before returning his attention to Cameron. “There’s something you don’t know, sweetheart. Your grandmother…”
“Also died in childbirth, having her fifth child,” Cameron said.
“How do you know that?” he asked, sounding astounded.
“I connected years ago with Mom’s sister Cindy on Facebook. She told me.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me being in touch with her after the way Mom’s family treated you.”
“I wouldn’t have minded. They’re your family.”
“For better or worse,” Cameron said with a wry smile. “The specialists at Mass General said that I was wise to be tested in light of my family history, but they could find no reason to believe I have anything worry about, and they were incredibly thorough.” She grimaced. “It was no fun.”
“She was a trouper,” Will said.
“Thank you for insisting that she do that,” Patrick said to Will. “I wish you guys had told me about it.”
“You were in Europe, and we didn’t want you to worry,” Cameron said. “And don’t tell me you wouldn’t have worried.”
“You’re right,” Patrick said, smiling at her. “I would have.”
“I had the same fears you do, Patrick,” Will said. “I’d rather be childless than lose Cam the way you lost her mom. I don’t know how you survived it.”
“I didn’t, really. I was a disaster for years, and Cameron paid the price for that.”
“Now that I have Will,” Cameron said, “I have a much greater understanding of what it must’ve been like for you to lose Mom so suddenly. I can’t imagine that happening to me and having to cope with a baby at the same time. I hope none of us ever knows that kind of pain. I wish you would find a way to forgive yourself for not being the perfect dad. You were perfect for me.” She got up and came over to Patrick, reaching out to him.
He stood and wrapped his arms around her.
Mary dabbed at her eyes, moved by Cameron’s loving words for her father, knowing how much they would mean to him.
“I have something to tell you, too,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“So Mary and I—”
“I just said to Will that there was something going on with you guys! Since when?”
Patrick looked at Mary, smiling. “Since your wedding.”
Cameron’s face lit up with a huge smile. “Oh my God! How could you keep this secret from me when I’m the one who introduced you?”
Patrick sat next to Mary and took her hand. “We wanted a little time to ourselves before we told people, and I was a little afraid you might not approve. After all, you told me to keep my hands and everything else away from Mary the day you introduced us.”
To Mary, Cameron said, “Does he treat you right?”
Mary looked at Patrick. “No one has ever treated me better.”
“Then I completely approve. This is so exciting!”
“I’m glad you think so,” Patrick said. “We’re really happy together. In fact…” He looked around to make sure no one else could hear him. “We’re getting married.”
“Patrick! We said we weren’t going to tell anyone yet.”
“Cameron is not anyone. She’s my little girl. I have to tell her.”
His little girl clapped her hands together with giddy excitement while Will looked on, beaming at all of them.
“You guys aren’t going to believe what just happened,” Ella said as she came into the room, looking slightly shell-shocked.
“What’s up?” Will asked his sister.
“Chloe was just here,” she said of Max’s girlfriend and Caden’s mother.
“What did she want?”
“She signed over full custody of the baby to Max. She said she’s not ready to be a mother.”
“Oh my God,” Cameron said. “He must be freaking out.”
“To say the least,” Ella said.
Poor Max, Mary thought. What an overwhelming responsibility for such a young man. He’d only just graduated from college, and now he was a single dad.
“Apparently, Mom really took control of the situation, and our cousin Grayson had already prepared custody paperwork that outlined all their options. She chose to give sole custody to Max.”
“Holy shit,” Will said. “I need to go check on him.”
“Of course.” Cam stood to let him up. When she wobbled ever so slightly, he settled her back on the sofa with a blanket over her. “Don’t move until I get back.”
“Yes, dear,” she said, smiling at him.
Ella went with Will, leaving Mary, Patrick and Cameron in the den.
“I feel for the guy,” Patrick said.
“You’ve certainly been there, done that,” Cam said.
“He’ll have the support of a big, loving family all around him,” Mary said. “He’ll be okay.”
“I want to talk about you two,” Cameron said. “I want all the PG-13 details of how this went down. Leave nothing out but the gross stuff. And I take it you’re not really staying at the Butler Inn this week.”
“Busted,” Mary said.
Laughing, Patrick told his daughter their story, leaving out the delicious details that belonged to them alone.
Chapter 15
“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.”
—Helen Keller
On the way back to Mary’s house, a light snow fell, making it hard to see the road or the huge moose standing in the middle of it until they almost hit him. Patrick slammed on the brakes, and the car spun around in a full circle before coming to a stop. The moose never flinched.
“Jesus,” Patrick said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“What the actual hell?”
“That would be Fred the Moose. You met him at Cam’s wedding.”
“I remember. D
ear God, my daughter ran her car into him and lived to tell.”
“And that’s how she became the girl who hit Fred.”
“My hands are shaking, and I didn’t even hit him.”
“Fred shows up in the damnedest places around here. You never know where he’s going to be. Locals have learned to keep an eye out for him.”
“I think I might be having a heart attack.” He reached for her hand and placed it over his fast-beating heart.
“Nah, you’re just having a Fred anxiety attack. But he’s harmless. Don’t worry. We may have to wait him out, but eventually he’ll move along.”
“He’s a big mo-fo.”
“That he is.”
Fred let out a loud “moo” that had Patrick jolting and Mary laughing.
“Do not laugh at your fiancé. It’s not nice.”
That only made her laugh harder.
He tugged her closer to him and kissed her. “Quit it.”
“I can’t.” She’d laughed so hard that tears filled her eyes.
“How long are we going to be stuck here?”
“Only Fred knows that.”
Mary turned on the hazard lights so they wouldn’t be hit from behind while they waited out the town moose, who seemed to be in no particular rush.
“However shall we pass the time?” Patrick asked, tipping his head for a better angle on the kiss.
Mary released her seat belt so she could get closer to him. “I’ve never made out in this car before.”
She felt his smile against her lips and then let out a squeak of surprise when he pulled her over to rest on top of him. He did that with an ease that astounded her.
“You can’t just haul me around like a sack of flour.”
“Oh, but I can,” he said, kissing her again.
“But—”
“Are we going to fight or make out?”
“Make out now. Fight later.”
He groaned and kissed her with hours’ worth of desire. Hiding how she felt about him at the wedding had been so difficult that it had almost been painful. She wanted the whole world to know that she loved this extraordinary man and through some amazing stroke of fate, he loved her, too. But she’d never steal Hunter and Megan’s thunder by choosing their moment to share her news.