Finding a Hart

by Kay Gordon

  Ten adults, two children, one toddler, and two infants caused the space to be incredibly cramped but it was perfect. Jared and Chris melded with my family like they belonged there. Chris tolerated being passed around for the most part and entertained anyone who was near him. Jared impressed my parents with both his intelligence and his down-to-earth personality.

  After dessert was over, which anyone with Gibson genes took very seriously, people started to filter out. It was no surprise that Eldon rushed Kate and their kids out as soon as he possibly could. He had been quiet since the interaction before dinner and I could see the anger still lingering on his face. Kate whispered her apologies, gave us brief hugs, and followed her husband out as soon as we all had a chance to love on the kids.

  We left at the same time as Austin and Rhea, only after prying Chris from my mother’s grasp. Lila also got her hands on the baby and smothered his face in wet kisses.

  My mom hugged Jared tight before doing the same to me and I watched as my father and Jared shared a handshake that said so much without actually saying a word. When he hugged me, my father put his lips to my ear.

  “You look happy, baby girl. I love that look on you.”

  I pulled back and pressed a kiss to his cheek without replying. He and Mom were standing on the porch with Bri and Marco when I pulled us away from the curb and I couldn’t help smiling.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Stephanie

  “My family likes you,” I commented as I drove us in the direction of Jared’s home. “That’s not an easy feat to accomplish so quickly. My father threatened to break Troy’s kneecaps, to castrate Marco, and don’t even get me started on the shit he’s said about Eldon.”

  “Why is your sister even with that guy?” Jared sounded genuinely concerned for Kate and I smiled slightly before sighing.

  “I don’t know. Probably because they have three kids together and she’s never worked before. I don’t think she’ll leave him just because she’s afraid of how she’d survive without him. I know she’s not happy, though.”

  “He’s lucky I didn’t punch him in the face.” He reached over and took my hand in his, leaving our conjoined ones on my thigh. “If that’s how he speaks to you, I can only imagine how he speaks to his wife and kids.”

  “He takes some weird pleasure out of trying to get under my skin. Always has. I think it’s because I’ve never really been anything other than cordial to him.”

  Once my car was parked in the residential area, Jared reached into the backseat and unlatched Christopher’s seat from the base. With his hand on the small of my back, he led us inside the lobby. Howie was on duty and he grinned when he caught sight of us.

  “Mr. Hart. Ms. Gibson. How are you this evening?”

  “We’re great,” I replied as I leaned over and gave him a swift hug. “How are you?”

  He nodded happily. “Good, good. If I can do anything, let me know.”

  “Thanks, Howie.” Jared smiled at the older man as we stepped into the elevator. “Goodnight.”

  Chris was awake in his seat but his eyes were heavy as he stared at the wall. I knew that he’d barely make it through his bottle before passing out. Between being handed around and playing with Ryder and Lila, he was exhausted.

  “I’ll get him dressed if you want to make the bottle,” I told Jared, unbuckling Chris once we were in the door. Jared pressed a kiss to my forehead and I disappeared down the hall with the baby.

  Despite how tired he was, Chris still kicked his legs and offered me plenty of smiles while I put a clean diaper on him. Once he was in a pair of fresh pajamas, I kissed his chubby cheeks and laughed when a happy giggle fell from his lips.

  “I love you, Christopher. You know that, right?” I held him up so we were eye-to-eye. “You’re my favorite baby in the whole entire world.”

  Jared chuckled behind me. “If he could talk, I’m sure he’d tell you that the feeling was mutual, sweetheart.”

  After one more kiss to his cheek, I handed off the baby so Jared could put him to bed. Bedtime had become a routine for us and we had an unspoken arrangement that had us switching off who put him to bed each night.

  While Jared was in the nursery, I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before brushing my teeth in the bathroom I’d completely made myself at home in. My toothbrush, face wash, lotion, and make-up littered the counter and a hair straightener and hair dryer were taking up both outlets. In the shower, bottles of my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash had joined Jared’s and I’d even bought a bathrobe that I could keep specifically at his place.

  We’d meshed our lives together well.

  I came out of the bathroom just as Jared was walking into the bedroom, confirming my thoughts about Chris falling asleep quickly. He smiled as he reached over to grab his own pajama pants and I took a second to look at him. His blonde hair was disheveled on top of his head and in need of a cut. The light green eyes that reflected so much depth constantly shined happily over the past couple of months.

  Seeing my life fit with his so easily and watching him in that moment made me lose control of the overwhelming emotions inside of me.

  “I love you.”

  Jared’s eyes widened. Two beats passed before his lips curled into a smile. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded and leaned against the doorframe to the bathroom. “I’m in love with you, Jared Hart. I have been for a while.”

  “Well, Stephanie Gibson, I’m glad to hear that.” He held his hand out to me. “Because I can’t remember what life was like when I didn’t love you and I don’t want to.”

  I took five steps to close the distance between us, ignoring his hand as I threw my arms around his neck. His encircled my waist as our mouths met in a desperate kiss. The familiar scent and taste of Jared sent my body into overdrive and I knew I was done waiting.

  “Jare,” I breathed as his lips left my mouth to trail down my throat. “Will you make love to me?”

  He continued to lavish my neck but I knew he heard me because his fingers dug into my skin when I spoke. His teeth grazed the sensitive spot on my collarbone and I felt his lips curl into a smile when my knees buckled slightly.

  I wasn’t sure who started moving us but we somehow made it to the bed and Jared’s body ended up covering mine. He pulled back slightly so he could look into my eyes and his eyebrows knit together.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asked as he gripped the hem of my shirt. I stared up at him and nodded my head nervously. We’d made it to that point a couple of times but always had interruptions. In my mind, I knew that this was it.

  “I’m sure.”

  His lips molded with mine for another moment before he pulled back and looked at me again. “Sweetheart, you’re trembling.”

  I realized that he was right. My body noticeably shook and I just smiled again. “I’m nervous. I feel like a virgin all over again but I want this. I want you.”

  “I’ll wait, Stephanie. I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”

  “I’m ready, Jared. I’ve been ready. Please.” I reached my hands out and tugged on his shirt until it was over his head. My hands immediately ran down his smooth chest and I sighed happily. “Please.”

  I didn’t have to beg too hard. Jared removed my shirt quickly and a reverent look crossed his face as he gazed down at my breasts. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen me naked but every other time had just been a passing glimpse as I showered or dressed. When he looked at me like he was, I felt like the sexiest woman in the world.

  “Every inch of you is so beautiful,” he murmured, leaning down so his warm mouth could connect with one of my sensitive nipples. I gasped and grabbed a fistful of his hair as pleasure shot through my body. I arched my back and thrust my hips, desperate for him to touch more of me. When he switched breasts, his hands came up to tease at the waistband of my sweatpants and I almost begged again. My fingers dug into his back and I wanted to rejoice
when my pants were slowly pulled down.

  Once they were off, I used my feet to push down his pajama pants the best I could and Jared chuckled slightly as he pulled away from my chest.

  “God, you’re making this impossible to go slow.”

  I shook my head, touching his face as I did. “I don’t want slow. I want you inside of me. Now.”

  “Damn,” Jared groaned as he sat up on his knees, working to get his pajamas pants and boxers off fully. He hooked his fingers in the elastic of my underwear and drew it down quickly, sucking in a breath when I was completely naked. “You’re on birth control, right?”

  “I am,” I confirmed, letting my hand graze against my breast impatiently. My anxieties were still there but my desire to be with Jared had overtaken them almost entirely. “Please.”

  “Patience, Steph.” He grinned and captured my lips again just as a finger swept across my center. My hips jerked off the bed and I gasped into his mouth when he pushed one lone digit inside of me. “You’re soaked.”

  A moan sounded from my throat and I nodded my head while he pumped his hand slowly. “I want you.”

  He pulled his hand away from my body and pushed my thighs apart so he could position himself between them. With his eyes locked on mine, he filled me with one smooth, fluid thrust. All of the air left my lungs and my eyes fluttered closed at how perfect he felt. It was like our bodies had been custom made to be connected like that.

  “Steph,” Jared murmured as he pulled all of the way out just to thrust into me again. “You feel amazing.”

  I bit my lip and nodded my head. “Perfect. This feels perfect.”

  His mouth pressed to mine and he shifted so he was on top of me, his hips lining up directly with mine. Every thrust hit me perfectly, causing a moan to fall from my lips. His movements consistently got faster and I dug my nails into his smooth skin as a powerful orgasm could be felt at every one of the nerve endings in my body. The pleasure was almost too much and I felt like I was moments from passing out. I knew I was moaning, probably loudly, and Jared’s name was muddled in there somewhere, too.

  As the orgasm began to ebb, our mouths reconnected and I realized that Jared had stopped moving. He kissed me hard and was breathing heavily when he pulled back.

  “Holy shit, Stephanie,” he huffed as he dropped his face into my neck. I managed to drape my arms around his back but that was the best I could do. I felt completely useless and like my limbs might never regain the strength to work normally.

  “That was amazing,” I breathed when I could finally manage to suck air into my lungs. “And intense.”

  Jared lifted his head and pressed his lips to mine before shaking his head. “Intense is a great word to describe it. I’m also glad we didn’t attempt that with Chris sleeping in here. I’m surprised you didn’t wake him from down the hall, honestly.”

  “Was I that loud?” I asked, a small laugh escaping my lips. “I’m sorry.”

  He shifted so he was on his side next to me and feathered kisses along my jaw. “Sorry? Steph, that was hot. Seriously.”

  I smiled and curled my body into his, relishing in the feeling of his arms wrapping around me. “Almost six months of pent up sexual tension.”

  “The wait was definitely worth it.”

  “I agree.” I tilted my head so I could look up at him. “So, you love me huh?”

  He nodded and kissed my forehead. “I love you so much. Everything about this moment feels almost too good to be true.”

  He was right. I had no idea how we’d managed to get to where we were but I wouldn’t have changed any of it.

  We made love two more times throughout the night and when I woke up that morning, my body felt deliciously used. I also walked into work with a permanent smile affixed to my face.

  “Hey, sunshine,” Keon greeted me as he fell into a chair in front of my desk. “You’re chipper this morning.”

  I cleared my throat and felt a blush hit my cheeks. “It was a good weekend and to top it off, I have Bettina Kelly’s adoption finalization today.”

  “That’s awesome, Steph. Really.”

  “And…” I offered him a file that had his name written on the side. “I just completed your one year evaluation. Congratulations, Mr. Swift. Your probationary period is officially over.”

  He blew out a long breath and looked at the evaluation I had placed inside of the folder. After a moment, he glanced up at me and shook his head. “I’m pretty proud to have you as my mentor, Steph. I feel like you’ve taught me so damn much and set that bar so high. Thank you.”

  “You’re going to do amazing things. I know it.” I blinked a few times to get rid of the emotion and then gestured to the door with my hand. “Now, go. You’re hurting my hard-ass image.”

  He chuckled but did as I asked and I spent the next two hours going over evaluations with the rest of the caseworkers who had started with Keon. All four of them had passed their probationary period and I was really proud of them all.

  Shortly after eleven, I slipped into my cream colored heels, made sure the matching sheath dress was smoothed out, and grabbed my bag. I locked my office and headed towards the elevator, letting our employees know that I had court and that they could get me on my cell for the next few hours.

  When I made it to the family court wing, it was a completely different atmosphere than it had been when I was there with Jared. Instead being somber, it was full of happy, excited energy.

  The Lampkin family caught sight of me and Bettina, dressed in a red summer dress, darted towards me with a huge smile on her face. The newly thirteen-year-old was beaming and I couldn’t blame her. She wrapped her arms around my waist and I gave her a tight hug in return.

  “Are you excited?”

  She nodded, causing her ponytail to bounce behind her. “It feels like a dream.”

  “It’s reality, kiddo.” I took her hand in mine and we started to walk towards Carin and Bryson. “In about an hour, you’re going to be Bettina Lampkin officially.”

  Carin hugged me tight and I almost balked at how much her stomach had popped since the last time I’d seen her. She was already fighting back tears and Bryson just stared at her adoringly when she fawned over Bettina. He looked over at me with a shake of his head.

  “She’s been crying for several days straight.”

  “Hush.” She swatted at her husband. “I’m just so happy right now.”

  Before we could say anymore, their names were called and we all walked into the courtroom.

  Although it wasn’t necessary for me to be there in a professional aspect, I was glad the Lampkins had invited me. I watched the judge speak to both adults and Bettina and all three expressed their desire to become a legal family.

  Thirty minutes later, almost six years of waiting came to a close and I smiled when the judge declared them official. Bettina was sandwiched in a hug by both parents and I watched her look up at them.

  “Can I call you Mom and Dad now?”

  Oh, man. That did it. Carin let out a loud sob while nodding her head frantically. She desperately tried to dry her tears so they could take pictures with the judge and I was called over several minutes later to smile for the camera, too.

  I went to lunch with the brand new family and when it was done, I hugged each of them tightly. When I stepped back, I sighed.

  “Let me know when you get settled in Utah. Send me pictures, call me, keep me up to date on life. I want to know it all.” I settled my gaze on Bettina. “And you- remember how much we all love you, okay? If you ever need anything or have the urge to do something you know you shouldn’t, call me first. Deal?”

  “Deal.” She nodded seriously. “Thank you, Stephanie. For everything.”

  “Bettina Miriam Lampkin, it has been a pleasure being your social worker and I am so very happy to now be simply your friend.”

  With another round of hugs, I watched as the three of them headed off to their car and
felt like I was on top of the world.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Stephanie

  “I’m not wearing that.”

  Briana groaned at Shaylee and shook the tiara she had thrust at her best friend just a moment before. “Come on, Lee! It’s a bachelorette party! I wore a penis tiara for mine.”

  “You insisted on wearing a penis tiara for yours,” Shaylee said wryly, still not taking the crown from my sister. “No.”

  Shaylee and Briana’s friend, Hannah, put down her finished drink and grabbed the tiara. She settled it over her platinum blonde hair. “I’ll wear the stupid thing if it will stop your fighting. Now, it’s time for you to get on the bull, Shaylee.”

  Shaylee, Bri, Hannah, Alyssa, Kara, and myself were at a country bar, our third bar of the night, for Shaylee’s bachelorette party. She was leaving for Maine in a few days and would be married in just one week.

  Even though Alyssa and I were older than Shaylee and Briana, we had all basically grown up together. Kara was a late addition. She and I had met for lunch earlier that week and I had insisted that she come with us. Hannah was a friend of Shaylee’s that she had met during one of her summers in Maine and apparently those three were quite the trio at that point.

  We had all been told to wear jeans and had been given black tank-tops that said ‘Bachelorette Party’ on them. Shaylee was wearing a white one that declared her as the bride to be and even though she complained about it being cheesy, she loved it.

  Drew’s bachelor party was also happening at that moment, although I had no idea where the guys were. I did know that Jared was with them since Marco had invited him to join.

  Thankfully my mother had jumped at the chance to babysit Chris for us. She had tried to get us to leave him with her overnight but neither Jared nor I were on board with that idea. Even though he had only met my parents a week before, I knew he trusted them but he just wasn’t ready to spend a whole night away from the little guy. Hell, I’d spent many nights away from him but I wasn’t ready for it either.