by Carmen Cook
Lifting the middle part of the snowman onto the base, he swept his children into his arms to admire their work.
The back door opened and Regan stepped out, tying a scarf around her neck. Gavin set the kids down to start working on the head and pulled her close, planting a lingering cold kiss on her lips. “Everything good?”
“So good,” she replied, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder. “Other than the fact that I already need a nap. How am I ever going to get through the rest of the day?”
After the craziness of Thanksgiving, Gavin’s mom insisted that everyone—including Regan’s family—come to her house for Christmas dinner. They were expected there around two o’clock and he knew it would be another late-night affair. “I think we’re just going to have to suck it up,” he told her. “There’s no way we can get out of it.”
“Really? Not even with a little incentive?” Regan pulled a small bag out from under her jacket. The recognizable pink and white stripes on the bag had him going hard instantly.
“You fight dirty,” he told her, holding back a smile.
She continued to dangle the bag on her finger, swinging it back and forth. “I’ve recently realized I kind of like things a little dirty.”
“Is that so?” he couldn’t help feeling a little smug at her confession. Smug and decidedly uncomfortable as he surreptitiously adjusted himself in his jeans.
She practically purred as she rubbed against him. “It is so. I wonder why that is?”
Gavin couldn’t hold back his laugh, which had the kids racing over to them. “Is it time, Daddy?”
He watched as Regan swiftly tucked the little bag back under her jacket and gave his kids a wink. “Yes, I think it is time.”
Regan shot him a questioning look as the twins sent up squeals that could shatter glass. “What’s going on?”
“Well,” Gavin began, grabbing each kid by the jacket and pulling them to his side. “We decided that we would like you to be around more often.”
The kids nodded in unison. Regan smiled at them, which sent a different type of heat through his gut. “This is what we want,” he said, going off script from what they’d planned. “Since yesterday I’ve been thinking about the fact that I don’t want to live without you. So I talked to the kids and they agreed. We want you here. With us.”
Regan’s hand lifted to her throat and he smiled at the kids again while peeking under her lashes at Gavin.
“We want to keep you,” Jackson shouted.
Savannah clapped her hands. “Yeah. Forever.”
Regan’s eyes flew to his and he couldn’t help but grin at her expression. “That’s the gist of it,” he confirmed. “I talked it over with them and they think you’re awesome and would love to have you as their stepmom.” He dropped to one knee and dug the small blue box out of his pocket. “And I would love nothing more than to give you a family, my family, to call your own.”
“Oh, Gavin.” Her eyes filled with tears as she stared down at him with a child on either side.
“I know it’s a lot to take on and that it’s happened fast,” he continued. “But we love you.”
Tears spilled her cheeks as she nodded. “I love you too. All of you.”
“Does that mean you’re staying?” Jackson persisted.
Regan laughed, “Yes. Yes, I’ll stay. And I’ll marry you.”
Gavin leapt to his feet and swung her into his arm, the kids whooping it up behind them. This is how it was meant to be. Forever.
Acknowledgments
It would be impossible for me to name everyone I should thank in these acknowledgements. Not that that’s going to stop me from trying.
I couldn’t have even pretended to believe I would ever be able to do this if it hadn’t been for my husband. After listening to me rant and rave about various books and characters he finally asked me “Why not?” Why not try my hand at writing a book of my own? Why not give it a shot? Why not believe in myself and go for it? For that (and so much more) I can never thank you enough.
My wonderful friends, Pamela Clare, Christy Reece and Marie Force, who encouraged me to attend that first RWA meeting, swiftly knocking down any excuse I came up with about why I should skip this month and go next time.
The amazing people I met at that first Greater Seattle RWA chapter meeting, who welcomed me with open arms and warm smiles. Little did we know we’d become comrades of the soul and sisters of the heart.
And my dear, dear friends who read my early (painful) efforts and offered encouragement and smiles.
Seriously, I can’t begin to mention names, but you all mean the world to me. Thank you.
About the Author
Carmen Cook fell in love with reading when her parents told her she could stay up thirty minutes past bedtime if she was reading. From then on she’s been sleep deprived with a book nearby. When her imagination started warring with the words on the page, she joined her local RWA chapter and started writing herself.
When not behind a keyboard, Carmen chases her sons and husband around the football and soccer fields while trying to avoid the Pacific Northwest rain. She loves connecting with other authors and readers.
Find Carmen:
www.carmencooknovels.com
www.carmencooknovels.com/newsletter