“Thank God!” came her exasperated reply. “I’d like to get some damn sleep, Zandy. I didn’t get home until five this morning, unlike you who slept half the day yesterday and all damn night. You can deal with the bombardment from now on.”
The overwhelming smell of flowers hit me as soon as I opened my door. Turning the corner to go into the living room, I found at least a dozen vases filled with assorted flowers all around the room. On the kitchen table there were boxes of what I thought must be candy. And a stack of pink envelopes, too.
Going over to the first vase, I pulled off the card. It read: To Zandra, the mother of my child, the light of my life, you will always be in my heart.
There wasn’t any signature, but I knew they were from Kane. I knew that everything was from Kane. The stack of envelopes drew me to them. On the front of each one, Happy Mother’s Day was written.
Opening the first one, I saw that Fox had handwritten a little note inside: Happy first Mother’s Day Mom. I wish I could’ve spent it with you. But we have many more to come, and I will spend each one with you. Love, Fox.
All nine of the other cards had similar notes in them, each one written by my son. He wanted a future that included me in it, of that I was sure. And I wanted a future that included him, too.
But how could I ever make myself into someone who didn’t turn into a basket case on occasion?
When things got hard, I lost it. No one’s life was perfect, and I didn’t expect mine would never get hard from time to time. How would I combat my inner demons to be the mother my son needed me to be?
How would Kane take it when I confessed that I had said the words, “I love you” to him without really meaning them?
He would probably hate me. He would call me a liar. He would tell me that he didn’t want anything else to do with me, and he would tell me to get the hell out of his and his son’s life.
Fox was still only Kane’s. I had no legal right to my son. And I never would. I’d signed that right away before I’d even given birth to him.
Putting the last pink Mother’s Day card back into the matching envelope, feeling my elation disappear as those negative thoughts kept coming, my whole body jerked when the doorbell rang again. Something flashed through me.
A sense of destiny.
It was weird, and I shook my head to send the odd sensation away as I walked toward the door. I didn’t bother looking through the peephole. I figured it was a delivery person with more flowers or something like that.
Opening the door, I found Fox and Kane there. Both wore black suits with blue ties and white shirts, along with broad smiles. They both looked so beautiful and precious to me.
Fox tugged the hem of my blouse. “Hi, Mom.”
Caressing his cheek, I said, “Hi, Fox.”
Kane didn’t say a thing. But when he started going down on one knee, I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands. That action spoke louder than words, and I couldn’t believe what he was doing.
Pulling a ring out of his pocket, he held it up to me. “Zandra Larkin, you are the mother of my son. You are the reason for my happiness. You gave me a life worth living. Now let me give you one, too. Marry me and become my wife and Fox’s mother and stay with us forever, the way you were meant to from the very beginning.”
Blackness closed in around me from every side.
This cannot be real.
Chapter 31
Kane
“Fox, grab her!” I shouted as Zandra started to sway, her eyes going so wide I could see the whites all around the iris.
My little boy grabbed his mother’s arm and the contact pulled her out of whatever was happening to her. I stood up and put my arms around her, holding her close. “Baby, are you okay?”
“No.” Her nails curled into my back as she held onto me like she’d never let me go.
I prayed that word meant that she wasn’t okay and wasn’t the answer to my marriage proposal.
“No?” I moved into the apartment with her, still holding until I got her into a chair. Looking at her, I saw her pupils were wide, and there was a lot of fear behind those pretty blue eyes. “It’s okay, Zandra. It really is.”
“How?” Her eyes moved back and forth rapidly as if searching mine for an answer.
“Because I’m here, and so is Fox.” I knelt in front of her, the diamond engagement ring on my pinky finger. I took her hands in mine while Fox stood quietly beside me. “Baby, I haven’t exactly done my best by you. I’ve failed you in many ways. I want the chance to make that right. I know you have some emotional scars that will never heal all the way. I know that you’ve got open wounds that need to be tended to. I can help you. Fox and I are the best medicine for you. No one else can do for you what we can.”
“Yeah, Mom.” Fox went to sit next to his mother, putting his little arm around her. “We want you to be a real part of our family. Please say yes to Dad.”
She watched Fox as he spoke to her then her eyes came to mine once more. “I need to tell you the truth, Kane.”
“Go ahead.” I rubbed her knuckles with my fingertips as I held her hands.
She gulped then said, “When I told you that I loved you, they were only words. I’m not sure I meant them. I didn’t lie, though. I just didn’t have as much feeling behind them as I think I should’ve.”
I’d figured she’d say something like that, so it didn’t hurt as much as one would think. “I believe that you will come to love me in time. And I will come to love you more in time, too. If you come be a part of this family that we created so long ago, I promise that you will learn how to love and be loved again, as you deserve to. We already love you so much. As my wife, you will be Fox’s mother in every aspect of the word. We’ll fill out all the paperwork to make it official. He’ll be yours once again.”
I knew her heart had skipped a beat by the way she looked at our son. “He would, wouldn’t he?”
Fox smiled, then kissed her cheek. “I don’t need no paper to tell me that I’m your kid, Mom. But if you need one, then it sounds like marrying Dad would make that all a lot easier.”
She caressed his cheek. “You’re such a wise little man, Fox.”
Turning her head to look at me, she caressed my cheek next. “You still want to marry me? I thought you’d hate me when I told you that. Even though you saw me break down, you still want to marry me? I don’t know which one of us is crazier.”
“Neither of us are, Zandra. We’re just products of our lives.” Pulling our clasped hands up, I kissed the backs of hers. “Tell me that you’ll marry me and make me the happiest man alive.”
Her lips stayed tightly shut. Her eyes closed. And she said nothing for so long that I wondered if she’d fallen asleep.
Fox and I looked at one another until we finally heard her soft reply. “I would love to marry you, Kane Price.”
Sighs of relief came out of both Fox and me. “Thank goodness,” he exclaimed, making Zandra and me both chuckle.
When Zandra opened her eyes, she said, “I think I need help. Lots of help, Kane.”
“And I will make sure you get it. You will never have to worry again. We can help each other heal the wounds from the past, together, so that we can have the best future possible for all of us. Fox and I need you as much as you need us.” I’d never said truer words in my life.
After a long group hug, Fox said, “Okay, now we go to leave me with Aunt Nancy and Uncle James while you guys go get married.”
Zandra laughed. “It takes a little more time than that for a wedding, Fox.”
“No, it doesn’t.” I got up off my knees and pulled her up with me. “You and I are taking a private jet to Vegas. We’re getting married stat, and then we’ll stick around to enjoy a short honeymoon there. Later, we can plan a longer honeymoon together. Anywhere you want and for as long as you want.”
Fox took his mother’s hand. “And when you guys come back, you’re moving into our home. It’ll be our home. And we will be a real family.”<
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“This is a dream, isn’t it?” she asked me.
“Nope.” I kissed her cheek as I pulled her toward her bedroom. “It’s not. Now get your purse, and make sure you’ve got your identification so we can get hitched.” In all the excitement, I’d yet to put the engagement ring on her finger. “Oh, let me get this on you.”
“Huh?” she asked as I turned her around to face me. As I slipped the ring on her finger, she gasped, one tear falling down her cheek. “Kane, it’s beautiful.”
“I had to pick out something that would match your beauty, Zandra.” Kissing the ring on her finger, I felt my heart swell. “I love you.”
She looked at me for a long time before she said, “I really do love you too, Kane Price. I really do.”
Shrugging, I said, “Yeah, I know you do. You may not have thought you meant those words, but I knew deep down that you did. You just didn’t want to believe in yourself that you were capable of that love. And you probably didn’t want to believe that I really love you, but it’s true.”
“Yeah, from me too, Mom,” Fox chimed in. “And I know you love me too, ’cause I can see it in your eyes.”
“Oh, hell,” she whimpered as more tears started trickling down her pink cheeks. “I mean, heck. Sorry.” She pulled her hands out of mine. “Let me go freshen up, grab my things, and I’ll be ready to go.”
She rushed away as I called out, “Take only what you really need. I’ll be buying you everything else.”
I heard her sob as she closed the bedroom door. Fox looked up at me with a grin. “Is this what I should expect when I ask a girl to marry me, Dad?”
“I sure hope not.” I ran my hand over his head. “I hope you don’t put the cart before the horse the way I did. I hope you find a girl and you both fall in love and only experience happiness when you pop the question and for the rest of your lives.”
With a nod, he said, “Yep. I think you’re right, Dad.”
When Zandra came back out, she’d changed into a beautiful light blue dress that flowed around her, all the way to her ankles. Her hair was pinned up prettily, and she looked every bit the part of a mother and wife. “You look amazing.”
Fox laughed. “Wow, Mom!”
She spun around, letting the lightweight fabric flow around her. “Thank you, guys. I’m ready to start my life now.”
Putting my arm around her waist, I led her out to the car. “Me too.”
Fox climbed into the backseat. “Yeah, me too.”
As we all laughed, I felt the air lighten around us. Things would be okay. I knew there would be hard times, but there would be more good times than bad.
I would make sure of it.
Chapter 32
Zandra
His steady hand on my back as we walked down the short aisle together gave me goosebumps. Kane had never looked more handsome to me as he did when he walked by my side on our way to become man and wife.
Not in a million years did I ever see this coming for me.
Just before the wedding, I’d called my parents. Mom answered the phone, “Hello? Who is this?”
“Mom, it’s me, Zandra. I’m just calling to say that I’m marrying Kane Price today. He’s the father of the son I put up for adoption. I’ve got my son back, and his father and I are making a life for our family now.” I took a deep breath to steady myself for the next part. “Mom, I’ve blamed you and Dad for what I did. I blamed you both for the loss of my son for the last eleven years. But the truth is, I played a part in it too. My lack of self-confidence stopped me from standing up for what I wanted and for what was right. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she muttered.
“I don’t need you to say a word. I just needed to say my piece. Bye, now.” I hesitated, then added, “I love you and Dad both, Mom.” Then I ended the call.
Kane’s smile told me I’d done the right thing. I hadn’t let go of the resentment completely, but saying it out loud felt like a huge step toward healing.
The sweet kiss he gave me as I handed him back his phone made my heart fill up with love.
After the preacher had us say the vows that would connect us forever, we put platinum wedding bands on each other’s fingers and then shared our first kiss as a married couple.
He rested his forehead against mine then whispered, “I love you, Zandra Price, and I always will.”
“I love you, Dr. Price, and I always will, too.”
Although I’d never seen any of this coming, the surprise of it all was appreciated.
And a little bit later, when Kane and I were in our honeymoon suite, I let myself feel adored by my husband. He moved his hands all over my naked body as I lay on the bed, showing me with his body how much he loved me, and how worthy I was of his love.
Starting at my toes, he kissed my entire body before kissing my lips. I ran my hands through his hair as he pushed my legs apart then eased his hard cock into me.
On the jet ride to Vegas, he and I had made an agreement. No more birth control. We wanted to have another baby as soon as possible.
Sure, things were happening fast, but we were both so sure. It had actually surprised me how easily I’d agreed to try for another baby. Especially since I’d made a solemn vow to myself all those years ago to never have another child.
But sometimes life took unpredictable turns, and we had to be ready to embrace those unexpected changes. My life had taken me places I had never imagined, and it had turned out so much better for it.
His cock moving slowly in and out of me, Kane pulled his lips away from mine, looking at me with desire in his eyes. “I can’t wait to get to experience pregnancy with you, baby,” he said.
I ran my fingertips across his cheek. “Me too, Kane. To get to share that experience with you will be amazing. I know it will. And giving Fox a sibling will make him happy too.”
Kane ground his cock into me deeply. “Let’s give him more than one. What do you say to a couple of them?”
I had to laugh lightly. “Can we get this one out before we even think about more?”
“I suppose so,” he conceded. His mouth took mine again as he moved faster.
Passion took us over, like a fire spreading through our bodies, and we did what we had always done best. We shared our bodies the way God had intended all along.
Sin was a dirty word my parents had used far too much. Our son wasn’t conceived in a sinful act. Kane and I might not have known it at that time, but we were always meant to be together.
No legal document needed to be signed and dated to make that true. No preacher had been needed to make our union real. And no one could have stopped what had inevitably happen.
It was simply fate.
Giving my virginity to Kane had been written in the stars long before our time. We were never the sinners I had let myself believe we were when I was force-fed those ideas by my parents. We were always meant to be.
And I would make sure I did my part to always live up to what we were supposed to be to each other. Lovers, partners, parents, teachers, followers, friends, and companions. Life would be sure that we had the opportunity to be all that and more to one another.
My body undulated with his as we made love for the first time as a married couple. But our bodies had belonged to the other forever. Our hearts had never been our own—I had found my heart when I found Kane, and I thought he’d found his in me.
Feeling his cock go stiff inside of me, I opened my eyes to look into his as he spilled his seed inside of me. Gripping the back of his neck, I felt my body spiral into an orgasm that milked everything it could get from him. “Give me all you’ve got, Kane.”
“I will.” He kissed my lips. “As long as you give me all you’ve got. I will always give you everything I have.”
A light glowed from behind him. One I must not have noticed before. I gasped as the heat of his seed filled me, making my heart pound and my body feel as if we were floating in the air, instead of lying on a hotel bed.<
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When our bodies quit pulling what they needed from each other, he rested his head on my chest, leaving only part of his weight on me. “No matter what happens, Zandra Price, I will love you forever.”
Running my hand through his hair, I told him the same. “And I too will love you forever, no matter what happens, Kane Price.”
Our happily ever after had finally come. No one was more surprised than me.
The End.
Dirty Little Secret Extended Epilogue
Five years later…
Zandra
“Doctor Price wants an FBC before he can make a decision on your blood transfusion, Mrs. Doughty.” I placed the patient’s file back in the basket fixed to the back of her wheelchair. Pushing her forward, I made my way to the lab where she could get the test done.
“And what’s that, dear?” she asked as she craned her neck to look back at me.
“A full blood count.” I should’ve been used to her sporadic memory. The woman was eighty years old after all. “You have a blood clot behind your left knee, Mrs. Doughty. We found your blood levels to be low last week. You had two pints of blood transfused after that. And we may have to do that again if your levels continue to stay low.”
“Oh yes.” The old woman sighed. “Dear, I so need to get back home to Howard. He’s probably messed the whole house up by now. How long have I been in this hospital?”
Sadly, she really didn’t need to get back to anyone. Her husband had died ten years prior. But I hated to remind her of that fact. So, I reminded her of her current living situation, “Nothing to worry about, ma’am. The nursing home where you live will keep things nice and neat while you stay here. All you need to think about is letting this medication take care of that pesky blood clot, so you can get back to playing board games with your friends.”
One wrinkled, liver-spotted hand reached back to pat mine softly as I pushed her wheelchair down the long hallway to the lab department. “You’re such an angel, Nurse Price.”
Dirty Little Secret: A Secret Baby-Second Chance Romance (Sons of Sin Book 1) Page 23