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  Dad’s eyes bore into me. “Aiden’s not here, and the four of us are. Not that I’m complainin’, ’cause God knows I appreciate the time with my girls, but you’ve got something’ on your mind. Dad knows. Don’t try to lie to your pops.”

  I need to buy time for Jamie to get here. But stalling for time isn’t really my thing. I’m racking my brain for ways to put off the conversation, but I’m saved by the arrival of Jamie in his pickup. Dad sits forward in his chair, and then when Jamie gets out, placing a Pirates ball cap on his head, Dad’s eyes cut to mine. I meet them for a moment, and then look away; Dad’s eyes see all, if you let him look too long and too close.

  Even looking away tells him more than I was ready to reveal, because he sits back, crosses his arms over his chest, and puts on his intimidating Dad glare. Jamie notices, and meets Dad’s gaze steadily. He’s unsure how to proceed once he’s on the porch, though. Does he lean down and kiss me like I can tell he wants to? I smile at him, trying to be reassuring in my own nervousness. He leans back against the railing, facing me and the rest of my family. I stand up and move beside him, and take his hand in mine.

  That alone says about as much as I’d need to on that score. Dad’s eyes narrow, Mom’s fly open, and Cora claps a hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh and a smile.

  “So. You sorted your shit out, huh?” Dad says.

  “Watch your language, dear,” Mom chides.

  Jamie laughs, reaching out to shake Dad’s hand. “Jamie Trent. Nice to meet you, sir.”

  “Ken Thomas. My wife, Emma.”

  “Cora you already know, I think,” I say.

  “Seen her around town,” Jamie says, “but I don’t think we’ve officially met.”

  Cora’s grin is shit-eating. “Looks like he does own something besides pressed and pleated khakis and button-downs.”

  I glare at her. “Cora Marie.”

  Jamie just laughs, though. “I was one of the rare species in high school who could fit in with the preps and the jocks,” he said. “My style does trend a bit towards the dork side, however.”

  “Well?” Dad harrumphs. “Out with it.”

  I sigh and roll my eyes at him. “Dad, you think we could ease into this, just a little? It’s a big deal for me.”

  He harrumphs again. “You’re holdin’ hands like little kids. I ain’t dumb—I know what that means.”

  I shake my head. “I’ve never brought anyone over to meet you, ever. Be nice, Dad.”

  “You brought over that snot-headed turkey turd.”

  I shoot him a look. “Dad. That snot-headed turkey turd is Aiden’s father.”

  “For all the good it’s done him.”

  “Dad!”

  Dad sighs, scratching the silvery stubble on his jaw and staring hard at Jamie. “But, I watched the way you were with Aiden at the game. You have a soft spot for the kid, that much is obvious. It’s also obvious he adores you.”

  Jamie’s smile is bright and bold. “I love the kid.” He glances at me, and then meets Dad’s eyes. “As a matter of fact, I have the privilege of loving Aiden…and Elyse.”

  “I KNEW IT!” Cora crows. She points double finger guns at me. “You did it! You got over yourself!”

  “Cora, chill. Quit shouting,” I say. To Dad, and Mom as well. “It’s true, though. It took some time and some work to get over some of my hang-ups, but…Jamie and I are together.”

  Jamie eyes me, waiting. “We both have hang-ups. I’m divorced, and it…it wasn’t pretty, so it left some scars.”

  “Nobody gets out of life without scars, son,” Dad says.

  “That’s the truth,” Jamie agrees.

  Mom is eying me very, very carefully, and she alone hasn’t said a word since Jamie got here. “There’s something else,” she says, her voice subdued. “Isn’t there?”

  I sigh. Nod. Gulp. Lick my lips; knot my fingers in front of me… “I, um. We—I’m pregnant.”

  Dad’s eyes couldn’t get any narrower, nor his jaw harder. “You just now told us you’re in love.”

  “Dad, I…”

  “That ain’t how I raised you, Elyse.”

  “I’m not a child, Dad.” I knew he’d be upset, but still; his recriminations hurt.

  “Ken,” Mom chides. “She’s an adult. She doesn’t owe us explanations or answers.”

  “I just want to know whether the cart came first, or the horse.”

  Jamie lets out a breath. “It wasn’t planned, if that’s what you’re asking. But still welcome.” He meets Dad’s eyes. “I’m not just claiming to be in love with her because she’s pregnant, which I know is what you’re really afraid of. I was in love with Elyse long before we got this news.”

  It’s Cora’s turn to give Jamie a hard time. Her eyes are hard as diamonds, her voice harder. “Dude, listen to me, and listen well. Elyse is my sister in ways you’ll never understand. I stood by and let her get her heart broken by one asshole, and I’m not letting it happen again. So if you’re not all in, one hundred percent, forever, then you can just fuck off right now. Because if you hurt my girl, I will have your balls. Are we clear?”

  Jamie’s eyebrows lift. “Yes ma’am. Perfectly clear.” He smiles, taking some of the sting out of his next words. “And you can listen to me: I don’t make promises or commitments easily, not after what I’ve been through. When I say I’m in love with Elyse, I mean that with every fiber of my being. I’ve only known her a few months, but I know that my heart belongs to her, and I know that no matter what happens, I’ll be there with her, at her side, loving her with everything I am, and everything I have.”

  He speaks over Dad’s voice. “And as for Aiden, I’m not going to jump in and try to take over as his father, but that is my goal. I want to be the dad for him that he deserves. So that commitment goes for him, too. I don’t answer to any of you on this, at the end of the day—only to myself, to Elyse, and to Aiden. Don’t take that to mean I don’t care about your thoughts and opinions, because I do—you’re all important to Elyse. You’re her family, and I want to join this family and be a contributing part of it. But at the end of the day, my job is to make Elyse happy, and to make Aiden happy, and that will be my number one priority.”

  Dad lets out a harsh breath. “Son, you just said all the right things.” He nails Jamie with a hard stare. “I sure hope you aren’t just blowin’ smoke up my backside.”

  “I realize none of you really know me from Adam,” Jamie says, his voice even and unfazed, “but I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean. I will earn your trust, respect, and hopefully love…in time. It doesn’t come easily or immediately, and I know that. Especially not after how Daniel betrayed you all.”

  Mom stands up, faces Jamie at arm’s length. “Here’s a test for you, Jamie.” She smiles gently, but there’s no mistaking the seriousness in her eyes. “I’ve always thought you can tell a lot about a person by the way they hug.”

  Jamie’s smile is warm. “Mrs. Thomas, I’m an elementary school educator. Hugs happen to be one of my specialties.”

  He initiates the hug, wrapping Mom up in his arms—it’s a warm, platonic embrace, his arms around her shoulders, holding her close. I know the comfort in those arms, and I know my mom—the look on her face as she accepts his hug transforms from skeptical to welcoming within a heartbeat.

  She backs away after a minute or so, and smiles up at him—this time, her smile is the kind that reveals how much of a saint the woman is, full of love and acceptance without any kind of guile or hesitation. “You’ll do,” she says, patting his cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

  She moves to me next, leans into me, putting a hand on my still flat belly. “You’re giving me a granddaughter this time, right?” she asks in a whisper.

  “I hope so,” I whisper back. “I’m scared and excited at the same time, Mom.”

  She laughs. “Good. I think that means you’re doing something right.” She pulls back and looks at me. “Will there be a wedding soon?”


  I shrug. “You know, Mom, I honestly don’t know. We haven’t really talked about it. We’re not in a hurry. I know it’ll be a scandal in town, me being pregnant out of wedlock, but I just don’t care. I’m not going to marry Jamie just because I’m pregnant. We’ll marry when it’s right for us to marry.”

  Jamie tangles my hand in his and winks at Mom. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Thomas—I love her too much to wait too long before putting a ring on her finger.”

  “I hope you know we do things the old-fashioned way around here,” Dad says, still trying to play the gruff, tough guy, even though I know he’s as taken in by Jamie’s effortless charm as I am. “So, I expect you to talk to me before you go putting any rings on anyone.”

  Jamie just laughs. “I wouldn’t dream of doing it any other way, sir.”

  Dad huffs. “Sir.” He grins at me. “I like this one, baby girl. Good job.”

  “This one,” I snort. “Like there’s been sooo many to dislike.”

  “Just the one, but I dislike that one so much you could spread the hate around to at least a dozen other assholes and still have plenty of hate leftover for him. And that’s how I felt before the shitmonkey abandoned his wife and son.” He glances at Jamie. “You don’t have any kids back where you came from, do you?”

  Jamie winces. “No, sir. That’s part of why we divorced. The strain on our marriage from not being able to conceive just…was too much, on top of other issues. Short answer—no, no children, no secrets. I’m an open book, sir. Ask me anything.”

  Dad shakes his head. “That answer tells me what I need to know.”

  “Does Aiden know?” Mom asks.

  I sigh. “No, not yet. We’re going to tell him soon. I just wanted to tell you guys first.” I glance at Jamie, smiling. “We’ll tell him together.”

  Jamie’s answering smile tells me he appreciates the reassurance that I won’t try to cut him out again. We’re in this together: he proved to me today, as if he hadn’t already, that I can trust him, that I can lean on him and rely on him to be there with me for everything.

  Dad claps his hands on his knees and then stands up. “Who wants ice cream? I’m buying.”

  We all pile into Mom’s aging minivan, and Dad drives us downtown for ice-cream floats at the general store—pulled the old-fashioned way on machines that have been in service since the ’40s. We sit at the counter and Mom and Cora and I chitchat about local gossip, while Dad and Jamie talk college football stats, rankings, and strategies.

  I’ve never felt so happy, so at home, as I do in this moment...

  And the swelling feeling in my heart tells me this is just the first of many such moments to come.

  Epilogue

  Six years later

  * * *

  “I can walk in by myself, Mommy,” Emma insists.

  Jamie laughs. “Too cool for Mom and Dad, huh?”

  Emma just rolls her eyes. “No. But I’m six and a quarter, and I can walk into the first day of first grade by myself.” She holds up her arms. “But you can give me a kissy, though.”

  “Oh, we can, can we?” Jamie scoops her up and gives her kisses until she’s squealing and thrashing. “There—is that enough kisses?”

  Emma pats his cheeks with both hands. “I think that’s about fifty thousandy hundred too many, Daddy.” She nuzzles his cheek. “But I love you, so it’s okay.”

  Jamie extends his hand to her after he’s put her on her feet again. “Can I walk you in? I mean, I am the principal.”

  She shakes her head resolutely. “No. You can go in after me. Besides, Mommy is going to cry, so she’ll need you to give her kisses, too.”

  I laugh, trying to pretend like I’m not already choked up. “I am not!”

  Emma just gives me her patented eye-roll. “You’re already almost crying and I haven’t even gone in yet.”

  I sigh. “Fine. I’m going to cry. But you’re my baby girl, and I’m allowed.”

  “Do you cry this much on Aiden’s first day of school?”

  I nod seriously. “Every year.”

  “Even this year?”

  I nod again. “First day of high school? You bet I did. Like a baby. Didn’t I, dear?” I say, addressing Jamie.

  “She sobbed. It was pathetic.” Jamie winks at me, teasing. “Mom’s a crier, babe, so you better get used to it.”

  Emma shakes her head. “You’re silly, Mommy.” She wraps her arms around my hips, and I squat down to give her a long, squeezing hug. “Okay, okay, you’re gonna squish me, Mom.”

  I let her wriggle free, take two steps away, and then I yank her back for kisses. Finally, I actually let her go. “Have a good day, Emma. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mommy.” She points a finger at Jamie. “Give her extra kisses, Daddy.”

  Jamie pulls me into his arms and dips me backward, kissing me passionately, dramatically. Teachers cheer through open windows, children make grossed-out sounds, and I…well…I kiss him back and work on restraining myself from ripping his tie off and dragging him back home for round two.

  Because round one happened around five this morning, before anyone was awake. Even little Cora, our two-year-old daughter stayed asleep, miraculously. Right now, she’s babbling up a storm and smacking the tray of her stroller, trying to get Emma’s attention.

  I call Emma back. “Em, wait! Cora wants you to say goodbye to her, too!”

  Emma runs back, backpack bouncing noisily, and gives Cora half a dozen kisses. “Bye, Cora! Be good for Mommy! Don’t break any of my toys!”

  A futile reminder—Cora has been in full Destructor mode lately, crushing, shredding, ripping, stomping on, and otherwise destroying anything and everything she gets her hands on. Definitely living up to her namesake’s reputation, I’d say.

  Although, come to think of it, Cora’s mellowed out since she married Lewis Calhoun. She’s a few feet away from me, walking their son Alexander inside for the first day of preschool. Lewis quit dealing pot and did eventually start selling his junk art. But then, that’s a story for another time.

  Jamie kisses me once more, softly, tenderly, and then kisses Cora and snuggles her close, and then follows Emma in to the school at a distance.

  At that moment, my phone beeps with a text from Aiden: Give Emma and Cora hugs for me. Have a good day, Mom! ILY!

  God, what a sweet boy. What fourteen-year-old is so open and loving? One with all the love in the world around him, that’s who.

  I watch Jamie head into school, broad shoulders swinging. He greets children with crouching hugs, listens to stories of weekend highlights, high fives the janitor, and vanishes into the school, where he’ll shine as the best principal…pretty much ever.

  When I saw him across the bar that day, I’d never have guessed that six years later, we’d have two children together, and have been married for five years.

  Or that we’d have another baby on the way.

  But ssshhhh, he doesn’t know yet.

  * * *

  The End

  Also by Jasinda Wilder

  Visit me at my website: www.jasindawilder.com

  Email me: [email protected]

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this book, you can help others enjoy it as well by recommending it to friends and family, or by mentioning it in reading and discussion groups and online forums. You can also review it on the site from which you purchased it. But, whether you recommend it to anyone else or not, thank you so much for taking the time to read my book! Your support means the world to me!

  * * *

  My other titles:

  * * *

  The Preacher's Son:

  Unbound

  Unleashed

  Unbroken

  * * *

  Biker Billionaire:

  Wild Ride

  * * *

  Big Girls Do It:

  Better (#1), Wetter (#2), Wilder (#3), On Top (#4)

  Married (#5)

  On Christmas (#5.5)

 
Pregnant (#6)

  Boxed Set

  * * *

  Rock Stars Do It:

  Harder

  Dirty

  Forever

  Boxed Set

  * * *

  From the world of Big Girls and Rock Stars:

  Big Love Abroad

  * * *

  Delilah's Diary:

  A Sexy Journey

  La Vita Sexy

  A Sexy Surrender

  * * *

  The Falling Series:

  Falling Into You

  Falling Into Us

  Falling Under

  Falling Away

  Falling for Colton

  * * *

  The Ever Trilogy:

  Forever & Always

  After Forever

  Saving Forever

  * * *

  The world of Alpha:

  Alpha

  Beta

  Omega

  Harris: Alpha One Security Book 1

  Thresh: Alpha One Security Book 2

  Duke: Alpha One Security Book 3

  Puck: Alpha One Security Book 4

  * * *

  The world of Stripped:

  Stripped

  Trashed

  * * *

  The world of Wounded:

  Wounded

  Captured

  * * *

  The Houri Legends:

  Jack and Djinn

  Djinn and Tonic

  * * *

  The Madame X Series:

  Madame X

  Exposed

  Exiled

  * * *

  The Black Room

  (With Jade London):

  Door One

  Door Two

  Door Three

  Door Four

  Door Five

  Door Six