Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“You better because I’ll be watching,” Dad warned.
“You can test me as much and as often as you’d like, sir. I love your daughter, and I’m not going anywhere unless she’s the one who tells me to go.” Kade paused to look down at me. “And even then, it would take a fuck of a lot of convincing because I belong to her just as much as she belongs to me.”
“You love me?” I gasped, pressing trembling fingers to my lips as butterflies swirled in my belly.
“Of course, I do, baby.” Ignoring the fact that my dad and brother continued to glare at him, Kade cupped my cheeks and brushed his lips against mine. “I knew the very first day that I wanted to make you mine.”
“Is that why you said you wanted to foster?”
“Yup,” he admitted without an ounce of shame. “Although, I'll admit, the idea definitely grew on me, and your enthusiasm made me want to try it.
“Sneaky,” I teased with a grin.
“I was willing to do whatever it took.” He stroked his thumb against my cheek. “And I’m damn glad that was the excuse I used because it meant I was there when you got hurt.”
“I’m glad too…because it gave me the chance to fall in love with you, too.”
“Thank fuck,” he breathed before stealing another quick kiss.
“Well, shit,” Andrew muttered. “Looks as though my baby sis is all loved up, and there isn’t much I can do about it.”
“We should have gone and gotten her that first day,” Dad grunted. “Then they wouldn’t have had the chance to fall for each other.”
“Okay, that’s enough out of the peanut gallery.” I shook my head and flashed an apologetic smile at Kade. “Remember when you promised not to hold their antics against me?”
He nodded. “Yeah, baby.”
“This would be one of those times.” I turned back to my dad and brother. “Kade makes me happy, so you’re going to have to learn how to deal with it.”
Andrew shook his head with a sigh. “Damn, she pulled the happiness card.”
“I suppose we should get to know your new man a little better if he’s going to be around for a while.” My dad gestured toward the couch as he dropped onto his favorite chair.
“I’m her only man, and I’m gonna be around forever, not just a while,” Kade announced as he got me settled on the cushions before sitting next to me.
My dad’s gaze dropped to my left hand and quirked a brow. “Maybe I’ll start to believe that when you ask me for her hand in marriage.”
I giggled when Kade turned to me and asked, “You want me to ask your dad before I propose?”
I nodded. “Yeah, that’d be good.”
“Then you better give me your phone number, sir. I’m gonna want to speak with you soon.”
My breath quickened at the implication of what Kade just said…he was already thinking about us getting married. Then again, it shouldn’t come as too big of a shock, considering I could already be pregnant with his baby.
“Well, shit. The flyboy seems to have an answer for everything.” My brother dropped onto the couch on the other side of me and bumped me with his shoulder. “I guess I won’t give him too hard of a time for falling for you. I can at least admit that he has good taste.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Tucker bounded in the room and laid down at my feet. With the three men in my life getting along better than I expected this soon in my relationship with Kade and the German shepherd safe and sound, I had everything I ever wanted.
Epilogue
Kade
“Hey,” I greeted Huntley when I pulled open the front door. We shook hands, and then I smiled warmly at the woman with him. “Cora.”
“Kade!” She gave me a quick one-armed hug, then hurried past me and called, “Annalise! I brought ginger pops!”
“Bless you!” my wife exclaimed as she padded out of the kitchen, rubbing her slightly swollen belly.
“Those were a life saver for Cora,” Huntley said as he walked in with a diaper bag over one shoulder and a baby carrier in the other hand.
I led him into the living room, where Cora and Annalise sat on the couch, deep in discussion. Tucker lay curled up on the ground at my wife’s feet. He was never very far from her.
After we rescued him, he couldn’t return to training. The trauma he’d experienced, plus that he’d bitten someone—even in defense of Annalise—disqualified him. But I would be forever grateful to the pup for trying to protect my woman. And Annalise had grown overly attached to him, so we were more than happy to have him become a permanent member of our family.
He’d also given me peace of mind, making it just a little easier to leave on my first assignment after the doctor gave me the all clear.