Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
We enter the house through the kitchen, and Lucas and Lorraine rush off to their rooms. They’re outdoorsy kids and don’t want to waste a second of their playtime in the house.
Lori brings Liam inside, and I take him from her arms. He has missed his nap and fallen asleep in the car, so I take him to the nursery to put him in his crib. I’ve left a surprise on the counter for Lori and listen for her to find it.
It takes just a few seconds for her to call out to me. It’s been a while since we had any alone time together, and I can’t wait to see how she reacts to my surprise.
“What’s up, baby girl?” I ask her as I return to the kitchen.
“When did you do this?” she asks, pointing at the bouquet of flowers and gold-trimmed invitation that I placed on the counter before we left for the church.
“Remember when I told you I had to run back into the house for something? Well, this was it. Did you read the card yet?”
She opens the invitation and reads it aloud, “Sheriff Luke Lawson requests your company for a night of dinner and dancing… This is a very formal invitation and I’m honored you went to so much trouble, but how are we going to pull that off?”
“Well, you see, I know this sweet lady who has been around these kids for most of their lives. She missed them terribly and jumped at the chance to babysit.”
“Mrs. Spencer? Have you already set up a babysitter? How long have you been planning this?”
“We haven’t had a night without the kids since we moved here. I had a feeling that today would be hard for you. You deserve a little time away from everything. Let me spoil you a little, baby girl. That’s part of my job, you know.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” She leaps into my arms and kisses my cheek. Still light as a feather and with all the energy of a little girl.
“You should go get ready. I’ve got the kids,” I tell her.
My sweet girl is dressed in a tight-fitting green dress and heels. She’s comfortable showing a little more cleavage than she was when I met her, and I can’t say I’m disappointed seeing those mounds peeking out from behind the emerald fabric.
“You look amazing as always, Lori.”
“You’re looking very hot as well.” She looks me over in my black slacks and tan button-down shirt.
We arrive in the city just in time for our dinner reservation. I take her by the arm and lead her into the restaurant, feeling like the luckiest guy in the place. She turns more heads now than she did when she was eighteen.
We take our seats, and I raise my glass of champagne. Lori lifts her glass and I make a toast. “To my sexy little wife, our beautiful family, and our happy home.”
“To us, Daddy,” she says and takes a sip. She giggles as the bubbles tickle her nose.
“I want to give you something before the waiter comes back.” I pull the long, black velvet box from my pocket.
“What is this?” she asks as her eyes light up.
“Open it,” I tell her and slide the box across the table.
She opens the box and gasps. “My god, this is beautiful. What’s the occasion?”
“Every day with you is a special occasion, baby girl.” I move to her side of the table and remove the diamond necklace from the box, clasping it around her neck. “Look at that. It goes perfectly with your outfit.”
“I love you so much. I don’t deserve you.”
“What did you say? Don’t ever say that. Don’t even think it. It’s me who doesn’t deserve a girl like you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
The look on Lori’s face is priceless, and her smile doesn’t waver once through the entire meal.
“I think it’s time for a dance. May I have the honor?”
“I remember the last time we danced here. It was the night you proposed.”
“That’s right. I remember you pointing out that I got an erection from dancing with you.”
“After all this time, I don’t think that’s going to happen again.”
“Oh, baby girl, how wrong you are. I haven’t even put my hands on you yet and I’m already getting hard.” I swing her into my embrace and begin to sway with her to the music.
We dance until our dessert arrives and share the cheesecake and tiramisu just like we did years earlier.
“I’m sorry but we won’t be able to tour the harbor this time. We can’t keep Mrs. Spencer all night. We can go park by the pier and look out at the water for a while if you want, though.”
“That sounds nice, Daddy. I’d like that.”
With dinner over, we drive to the pier and park in the observation area. It’s a weeknight and the lot is empty when we arrive.