Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“Better than I remember,” she murmurs.
“You’re not getting away from me again, Katie Smith.”
Her hand slides against my neck and along the side of my face. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve tasted life without you, Jake. I thought I was fine. Now, I realize I wasn’t living. I’ve just been existing. I need you like air, honey.”
I suck her bottom lip into my mouth, tasting it. I do it again and again before deepening the kiss. “I love you,” I finally say when we break apart. I go to move off her, not wanting to hurt her body. I tried to go easy, but I know she’s going to be sore.
“No, don’t leave me. It’s been so long, Jake. I just want to fall asleep with you inside me.”
I smile, kissing her forehead. Then, I shift us, hold her closely as I roll us over, fixing it so that she’s on top of me and my cock is still buried deep inside her warm body. As her breathing evens out, a feeling of contentment overwhelms me.
This is exactly where I belong.
Exactly.
CHAPTER 16
Jake
I didn’t expect this.
I’ve spent the last week back on the circuit, away from the house and away from my family.
And I hated every minute of it. Every freaking minute.
I talked to Katie and Lennon every night, but I ached to be home. If I hadn’t already known that I was going to leave the circuit after this year, this week would have made that decision for me. I’m done. I can’t be away from them like this. I was as miserable as Lennon and Katie sounded over the phone.
Today is my first day back and Katie is still at work. I got here early enough to make sure the next-door neighbor knew Miss Hazel was okay. It’s almost time for Lennon to get off the bus so I’m brushing down the horses while waiting. My babies seem as happy to be home in the barn as I am to be here. I turn toward the road as the bus stops at the end of our driveway. I put my grooming brush down and jog across the pasture to meet Lennon. It’s early today. I get there just as Lennon comes running out, wrapping his arms around my legs. I lift him up and he hugs me tight.
“Daddy! You’re home!”
Daddy. If the joy in his voice didn’t get me, having my son call me daddy again would send me over the edge.
“I sure am. I missed you, buddy.”
“I missed you, too,” he says, squeezing me tighter. “Do you get to stay?” he asks.
“Yeah, for a little while. I was thinking we could pick Mommy up and take her to dinner this evening. What do you think?”
“Can we take Nanny Barb and Grandma Hazel?”
“Sure, buddy. Anything you want.”
“Yay!”
I stand, smiling, while I grab the backpack that Lennon must have dropped when he ran to hug me. Then I reach down and instantly my son puts his hand in mine. I can feel tears sting my eyes and I swallow down my emotions.
We walk back to the house hand in hand. I feel like a damn king. Some of the scars from my past slowly fall away.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, son?”
“I sure am glad you’re home.”
“Me too, Lennon. Me too,” I answer.
“Dad?” he says again.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
I swallow, my throat tight with emotion. “I love you, Lennon. I love you, too.”
Coming home was the smartest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
Epilogue
JAKE
“Do you want me to ask if anyone has objections to the wedding? It’s not required.”
Katie and I grin with the judge’s question. Nothing is going to stop our marriage. I won’t allow it to. I was always meant to marry this woman. We were always meant to be a family. It may have taken us way too long to get to this point but now that we have, I’m never going to take it for granted.
“No one objects,” Mom says, making us all laugh.
We’re at City Hall. It wasn’t the fancy wedding that Katie deserved, but it is what she asked for. After the fiasco of a wedding that she had planned with Jeff, I just want her as my wife legally. She doesn’t know this, but I would have agreed to anything to get my ring on her finger.
“Very well,” the judge laughs. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God, family, and friends to witness a joyous occasion. It is the union of Jake and Katie in holy matrimony. May I ask, who gives this bride to be married to this man?”
“I do!” Lennon pipes up, his words dripping with pride. We all laugh, but I reach down and ruffle Lennon’s hair. I’m sure parents say it all the time, but I truly do have the most beautiful and smartest son ever born. “Jake is my daddy.”