Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“I guess it didn’t come up.”
“And all this time, I assumed you were from, like, New York or something.”
“Nope. Seattle. And I know we said that Iceland was it for us, the whole vacation fling thing, but I kind of think that’s ridiculous, Maddie.”
“I do, too. Now.”
“What?”
“I had no idea that you were in Seattle so often. I figured it would be impossible for us to see each other. And we never talked about it lasting past Iceland.”
“We didn’t talk enough about the important stuff.” I shove my hand through my hair in frustration. “That needs to change immediately. I’ll go first. Maddie, I’m completely in love with you. I don’t know where this relationship is going, but I want to date you. I want to be with you every chance I get. I don’t want to just walk away and never see you again. That’s just torture for me.”
A slow smile spreads over her beautiful face. “Same.”
“To which part?”
“All of it. The dating, the being together.” She steps to me and boosts herself onto her toes so she can press her lips to mine. “And the love thing. I’m sorry I didn’t speak up in Iceland when I knew that I wanted more. I guess I was just scared that you’d say no.”
“From now on, we speak up. No matter what.”
I push her against the wall and kiss her like a starving man.
Because I am starving for her.
“Um, Dylan?”
“Yes, baby?”
“I did already paint this wall.”
I pause and then grin against her mouth. “Well, then. I guess we’re going to need a shower.”
“Later.” I lift her, my hands planted on her ass, and she wraps her legs around my waist. “Much later.”
Epilogue
Caleb Montgomery
“They’re on their way over,” my wife informs me from the kitchen. “Turn that game off.”
“No. If he can’t handle a little football, he shouldn’t be trying to worm his way into this family.”
I can hear Brynna rolling her eyes from here. “Don’t be difficult.”
“She’s my daughter. Being difficult is my one and only job in life.”
I hear her stomping into the room from behind me. She grabs the remote out of my hand and turns off the TV.
“Hey!”
“Don’t you hey me. Maddie is bringing a man here to meet us, and you’re not going to be your usual grouchy, macho, alpha self about it.”
“Yeah, Legs, I am. It’s my right.”
She just shakes her head and walks back into the kitchen.
“According to Josie, he’s a nice guy. And he’s part of the reason our daughter is laughing and a little outgoing again, Caleb. We haven’t seen her like this in a long time, and I for one plan to thank him for it.”
I know. I know this man who seems to have swept my girl off her feet in a foreign country is the reason she’s so damn happy she radiates sunshine.
But, damn it, she’s my daughter. I’m allowed to feel a certain way about it.
The doorbell rings, and Brynna hurries out of the kitchen to answer the door.
“Be nice,” she hisses at me before opening it. “Hi, you two. Come on in. I hope you’re hungry because I made a lot of food.”
“I’m always hungry,” comes a man’s voice.
When they step inside, I can tell that I’m going to like him. Though he doesn’t need to know that yet, of course.
I like that he has his hand on the small of Maddie’s back. I like that he takes her coat and hangs it on the hook by the door before doing the same for himself.
I like that he looks at her with respect in his eyes.
“Mom, Dad, I want to introduce you to Dylan.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He shakes Brynna’s hand and then walks over to me to do the same.
It’s a good sign that he has a firm, confident handshake.
So far, there’s nothing here for me to break his legs over.
Let’s see if he can maintain that.
“Uh, I’m going to go help Mom in the kitchen,” Maddie says, and after a supportive pat on Dylan’s shoulder, she and Brynna walk away from us.
“Have a seat.” I gesture to the couch opposite me, and we both sit. “You’re from Seattle?”
“I am, yes.” He goes on to talk about school, his parents, and his job. And when he gets to the part about meeting my daughter, his eyes light up.
“I have to thank you.” My words seem to surprise us both. “Maddie has been…well, different for a long time. Not quite herself. But since she met you, she’s quick to laugh. She seems lighter, as if a weight’s been lifted off her shoulders. I have my daughter back.”
“She was always there,” he says, shaking his head.
“But, sometimes, a person comes into our lives and unlocks something we’ve had hidden away for a while. I know. It happened for me when I met Brynna.”