Liars (Licking Thicket 2)

I grinned at him. “Never. Never for one second did I think that. I knew if you weren’t here, it was because you’d been in a car accident, kidnapped by bandits, or abducted by aliens.”

“The first one,” he admitted. “But I’m here now.”

I searched his face and body for injuries. “And you’re okay? Are you sure?”

A laugh burbled out of him. “Are you kidding? I have you? And you have Marigold? I’m the best I could ever be.”

“Where’d you go this morning?”

He sighed and shook his head before burying his face in my chest. “Never mind. Worst decision ever.”

I pulled out a nearby chair and sat down in it before pulling him onto my lap. “Tell me,” I said, pushing the crazy hair out of his face.

His eyes filled again. “I bought us a house. I’m sorry.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. I laughed so hard, Parrish jumped and Ava whipped her head around to see what was going on.

“You’re sorry you bought us a house?”

“Don’t wanna talk about it,” he muffled into my shirt. “Stupid. I prioritized the wrong thing. I’d make a terrible parent.”

I held him tightly against me while our daughter got her final hugs from my sister’s adoptive parents.

“Do you know,” I began, relishing in the feel of him despite the slight stench of highway and mud puddles emanating from his clothing, “someone wise once told me that you just have to decide your kid deserves the best of everything, and not be too proud to try, even if you mess up. End of.”

Parrish lifted his head and glared at me. “That’s different. I was talking about you when I said that.”

I laughed again, and this time the edge of Parrish’s mouth turned up. “Well, babe,” I said, “you’re officially her parent now whether you’re terrible or not, so I guess we’d better keep trying.”

“Wait, I am?” Parrish blinked in confusion. “Officially officially? You had Miss Sara put my name through, as well?”

“Of course. She even banged her gavel about it,” I confirmed with a wink. “And I think that buying your child a house to grow up in is a pretty damned good way of deciding that your kid deserves the best of everything. What do you think?”

The Kensingtons interrupted us to pass Marigold back over to us. I handed her immediately to Parrish, who needed some Marigold cuddles almost as much as he needed a shower and change of clothes.

I turned back to the Kensingtons. “Thank you for everything you did for Beth. Judge Kelly was right.”

Brenda’s nostrils flared and her eyes refused to land on mine. “She was a good girl. We were happy to do it.”

Her words surprised me, but Hunt’s surprised me even more. They were filled with emotion. “Please let us be a part of her life. We don’t want to lose our connection to the girls, and Marigold is all we have left.”

I wanted to remind them that they still had a daughter somewhere in the world who probably wanted their love more than anything, but I didn’t. That was Stella’s canyon to bridge, not mine. “I will.” I pulled out a business card and handed it to them. “All my info is on there.”

Hunt nodded and slipped it into his wallet before they both made their way out of the courtroom. I turned back to Parrish.

“Ready to take our baby home?” I asked.

He pressed a long kiss to her curls and stood up to wrap his free arm around me. “Ready. I’d go anywhere with you, Diesel Church.”

“Church?” I frowned in mock confusion. “I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong guy. My name is Diesel Partridge, and this is our daughter, Marigold Estelle Partridge.”

Parrish’s eyes widened, and I think that was the moment when it all truly hit him.

I was his. He was mine.

Marigold was ours. Forever.

He squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his forehead to my chest. “I won’t forget again,” he whispered.

I hugged both of them for a long time before leaning in to kiss Parrish. “I’m expecting an epic apology casserole, you know.”

His eyes widened. “Apology? For being late?”

I grabbed our things and reached for his hand. “No. For telling the judge on my case that you only married me for—”

He slapped a hand over my mouth before I could say the words. “Are you frickin’ crazy?” he hissed.

“My cock,” I finished against his palm.

Parrish’s face flushed pink.

“I’m referring to Lloyd and his fancy foot feathers,” I added. “What did you think I meant?”

Epilogue

Parrish

“I know we’re already running late for the Gobblin’, so I don’t expect an answer right away, baby, I’m just saying… consider it. Okay?”

I plopped down on our bed and purposely bent over to tie my boot because Diesel was standing in front of me, all warm, and strong, and twice as sexy as any man had a right to be—especially any man wearing the ridiculous outfit he was currently wearing—and I could feel his big brown eyes pleading with me… which was why I refused to look up at him. Those eyes were deadly weapons—the kind that caused me to set aside all my caution and good sense—and I would not fall for them again.