Nip it in the Bud (Bunch-A-Blooms 3)

“We’re very grateful we have someone so cool taking care of us,” Ilana adds.

I sniffle, blinking to stave back the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. Reaching my hands out, I grasp their hands and squeeze. I’ve begun to think of them as mine. Apparently, I wasn’t alone in that.

***

We sit backstage mouthing the words as Drew performs. He’s finally doing a show close to home, and we’re all here. I can see the pride sparkling in the girls’ large brown eyes as they sway to the music and deliver the lyrics in a manner so like their father’s I can’t believe there’s no DNA shared between the three of them.

He ends the song and wipes his brow. “I been working on a new song on the road, and I’m going to perform it live here for the first time.”

The crowd roars.

“But I’m going to need someone special to join me up here.”

I glance down at the girls, who are beaming up at me. “Did you know about this?”

They nod their heads.

“Willow, can you join me out here, please?”

The blood rushes to my face as I make my way out onto the stage.

“Ladies and gentleman, this is the love of my life.” He holds my hand, and I shake my head.

‘What are you doing?’ I mouth.

He grins. “This song is called ‘Forever’.”

My eyes widen. He is not!

He launches into a new rap, and my head swims as the words paint a clear picture. Rings, forever, and till death do us part stand out loud and clear. He goes on one knee, and I cover my mouth as my vision wavers.

“Willow, will you spend the rest of your life with me?”

The crowd goes insane as I nod my head, unable to speak around the lump in my throat. A stagehand comes over and holds the mic while he removes a black box from his pocket and reveals a pink, kite-shaped diamond. My hand shakes as he slips the platinum band onto my ring finger, sealing our promise to one another.

Epilogue

Willow

Our marriage was a whirlwind. Planning around childbirth, holiday seasons, baptisms, and touring was like a game of Tetris. Baby Noah is a happy, healthy, three-month-old. Petunia is back to work with her mother, and Mason’s playing the role of childcare during the day. Now we’re here in our honeymoon suite, and I can barely contain my excitement as my husband closes the door behind himself. I lick my lips, and he grips my hips, pulling me to him.

“There’s not going to be anything slow or gentle about this, Willow.”

“Good, because I don’t want it to be,” I whisper as I clutch his lapel.

He leans down and captures my lips. Our tongues tangle, teeth clash, and lips move together as everything we’ve built up explodes between us. I bury my fingers in his hair as he cups my ass. My stomach erupts in fireworks. This time there will be no stopping. He cups the back of my neck and tilts his head, deepening out kiss.

We battle for dominance, and I yield under his powerful onslaught. We separate, breathing heavily, and he spins me around and begins to unlace my corset.

“Did you pick the most complicated dress on purpose?”

“No,” I whimper as his breath caresses my neck.

He nips his way down the side of my neck as his nimble fingers work their magic. Freed from the lacey creation, I find myself on display as he gently pulls it down around my body. I let my arms fall to my side, and the fire flickers in his blue eyes.

“You are so beautiful.” He holds out his hand and helps me step from the small pile of material. I should be rushing to hang it up and preserve it, but I’m too focused on the completion of our souls joining in the physical.

He walks me back to the bed. “I’m not going to last