My Neighbor's Husband

I nod grimly.

“Yes, but I’m never going to let that happen again because I love you, Margot Morgan. You mean the world to me, and sure, we’ve encountered a bumpy ride together, but never again. Do you love me, baby girl?”

The curvy brunette smiles through the tears in her eyes and bends forward to place her lips against mine.

“I do, Dane Jones, and I want to be yours.”

With that, a surge of possession overwhelms me and I drag her into my arms once more because this woman and I belong together. We were separated by the evil deeds of a woman who’s clearly insane, but through good luck and some dogged detective work, I’ve unraveled the misdeeds that threatened to keep up separated. Now, I’ll never let her go again.

“I love you,” I say possessively again for good measure.

She looks at me, a graceful whisper on her lips.

“I love you too.”

And with that, our lips touch and we’re swept away into a heavenly future.

Epilogue

Margot

A year later.

I giggle.

“Dane, I don’t think the bidder had this in mind when he won the doggie date with Buster. After all, it’s not just Buster on the date. It’s me, you, and also our baby in my stomach.”

My husband merely growls.

“I don’t care what the bidder wants. If my wife and child want to accompany me on this doggy date, then so be it. We’re taking a stroll as a family, and it’s worth every minute.”

I smile again, cradling my belly in the warm sunshine.

“Are you even going to write the thousand word essay?” I ask saucily.

My husband doesn’t hesitate for a moment.

“I am,” he confirms. “You’ve convinced me because this whole doggie dating thing wasn’t my scene at all, but honey, you’ve worked your magic”

I laugh joyously because my man always does what’s right. I know he’s not into doggy dating for charity, nor tapping away at his laptop recounting one such doggy date. But despite his gruff ways, he has an open mind and a warm heart, and I love him all the more for it.

“I think Melody enjoys this walk too, by the way,” I say softly, indicating my huge belly.

Dane’s eyes go wide.

“It’s a girl?” he breathes. “You found out?”

I nod gently.

“Yes, today at the doctor’s office they confirmed it. You’re going to be daddy to a little girl soon, Dane.”

My husband bends down to press a grateful kiss to my lips even as Buster and his new friend bark at a squirrel.

“You mean everything to me, Margot. You and the baby. I’m so lucky to have you both.”

I kiss him back as we amble happily back to our house. After all, things have worked out perfectly for us. After Dane discovered his ex’s fraud, he was determined to cause her harm. I don’t know what he had in mind: perhaps a lawsuit or reporting her to the university. But instead, I stepped in because clearly, Amelia is mentally ill. We reported her to the university, but specifically to the Department of Mental Health. Since then, Amelia’s been under their care, and hopefully she improves.

But it’s not our concern anymore because we have no legal, financial, nor emotional ties to her. She’s my husband’s ex and completely out of our lives. I’m happy for that, and grateful that we’ve been able to move on easily.

Because after Amelia was committed, Dane asked me to marry him, and I responded with a joyful yes. After what we’d been through, marriage was the natural next step. We were wed in a giant white wedding, with a huge six-foot cake, with Buster as a member of the wedding party. It was a night to be remembered because of the amazing music and even better food, but also because we conceived our beautiful daughter that night. Dane will truly become a father this time around, and he’s over the moon at the thought.

When we get back to the house, we let the dogs into the yard and then step into the coolness of the house. Being so hugely pregnant is exhausting, and I settle onto the couch with my belly protruding.

“Wow,” I say, wiping sweat from my brow. “Who knew that a fifteen-minute stroll could turn me into a sweating pig?”

But Dane turns to me with serious eyes.

“No, you’re beautiful, Margot. You’re glowing from the pregnancy, and actually, I’d love it if you stayed this size after giving birth. You’re an Earth Mother, and the extra weight suits you.”

I stare at him.

“But Dane, I’ve put on sixty pounds. I’m in my third trimester and ready to pop.”

He merely shrugs.

“You look heavenly, sweet girl, and good enough to eat. In fact, I wouldn’t mind eating some of that right now,” he adds with a devilish grin. With that, my gorgeous husband kneels down on the floor between my knees and slowly lifts the hem of my dress.