She nodded. “You want me to make the wedding cake?”
“It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Can you do it within the week?”
“Really? That’s how long you’re giving to plan a surprise wedding?”
“I can do this.”
“Where exactly are you going to be throwing this?”
He tapped a finger against his nose. “I know the perfect place, but you know what, can you do it?”
“I can do it so long as it’s something simple.”
“Excellent.” He took hold of her arm, and they began walking in the direction of her house. “So, will you be a secret bridesmaid?”
She sighed. “For Molly I will.”
“Excellent, because I’m appointing myself one of the best men, and that means you’re going to have to dance with me.”
“No, it does not. You have to dance with the maid of honor, and that won’t be me.”
“But I won’t be head groomsman or whatever that shit is called.”
She giggled.
He felt on top of the fucking world that she had giggled. Damn, that sound was something so sweet, and he wanted to hear it again.
“Max Carter, I don’t even think you realize what you’ve got yourself into, but being the kind of girl that likes to help people, count me in.”
“Awesome.”
Chapter Ten
“Is it me or is Max acting weirder than usual?” Molly asked, snuggling up with Dale on the sofa.
“Not that I know of. He’s probably found a new project or something.”
She tapped the electricity manual open on his lap. “And how are you finding your new career choice?”
“Very dull. Very boring, but I’ll get to use some pretty awesome tools. I’ll get to wear a tool belt.”
“Now that sounds kind of sexy.”
“You want to see me all dressed up, and nowhere to go.”
“Nope,” she said, taking the book from his lap and placing it on the floor. She straddled his lap, locking her fingers at the back of his neck. “You’ll always have somewhere to go, but at the end of the day, I know you’ll be here.” She pressed her lips against his, and he gripped her ass.
They had done it.
Molly moaned as he pressed his cock against her, and she felt like they had finally found each other.
“Are you happy?” she asked.
“You have no idea how happy I am.”
“I know you’re still a little upset that the kids don’t always call you Daddy.”
“But at least they don’t call me anything else,” he said, laughing. “It could be a lot worse, and to be honest, babe, I don’t blame them. I’ve got to prove that I’m their father, and that I’m not going anywhere. They’ve seen me many times before, and now I’m living with their mom, taking her away from them, and loving her more than anything in the world.”
“I fell in love with you a long time ago,” she said.
“You did?”
“Yes. Back in kindergarten. It was one of the first days and I’d fallen down. Hurt my knee or something, and you were there, helping me up. I fell for you then, and no one else has even gotten close to take my heart. I’ve never told anyone that before.”
He smiled. “I recognized you, Molly Tatum. I’ve noticed you a lot over the years, and it wasn’t just in high school. You have no idea how fucking happy I was when you picked me. I wanted you to say yes to me. I couldn’t fucking believe it.”
“Because I loved you, and there was only ever one guy I wanted to ask me out, and he finally did.”
“We’ve wasted a lot of time that could have been spent together, like this.”
“I know. Let’s make a pact not to miss any more.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
She leaned in to kiss him, and was trailing her hands down to open his belt when a scream came from upstairs.
“I’ll go,” Dale said. “I want to go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I just listen to them, and put them to bed.”
“Yes. Give them a hug, tell them everything is going to be okay.”
She climbed off his lap and watched him head upstairs. Grabbing their empty cups, she placed them in the kitchen sink and decided to make her way upstairs, just in case they were being a little difficult.
“Nothing is going to get me?” Luke asked.
“Nothing is going to get you. Look.” She stood near the door so she couldn’t be seen, but she could look in. Dale had gotten on the floor and crawled under the bed. “Your mom even vacuums underneath the bed.”
She pressed a hand to her mouth to contain her laughter.
Luke and Sasha were laughing. They’d put both children in one room as Dale was determined to create the ideal princess room for his little girl, and neither of them wanted her there while they were decorating.
“See, no bad creatures hiding under the bed. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Your mommy and I will never, ever allow anything bad to happen to you. I’m a light sleeper, and you just call for me, and I will come running every single time.” He ruffled Luke’s head, then Sasha’s. “I’m never leaving either of you guys. I love you more than anything else in the world.”
“Do you love Mommy?”
“I’ve loved Mommy for a long time. Longer than I think she realizes, but it has taken me a long time to be her prince.”
“If you weren’t her prince, what were you?”
“The biggest jerk in the world.”
She tried to contain her laughter as they both gasped.
“I love you, Daddy,” Luke said.
She saw the love and happiness in Dale’s face. “I love you as well. I won’t be going anywhere. I’m your daddy, to both of you.” He took hold of Sasha’s hand. “I won’t let you guys down again.”
“We love you, too.”
Her heart filled with so much love and joy as she watched Luke and Sasha climb into his lap and hug him tight.
This was the family she always wanted, and it was a dream to finally be witnessing it. She stepped back as he put them to bed, turning off the light and leaving it ajar a little. He turned toward her. “Do you need a hug?”
“My jerk face has become a prince.”
“Did you ever doubt it?” he asked.
“There were a few times it was touch and go.”
“I’ve got lots of plans for all of us, Molly.”
“I like the sound of this.” He carried her through to their bedroom, laying her down on the bed and settling between her thighs. He teased her hair, and she felt the hard ridge of his cock pressing against her stomach. “I saw Chloe today at the grocery store.”
She tensed up. “What happened?”
“Nothing. I just wanted you to know that I’d seen her, and nothing happened. Unless you count Mrs. Lemon, our old history teacher, telling me that for a boy as bright as myself, I should have known better. She also congratulated me on finally getting my head out of my ass, which she also told me she could say now seeing as she wasn’t on school grounds.”
Molly laughed. “I wish I could have seen that.”
“Yeah, well, I told her, and the entire store, that I loved you more than anything in the world, and that you were mine.”
She got a thrill at just hearing him say that.
“I’ve been yours forever, Dale. There hasn’t been anyone else that I’ve wanted.”
He slammed his lips down on hers, and she moaned as she gripped him tightly against her.
She wouldn’t take anything for granted, and the past that had been, that was where she was going to keep it. It was time to move on, and find this new path with the love of her life.
****