“Done.”
I hear her sniffle. “You’re a good man, Seth Jennings.” I let her words wash over me. I want to do right by both Amelia and our baby, and Mara and Finley. I feel like I’m being torn in two worrying about all of them. To hear her say this calms some of my anxiety that I’m not doing enough.
“Safe flight. Call if you need anything.” I end the call and take a deep breath—what feels like the first of the day. Quickly I explain what happened to the guys.
“Go home, get some snuggles from your daughter and loving from your fiancée,” Ridge tells me.
“Thanks, man.” I feel myself getting choked up again. “You don’t know what a relief it is to have you all in my corner, even when I’m being a dick.”
“Oh, we know,” Tyler says. “We’ve all needed to lean on the others at one point or another. That’s what friends and family are for. You call us if you need anything.”
Standing, we quickly finish packing up the tools, and I wave and beep as I pull out of the site first.
I need to see my girls.
As soon as I walk into the house, something that smells amazing greets me. After washing my hands in the utility sink in the laundry room, I make my way toward the kitchen, following the smell.
“Daddy!” Finley cheers. She’s sitting at the kitchen island coloring while Mara makes dinner. I will never get tired of her calling me that. The love that shines through her eyes, it’s for me, and I’m honored to be able to fill this spot in her life. Biologically she’s not mine, but she’s the first of my kids to make me a daddy, and it’s the best damn feeling.
“Hey, Finny.” Stopping next to her, I bend to kiss the top of her head. “Were you a good girl for Sonia today?” I ask her.
“My was.”
“I was,” I correct her with a smile. I make my way to the stove and wrap my arms around Mara and kiss her neck. “Hey, beautiful. That smells amazing.”
“Better than you,” she teases. “You’ve got about ten minutes to shower before dinner.” She turns to face me and places a kiss on my lips. “Welcome home.”
Home.
“How was your day?” I ask.
“Uneventful, now go.” She shoves at me and I laugh. Leaning in, I kiss her one more time before jogging down the hall to shower.
Five minutes later, I’m in a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. “Just in time,” Mara says as she makes Finley a plate.
“What is this?” The smell is making my mouth water.
“Nothing special. Just homemade beef barbecue and french fries.”
“French fries.” Finley claps, making us both laugh.
“You have to eat your sandwich too, and your applesauce,” I remind her.
“I do’s, Daddy,” she sasses. It’s too damn cute to correct her.
“I will,” Mara does it for me.
All through dinner, Finley keeps us entertained. She chatters about Sonia and coloring, I think. She’ll be three in about six weeks, and she talks well, but when she gets to talking fast, it’s hard to keep up with everything she’s telling us.
“Okay, kiddo, time for a bath.” Mara stands to clear the table.
“Bath or dishes?” I ask her.
“I get a choice?”
“You can sit on the couch and I can do both, but that cuts into our family cuddle time, so….” I shrug.
“Bath.” She scoops Finley up in her arms and their laughter follows them down the hall.
Twenty minutes later, the three of us are snuggled on the couch watching the Disney channel. Finley is sitting still, which means we’re close to losing her to sleep. Her head is on my chest, my arm around her, while Mara’s head is leaning on the opposite shoulder. I don’t even remember what life was like without them.
“So I’ve been thinking. There are only two items left on Amelia’s list that we can make happen.”
“Okay.”
“Finny turns three soon. What if we took a short vacation to the beach? It’s about a seven-hour drive to Pensacola. I was thinking break it up in two days driving, giving Amelia breaks. Unless she’s doing well, then we can drive straight through?”
“Finley would love that,” Mara agrees.
“I think so too. What if we get married while we’re there?” I toss it out there. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I need her to know she’s the love of my life. That I want the future we’re building together to be everlasting.
“What?” This time she sits up and looks at me. Her eyes dart to Finley, and they soften, telling me she’s fallen asleep in my arms.
Keeping one arm around our daughter, the other reaches up and cradles her cheek in my palm. “I love you, Mara. I love Finley, and I want this to be permanent. Nights like tonight. Marry me on the beach in Florida.”
Her eyes well with tears, and I start to worry that I’m pushing this too fast when a slow smile graces her lips. “You really want to do this?”
“Yes.” Simple answer, no hesitation.
She nods. “Okay.”
“Yeah?”
Another nod. “Yes.”
“Pick a date. You tell me when and I’ll take care of everything.”
“Are the others going to join us?”
“They’re family so they’re invited. I don’t know if they’ll be able to make it work with jobs and kids, but I’ll try like hell to get them all there. My parents too.”
She glances down at Finley. “I want you both to have my last name, Mara.”
“I love you, Seth Jennings.”
“Oh, baby.” Sliding my hand behind her neck, I bring her closer. “You have no idea how much I love you.”
“I think you should show me.”
“I’m going to put our daughter to bed, and come find you.” The words are barely out of my mouth before she scrambles from the couch and races down the hall. Carefully, trying not to wake her, I lift Finley into my arms and carry her to her room. Once I have her in her bed, I cover her with her princess blanket and turn on her stars nightlight before closing the door. I leave it cracked so we can hear her. Just in case.
Across the hall, I push open our bedroom door, closing it and turning the lock. It’s time to show Mara with my body what my mind sometimes can’t find the words to say. I’m going to cherish her, love her with all that I am.
Chapter Twenty
Mara 20
* * *
I left the small bedside lamp on because I want to see him. Seth’s eyes are so expressive. He can tell me everything he’s feeling with just one look. And tonight, I don’t want to miss it. These past few months have taken us by storm, but we’re fighting our way through it.
When the bedroom door opens, then closes, and I hear the tick of the lock, I know he’s taking his job of “showing” me seriously.
“Fuck,” he murmurs when he sees me lying naked on our bed. Lifting his arms, he reaches behind his head, grabbing the neck of his T-shirt, pulling it off before dropping it on the floor.
He’s standing before me in low-hung gray sweatpants. They hang at the V of his hips, exposing the intricate work of his dragon tattoo. It starts at his hip and ends on his thigh. It’s sexy, and I’m ready for him to drop his pants and show me the goods.
“Mara.” My name is a growl from deep in his throat.
My eyes snap up to his. “Keep going,” I encourage.
“You keep looking at me like that, it’s going to be over before it starts.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to trace every inch of my skin with your tongue.”