Groomed For Love

“I’ll get him,” Parker offers, having just come by after finishing some of his own security work.

I won’t let him do anything where he’s at risk anymore, not like when he was a cop. So it’s mainly running the business side of things he likes to do a few days a week and only for a few hours at a time.

“May as well close up anyway,” I tell myself, flipping the sign on the door and collecting the mail, thumbing through it.

There’s an official looking letter and I feel my heart freeze for a moment. My hands shake a little once I read it.

It’s a notice telling me my ex-landlord has applied for bail and will most likely be released soon.

Parker comes back in, bouncing little Cole in the crease of his elbow.

“Honey, what is it?” he asks, full of concern.

“It’s nothing,” I shiver, folding the letter, pretending it doesn’t exist.

It’s not that I don’t want to tell Parker, I just don’t even want to think about that creepy landlord. That day when Parker rescued me.

It’s a double-edged sword though, looking back I realize it was the first day we met. When he came to pick up Moose.

He tactfully takes the letter and scans it before handing it back he reminds me of everything he promised me that day, as well as on our wedding day.

“For better or worse,” he reminds me, curling his free arm around my waist and kissing my forehead.

“I’ll make sure you never have to see him ever again,” he promises.

“It’s just a bit of a shock, that’s all,” I confess. Thinking I’d forgotten all about it but I never can because it’s how I met the man of my dreams.

Baby Cole gurgles and tucks his hand into his mouth, forcing it to curl into a smile.

“That’s my boy,” Parker whispers. “Turn that frown upside down.”

“Let’s go home, honey. If you’re not booked tomorrow we can drive up to mom’s old place. Do us both some good to get out of the city.”

“Maybe, just for the day,” I tell him. Suddenly feeling very pregnant, tired, and heavy.

The thought of moving houses on top of everything else doesn’t exactly thrill me. I’ve only really just gotten things in our place down here just the way we like it.

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Parker says, reading me like a book.

“We could just stay home and do nothing instead?” he offers, pouting his lips and looking so innocent.

The face he makes when I know he’s having filthy thoughts.

“Not in front of the baby,” I caution him, poking my tongue out and then pecking his cheek.

Keeping a grip on me, I take Cole from him as he runs a hand over my belly.

“We’re gonna be fine,” he says softly. “All of us. Always. I promise,” he reminds me.

“Now, I’m thinking three cheese pizza as an entrée,” he announces, shifting the focus to an early dinner.

I know from experience that an early dinner means an early night for Cole.

And an early night for us too, not that much sleeping goes on when we get to bed early.

“And for the main course?” I ask, gnawing at my lip as I think of all my favorites. No weird cravings for this pregnant mommy, just carbs, carbs, and more carbs.

“Whatever you choose baby, whatever you choose,” he says hungrily, reminding me it’s dessert he’s more interested in.

“As long as it has you on top, I don’t mind,” I tease him playfully.

“Oh I’ll be all over you,” he promises. “On top, behind. On the side,” he tells me, kissing me in between each word before we realize little Cole’s fallen asleep.

Come to think of it, the whole place is quiet, too quiet and a quick glance shows all the dogs asleep too.

“We’d better move,” Parker says with mock urgency.

I’m right behind him, and I don’t want to miss our big chance. If everyone sleeps now they’ll want to stay up all night.

I shift Cole and he wakes, letting out a stammered cry and in no time the dogs are up too, howling louder than ever.

It’s music to my ears though, and a tune I’ve only grown to love more and more each day.

Loving our son, our dogs, and the little baby on the way, but most of all loving the man I couldn’t live without. Not for a single day.

My hero, my whole world.

My everything.

Michael Parker.

Extended Epilogue

Five Years Later

Parker

Pulling up to the front door I can already hear Cole and Natalie from inside.

Squealing with laughter followed by the sounds of dogs barking excitedly.

Moose is next to me in the truck, whining to let me know he wants out so he doesn’t miss out on any of the fun.

I lean over and open his door and in a flash, he’s bounding around to the back of the house to let himself in.