Compass (Second Chances 1)

A knock at the door sends Katie in that direction. She swings it open.

“Hey, Kate.” Madison looks at my fiancée with a smile before she locks eyes with me. “Thank you for the extra time with her tonight, Gage. I know I promised she could stay over, but she wants to braid hair tonight.”

Our custody agreement is clear.

Kristin spends half her time with me and the other half at her mom’s apartment four blocks from here.

We don’t follow a schedule. It’s fluid. We let Kristin decide where she wants to be. She’s mindful of how much we all love her, so she splits her time up evenly.

“Things are good with you?” I ask Madison the same question I always do.

“Really good,” she answers with a smile.

She’s happy. She’s working hard at Liore. After she took the job, I told her about Katie’s friendship with Olivia. She didn’t care how she got the position. She was grateful for the opportunity to work for the largest lingerie chain in the country.

Her divorce is still a work-in-progress, but she’s been shielding Kristin from the details.

Our daughter is set to leave in two weeks to spend ten days with Perry. Madison is taking the trip with her. She’ll be hanging out in London working on Liore business.

“I love you guys,” Kristin says as she follows Madison out of the apartment and into the hallway.

“We love you too,” Katie and I say in unison before I close the door and turn to the woman who owns my heart.

We haven’t set a wedding date yet, but we will.

After Katie moved in with me, life settled into calm perfection.

We cherish every moment we have together. Katie spends her days at the bridal boutique. I’m at Tin Anchor as much as I need to be.

We love our daughter completely and each other fiercely.

“What’s on your mind?” I tilt my head and study her face. “There’s a secret brewing in there?”

Her hands fist in front of her. “Why would you say that?”

“I know you.”

“You love me.”

“Endlessly,” I say back.

“Make love to me.”

“Is that a request or a demand?” I laugh.

She shrugs her shoulder. “Both?”

I go to her, taking her beautiful face in my hands. I study her eyes. Those expressive hazel eyes can’t hide anything from me.

I’ve known for weeks what she’s holding inside, but I know that her past is dictating her present.

She’s scared.

She doesn’t have to be.

Her body has changed since fall has turned to winter. Her hips are softer, her face fuller. Her breasts are heavier and her stomach has the slightest bump. It’s just enough that I know that a new life is growing inside of her.

“Will you marry me in summer, Katie?”