“I would have thrown the birth control away myself if I was the only one making that decision.” I nodded.
“That sounds good to me.” She grinned. “Then I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.”
“There’s one more thing I want to discuss with you, and please don’t feel pressured. I will respect your decision, regardless.” I walked over to the desk in the living room and opened it.
“Part of the reason it took me so long to ask you is because I was trying to get in touch with Jackson…” I handed her a piece of paper.
“Jackson?” She blinked in surprise. “Why?”
“Read the paper.” I motioned to it.
“Is this—wait…” She tilted her head to the side. “He’s giving up his parental rights to Charley?”
“He’s clean now.” I nodded. “I had a long talk with him, and while his life is in a different place, he realizes that the bridge is burned…”
“I would never let him anywhere near Charley, even if he stays clean—not after what he did.” Melanie’s expression clouded over. “He helped Gina—he wouldn’t have even come to Carson Cove if she hadn’t called him…”
“This is his peace offering.” I motioned to the paper. “If Charley wants to meet him when she’s older, then that’s her decision, but he’s not going to try to get custody of her again.”
“I figured that was going to be the case after the trial kept getting continued…” She nodded.
“But that isn’t all.” I reached into the desk and pulled out another piece of paper. “Once we are married, I’d like to adopt Charley—if you will let me.”
“Seriously!?” Melanie blinked in surprise as I handed her the adoption agreement.
“I love you. I love your daughter.” I walked up to Melanie and put my hands on her hips. “I want us to be family—and maybe we’ll have some additions to it one day.”
“I love you too, Jon.” Melanie looked up at me and smiled. “You make me so happy—I’m the luckiest person in the world.”
No, I’m the lucky one—because I was blessed enough to meet you.
Forbidden Kiss: Sneak Peek
Taylor
“How does my dress look?” I turned around to check myself in the mirror and adjusted a couple of wrinkles in the fabric.
“It looks fine.” My younger sister, Anna, looked up from her book for a moment and shrugged. “Why do you care anyway? It’s not like you’re going to buy anything.”
“I want to blend in with the crowd—the best way to do that is to look like I belong there.” My shoulders slumped forward, and I sighed.
I totally don’t look like I belong there.
There was an art auction—technically, it was just a preview show for the art that was going to be auctioned so potential bidders could figure out what they wanted to bid on before the actual auction took place. Every year, Wellington’s gave a few tickets to the art department at Carson Cove University so that a few students could come to the art show. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for most students because very few of us were ever going to have the kind of wealth required to get a real invitation.
I didn’t expect to actually win when I entered my name in the raffle, but luck was on my side—the fact that I bought twenty raffle tickets might have had something to do with it too. It was my senior year of college, and my last chance to attend the art show, so I decided to take a risk. Thankfully, it paid off.
“Have you seen my crimson-sin lipstick?” I picked up my makeup bag and started digging through it.
“Why would you ask me?” Anna looked up from her book again. “If anyone in this house is borrowing your lipstick, it’s not me. Mom was talking about lipstick a few days ago when she was getting ready for her date with Brad—or was it, Steve?”
“Right…” I nodded and made a beeline for my mother’s bedroom.
Anna would rather die than wear lipstick.
My mom had been raiding my makeup since she decided that it was time to start dating again. I couldn’t say much—I did the same thing to her when I first started wearing it. I still hadn’t adjusted to the fact that my mom was going on dates with someone other than my dad, but he was the one that left, so I couldn’t say much about it. At least someone in the house was getting some action. I was too busy with school to have a boyfriend, and Anna was technically old enough to start dating if she wanted to, but she always had her nose in a book. I’m wasn’t sure she would even notice if a guy hit on her.