My Dad's Rival

“Are you looking forward to calling this place home?” Wyatt asks as we pull into the driveway. I can barely believe it’s going to be ours. As beautiful as my home with my dad was, this place is even better because Wyatt’s here. It’s huge, with endless room to house all of the children we’re going to have. I smile at the thought.

“It’s perfect,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss his lips. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

“Good. Because I want you to feel at home here. I know it must be hard, leaving your dad behind. You’ve made a lot of sacrifices for me.”

I shake my head at him. “I don’t feel like I’ve made any sacrifices at all. I’ve chosen to make a life with you. That’s not a sacrifice in my eyes, especially when I’m gaining so much. I want to be with you, Wyatt. That’s all that matters.”

He kisses me a second time and I surrender to his lips, wrapping my arms around his neck. This feeling is insane, incredible. My heart is so full of love and hope. I’m finally getting everything I ever wanted from life. And nothing can possibly break me out of this fantasy because that’s the best part, this fantasy is my new reality. Wyatt and I have been through hell to get to this point. We’ve both had demons to face, especially me. But it’s all been worth it to make it to this point. And now, there’s no turning back.

Wyatt helps me out of the car and scoops me up to carry me over the threshold, I giggle at his antics. Inside, I realize just how beautiful my new home is. Not because it’s filled with expensive things, but because I can already imagine making memories here. I can picture our kids running around the hallways, laughing as they play, cooking dinner for my family in the kitchen, taking long luxurious baths in the outrageously large tub in the master bathroom, watching TV in the evening with the kids. There’s so much to look forward to and it makes my heart swell.

“You like what you see?” Wyatt asks.

I nod. “How could I not? This place is amazing. It already feels like home.”

“It’s because we’re together,” he growls, capturing me in another kiss toe-curling kiss. “But there’s one more thing I want to show you. Come upstairs with me.”

I frown. He’s already given me a tour of the house, so I’m not sure what he wants to show me, but I let him take my hand and guide me up the staircase. His thumb brushes over my knuckles and I feel almost shy, even though we’ve spent so much time together lately. This feels different somehow. Like something big is about to happen.

We stop outside our bedroom. The door is closed so I can’t see inside.

“Close your eyes for me.”

I don’t even question his request and do as he asks me. I trust him completely. I hear him open the door and slip inside. He’s gone for a few minutes and I wait patiently, never even tempted to peek. I don’t want to ruin whatever he has in store for me. Whatever it is, I know it’s going to be a good surprise.

I hear the bedroom door reopen and he takes my hand once again, guiding me blindly into the room. I’m smiling, despite my nerves. What is he up to?

“You can open your eyes.”

I do as he asks and gasp. Our bedroom is filled with lit candles, and rose petals are strewn across the bed. The lights are low and Wyatt is in front of me, down on one knee.

I cover my mouth in shock.

He smiles at me from his position at my feet because of course, he already knows what my answer will be.

“Baby,” he says. “I have a question to ask you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Wyatt

I can tell I’ve shocked Lucy with this surprise proposal. I’ve been planning this since the day we met with her father. I knew long before then that she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. But now, I actually get to ask her to be mine for all eternity.

“Lucy, we’ve been on quite a journey,” I say, looking up at her beautiful face. “Since the day we met, this has been such a whirlwind. There were times that I worried we wouldn’t make it through. But here we are, and all of our troubles are behind us now. We’ve got everything we want. We’re together. We have your father’s approval. We’ve moved in together. And now with a baby on the way…there’s only one thing missing. And that’s me putting a ring on your finger.”

She blushes prettily, but she listens intently ready to hear everything I have to say.