What had I done to myself? Hailey would be gone in a year. I’d be all alone. Everything I’d done had been for her. What would I have left other than the ranch? A boatload of lonely was the answer. And it wasn’t necessary.
Melody had shown me I craved a woman’s touch. I’d have to try out one of those online dating sites. I cringed at the thought.
I grabbed my cowboy hat from her desk and headed out but Melody was entering her office at that exact moment and we collided. I fumbled my hat and ended up tangling my arms around her. The feel of her body against mine was the best and worst thing wrapped into a bundle. I glanced back at the pictures of her city life and patted her arm. “I was just leaving.”
“Why were you in my office?”
“I wanted to thank ya for everything you’re doing with Hailey.”
She continued blocking the doorway. “You texted me to find out if I was free so you could wait in my office to say thank you?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I don’t believe you. And weren’t we past the ma’am thing?”
“Nervous habit.”
“You’re nervous? Tell me why you’re really here.”
“That’s it, wanted to say thank ya.” I tried to step around her, but she stood her ground.
“Darn. I thought you wanted to find out if the principal was offering me a job for next school year.”
I studied her expression which she was doing a top-notch job of keeping blank. “You’re staying?”
“Yes.” Her voice was reserved. Why wasn’t she happy?
Damn. What was I waiting for? I glanced over my shoulder at her pictures. “Aren’t you going to miss your friends?”
She stayed in the doorway but leaned in as if she needed to see what I was talking about. “I have friends here too. Some pretty close ones if I’m not mistaken. Guess I should update my pictures. Maybe you could help me with that.”
Her smile spoke straight to my heart. Friends, and lovers. I calmed myself when I heard wedding bells. Turns out it was the school bell ringing to sound the end of detention.
“I don’t want to get in trouble for passing notes in school, so I’ll just ask. Melody, will you be my girlfriend?” My heart was racing. I didn’t know how to do this dating shit. It was easier when passion took over.
She cracked up then stepped forward and closed her office door.
I’d already determined there were no windows and it was far too small, but with the door closed and her in it, there seemed to be the perfect amount of space and privacy.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Epilogue
Melody
We debated telling Hailey about our relationship before the trip to New York but she called us out on it. Her only demand was that we didn’t get gross in public.
Not having any secrets made things much easier. I didn’t have to worry every time I grabbed Brandt’s hand or he put an arm around me.
Traveling with them gave me an immediate sense of family. Her mom was going to meet us at the event, but Brandt and Hailey assured me I didn’t have to pretend only to be there as a music teacher. That meant more than either of them would ever know.
Backstage, Hailey handled the anticipation like a pro. She kept her nerves in check, and went through her normal warm up. She was doing better than her dad who resorted to pacing and getting an unhealthy number of drinks from the water fountain.
Her mom ended up being a no show, said she had a last-minute meeting and couldn’t make it. Hailey brushed it off and I was proud of her for being able to handle disappointing news right before a performance even though her heart was breaking. She was such a natural.
The stagehand approached and said, "Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, you can wait over here while Hailey performs. She's up next."
I started to correct him but Hailey winked at me and very deliberately said, “Thanks, Mom and Dad, it’s showtime.”
I was beaming with pride and pulled her in for a hug which Brandt promptly added himself to. How the hell did her mom think anything could be more important than this. Not many kids had to put on a show to get their college scholarship. It wasn’t an essay you could write and rewrite.
When Hailey dashed off, Brandt added, “I like the sound of that, Mrs. Hayes.”
I hadn’t thought anything could make the moment better but the possibility of marrying Brandt did. Now wasn’t the time to delve into that topic though, it was Hailey’s day to shine.
I pecked his lips with a quick kiss and turned to the stage with the full intent of revisiting the topic.
Epilogue
Brandt
One year later
I’d planned for Hailey’s senior year to be busy with college visits and applications, but the contest had bumped all of that drama.
Hailey hadn’t won the competition, but it got her recognition from a few schools Melody said had excellent vocal programs. Out of the two main ones recruiting her, one offered a full ride, sealing her decision.
Aside from having the tuition and fees covered, Melody surprised her with a check for graduation…all of the money she’d spent on private lessons. I hadn’t known Melody was putting the money away for Hailey. I would have objected which is probably why she didn’t tell me what she was doing. I couldn’t say much once the check was presented.
It made me even more frustrated she hadn’t moved in with us yet since apparently none of that had been income. But I respected her insistence we date.
And at the senior award ceremony, Hailey received the proceeds from the wishing well. The town culled the coins annually and gave the money away as a scholarship. Guess the magical well panned out in more ways than one for me.
I'd spent the last eighteen years raising Hailey and in one fell swoop, she'd be gone. I tried not to get overly dramatic about the bittersweet transition since she and Melody were constantly talking about the journey ahead and how amazing it would be.
The exciting news for me was I’d have Melody to myself. Or so I thought. When we went to the end of the year teacher banquet, she won the Teacher of the Year award. I wasn’t the only one who had realized how stellar she was.
More students had signed up for private lessons with her which made me more protective of our time together.
Life had been such a whirlwind. With Hailey leaving for college, we finally had some downtime. We could think about us, a life together not just dinners and dates.
There was one more big topic that had been gnawing at me. She hadn’t mentioned wanting kids, and I’d avoided bringing it up. If she said she wanted a baby, I would happily give her one. It was the least I could do, but truthfully, I was ready for a break.
Luckily when I broached the topic, she couldn’t believe I’d worried about it. She considered her students her kids and liked not having to change diapers and wipe snotty noses. I wasn’t sure how fussing with teenagers was a good trade-off, but I didn’t have to understand her reasoning to accept her decision.
With that topic out of the way, I took her to the barn and carried her up the ladder to the loft.
I’d set a blanket out just like our first time. The window was open and the stars were shining.
“I like your thinking.” She walked to the window and rested her hands on either side of it.
Standing back a few paces, I watched her recreate the moment but pulled the ring out of my pocket, ready to add a twist.
Stepping behind her, I reached around, hugged her, then pulled her left hand free. “Melody, will you marry me?”
Her other hand gripped my arm. “I thought you’d never ask.”
I’d hoped for a yes, but her silly comment made me the happiest man alive. As soon as I slid the ring onto her finger she spun around and kissed me.
She pulled and stared at me. “Maybe there’s something to the wishing well after all.”
“How do you figure?”
"I wished for a man like you to sweep me off my feet. And that all of my feelings f
or you would find a healthy outlet. Not what I'd expected, but this works."
“You really wished for that?”
“Don’t judge. The whole cowboy thing was hitting me hard. I’d only been here a week or so. Plus I wished for a platonic relationship with you and to help Hailey with her vocal pursuits.”
“You certainly helped Hailey, but platonic, that one’s busted.”
“You’re my best friend. I’m going to count it as a win.”
She was right. We had the best friendship I’d had with anyone. I’d sensed it from the moment we met in the grocery store. And if I remembered correctly, Betty had detected it from the start, too. Melody was special. But her saying I was her best friend caught me off guard. I’d considered myself the luckiest guy in town, and wondered how she ended up with me. She was a true blessing. Having incredible sex was a bonus. “You’re up to four now. Anything else.”
“Four?”
“Wishes. Anymore?”
“That covers it. How many wishes did you make that night?”
“Only two.”
“Have they come true yet?”
“The first one was for guidance with Hailey. Guess you came along just in time.”
“And the second.”
How hokey was I going to sound? “I wished to marry you.”
Check out my author page:
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Take Care of Me Series
The Way You Are: Alpha Doctor and Amnesia Patient Romance (Take Care of Me Book 1)
Healing My Heart (Take Care of Me Book 2)
Virginal Valentine (Take Care of Me Book 3)
Desperate Pleasures: Lesbian for You (Take Care of Me Book 4) by Lily Lust
Hot Enough Series
Hot Enough Series Bundle
Crazy Enough: An Older Alpha Firefighter Romance (Hot Enough Book 4)
Lucky Enough: An Alpha Firefighter and Single Mom Romance (Hot Enough Book 3)
Nice Enough: An Older Alpha Firefighter, Opposites Attract Romance (Hot Enough Book 2)
Persistent Enough: Alpha Firefighter and BBW Romance (Hot Enough Book 1)
Morgan Brothers at the Beach Series
Alpha Billionaire Brothers Bundle: Morgan Brothers at the Beach
Convincing Her: An Alpha Billionaire and BBW Romance (Morgan Brothers at the Beach Book 3)
Protecting Her: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (Morgan Brothers at the Beach Book 2)
Winning Her: An Alpha Billionaire and BBW Romance (Morgan Brothers at the Beach Book 1)
Getting Wet on the Beach Series
Getting Wet on the Beach Bundle: Books 1-3: Alpha Males and Their Heroines Who Get What They Want
Surprise Virgin Seduction: A Missed Encounter Alpha Male Romance (Getting Wet on the Beach Book 3)
SEALed Seduction: A Navy SEAL Alpha Male, Second Chance Romance (Getting Wet on the Beach Book 2)
Single Dad Seduction: An Alpha Male Romance (Getting Wet on the Beach Book 1)
Hockey Match Hook Ups Duet
Stripping Him Down: An Alpha Male Meets His Match (Hockey Match Hook Ups Book 2)
Playing His Game: An Alpha Male Meets His Match (Hockey Match Hook Ups Book 1)
Tales of the Nightie Series
Tales of the Nightie: Novellas 1-4 Steamy Romance Bundle
Thankfully Yours: Saved by an Alpha Male (Tales of the Nightie Book 7)
My Lucky Halloween: A Brother's Best Friend Romance (Tales of the Nightie Book 6)
My Christmas Risk: A Curvy Girl Puts it All on the Line (Tales of the Nightie Book 5)
Logan and Vanessa: A Forced Proximity BBW Romance (Tales of the Nightie Book 4)
Jessica and Darius: She's Tired of Being Sweet (Tales of the Nightie Book 3)
Lachlan and Gypsy: An Opposites Attract Doctor and Spunky Girl Romance (Tales of the Nightie Book 2)
Alexis and Chris: A Forbidden Professor Student Relationship (Tales of the Nightie Book 1)
Anthologies
Country Wishes: Where wishes do come true
Leave Me Breathless: The Moonflower Collection
Dangerous Curves Ahead: An Anthology
Wickedly Ever After: An Anthology of Retold Tales
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US: My Christmas Risk
US: Nice Enough: An Older Alpha Firefighter, Opposites Attract Romance
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