by Mandy Morgan
“I’m sorry about earlier,” I started, feeling my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions, but I don’t have the best track record with relationships. Of any kind. I can’t even manage to keep female friends, which is why pets have become such a big part of my life.”
At this, I looked down at Slash and smiled. He was sitting at my feet, his big red head in my lap, looking up at me as if I was the best thing since the invention of the squeaky toy.
I was afraid that Daniel might try to jump in and reassure me before I’d even really gotten started, but he just sat and watched me with a look of admiration not unlike the one his dog was wearing.
“Love was never a priority in my family,” I continued. “My parents cared more about work and education than they did about each other. Or me, for that matter. And guys have always either ignored me because I didn’t look like a cheerleader, or only wanted one thing from me.”
I glanced at Daniel and saw that he now looked as if he wanted to kick someone’s ass. My gaze moved to my hands, sitting twisted together in my lap. I didn’t want to upset him, but I knew I had to get all of this off my chest.
“I really care about you, Daniel, and I want things to work out for us. But I’m afraid that I might be too broken already, and that I’ll just keep messing up, like I did when I misunderstood you this afternoon.”
I felt better having put my fear into words, but the dead silence from Daniel sent a chill down my spine. I risked another glance at him, and I saw that he was still staring at me, but he no longer looked angry.
“Thank you for sharing that with me, sweetness,” he said softly and squeezed my hand. “You’re not the only one that’s afraid, you know.”
Daniel took a deep breath. “My family was always big on appearances. They cared more about what other people thought of us than damn near anything else. I guess that’s why we were never really close.”
“Sure, my mother wanted me to come for dinner on Thanksgiving,” he continued with a smirk. “But when she realized it didn’t matter as much now that I’m almost forty, she ditched me at the last second for a romantic getaway with my father.”
Daniel shrugged. “That’s a big part of why I moved to a small town, instead of staying in the city where most of my clients are. I just wanted to get away from all of that pretense. I guess you could say I was never big on families either.”
I felt my heart go out to Daniel. He looked so sad and vulnerable that I wanted to kiss away his pain, but I had a feeling he wasn’t finished yet, so I sat and waited, satisfying myself with gently rubbing his thumb with mine.
“Maybe that’s why I never even looked for a wife or wanted to start a family of my own,” Daniel said with a sad smile. “I’m afraid of failing too, Cora, but things are different now that I have you in my life.”
Daniel pulled me into his arms. “You’re perfect for me, inside and out, and you make taking the risk of getting hurt worth every difficult damn second. I love you, sweetness.”
I leaned back just far enough from Daniel’s embrace to look him in the eyes. “And I love you. Let’s take the leap together, what do you say?”
“Hell, I say it’s free fall time!” Daniel laughed and lifted me up into his arms, making me squeal as he carried me toward the bedroom, and the start of our future together.
Epilogue
Cora
“Did you remember the pumpkin pie? Your mother said it’s your dad’s favorite.”
I felt Daniel’s arms slip around me from behind, and I leaned back to rest my head on his chest. It had been a year since our first night together, but I still reveled in the feel of his flesh against mine.
“How did you know I was here? I was trying to surprise you, dammit.”
I turned around and kissed my husband and then gave him a teasing smile. “Sweetie, you haven’t been able to surprise me since you caught me in your tub.”
Daniel laughed. “And you’re never going to let that happen again, am I right?”
“You’re exactly right, as usual,” I said before turning back to the stuffing. “Now, please tell me you got the pumpkin pie.”
“Have I ever let you down? Of course, I got the pie, and I even picked up some fresh whipped cream while I was at it.”
“You’re the best. Gold star for you, Mr. Anderson.”
“Better watch it, Mrs. Anderson,” Daniel said and slapped me on the rear.
“Behave yourself,” I squealed. “You don’t want to start anything we don’t have time to finish. The whole gang will be here soon.”
“I still can’t believe we’re hosting Thanksgiving this year,” he said with a sigh. “It seems like a fever dream, doesn’t it?”
“Something like that,” I laughed, and then I heard a cry coming from the baby monitor on the counter next to my mixing bowl. “Can you go and grab the princess, please? I swear, she knows when her daddy is home, and she won’t be happy and until you’re holding her.”
“What can I say,” Daniel said as he headed for the nursery with a wink. “I just have a way with the women in your family. Even your mother loves me!”
He had me on that one. It was like he was the kryptonite both of my parents needed to break out of their selfish shells.
Once so cold and distant, after they’d heard I’d married Daniel and I was expecting their grandchild, we could hardly keep them away. And I had to admit that I was enjoying finally having a real family.
What had started so hot and heavy with me and Daniel only got hotter. In fact, I grew so head over heels in love with him so fast, almost everything other than him and work slipped my mind.
Which was how I ended up forgetting a pill or two, and wound up pregnant not long after we met. Once he found out he was going to be a father, Daniel put a beautiful ring on my finger, and we were married before I even began to show.
Our little bundle of joy turned out to be the glue that both of our families needed to finally come together as one big, loving unit. Daniel and I were both closer than ever with our parents, and we still couldn’t get enough of each other.
Just as I was putting the finishing touches on dinner, I felt a nudge against my leg and looked down with a smile to find Slash looking up at me hopefully.
“Don’t worry, buddy. You know your mama wouldn’t forget you. I made you a special plate.”
Slash wagged his whole bottom with pleasure, and then hurried out of the room to check on his two other most favorite people in the nursery.
He was such a sweet dog, and so good with the baby that he’d even managed to win over Daniel’s mother, who no longer insisted that he be caged when she came over.
It turns out that Slash was also wonderful with other dogs, and I started taking him along with me on my pet sitting appointments not long after I moved in with Daniel.
I’d already known the Doberman was a wonderful judge of character, which was why I had him sit in on my interviews to find a helper for Cora’s Critter Sitting, once the business had grown so big that I could no longer handle the demand by myself.
Right as the doorbell rang to announce at least one set of guests had arrived, Daniel came out of the nursery carrying our baby girl, with Slash hot on his trail. My heart felt so full at the sight of them all, I was almost worried that it might burst.
“Ready for our first traditional Thanksgiving together, sweetness?” My husband asked as he met me at the front door with a smile.
“More than ready,” I replied with a smile of my own. “But something tells me none of them will ever beat the first one.”
“How could any Thanksgiving ever compete with that one?” Daniel asked before giving me a long kiss over the baby’s head.
“They couldn’t,” I replied softly. “No other day will ever be as good as the one where I fell for the love of my life.”
And with that, I opened the door to welcome our family into our blissful home to enjoy a very happy Thanksgiving together.
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You might also enjoy these other books by Mandy Morgan…
All Mine (Real Men Crave Curves Book 1)
Takeover (Real Men Crave Curves Book 2)
For Keeps (Real Men Crave Curves Book 3)
Alpha Cravings (Real Men Crave Curves Books 1-3)
Restored (Real Men Crave Curves Book 4)
Saved (Real Men Crave Curves Book 5)
Healed (Real Men Crave Curves Book 6)
Alpha Longings (Real Men Crave Curves Books 4-6)
Safe Haven Stables (Curves & Cowboys 1)
Second Chance Ranch (Curves & Cowboys 2)
Ranch Hand Wanted (Curves & Cowboys Book 3)
Roped By Love (Curves & Cowboys Books 1-3)
About the Author
Mandy Morgan writes sweet (and often steamy) stories about sassy women and strong, sexy men with big hearts.
When Mandy’s not writing or reading love stories, she’s probably playing with her pups or feeding her caffeine addiction.
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