Tyler gazed down at her with uneven breaths. “We don’t…” she covered his mouth with her fingers then replaced them with her lips.
When she pulled away, he smiled at her with his shoulders relaxed and the crease in his forehead gone. He tugged on her hand and led her to the sliding glass door leading to the fenced backyard with a large play structure that took up a large portion of the yard. Imagining Erica here brought tears to Katie’s eyes.
She turned and faced Tyler. “Whose house is this?”
He took her hands in his. “Ours, if you want it.”
“Really?” she asked breathlessly. He was doing it again. He was her giving tree.
“Yeah. The owner is a friend of mine. He was about to put it on the market, but if we want it, it’s ours.” He looked at her expectantly.
“I want,” she whispered then moved into his open arms. He lifted her up, swung her around, and planted a kiss on her lips before setting her back on her feet.
“I need you to answer a question for me.”
“Okay,” she said with barely contained excitement.
He knelt down on one knee. She covered her mouth with both hands as tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Will you…”
Oh God! Yes!
She nodded, but the words wouldn’t come out. He stood and wiped at her wet cheeks before pulling her in for a kiss. “I love you,” he said against her mouth.
“I love you,” she managed to say between kisses. She looked at this man and all she wanted was to be with him. To love him, kiss him, make love to him, and spend the rest of her life with him.
He took her hand and slid an antique engagement ring that had been passed down from his grandmother to his mother to him onto her finger.
“It’s beautiful,” she said in awe. It wasn’t just the beauty of the ring but what it meant that Tyler was putting it on her finger.
“You know what I think we should do?” she asked.
“What?’ his voice was low and gravely as his eyes took her in.
“I think we need to celebrate…in the bedroom. I mean there’s that big comfy bed, we wouldn’t want it to go to waste.”
“That would be a shame.” He bent down and lifted her up over his shoulder in a fireman hold, making her giggle. He chuckled as he took his time walking back inside to the bedroom. His hand snuck up the back of her dress higher, higher until he reached her damp panties. “Oh, Christ! I need you, Katie.”
Once inside the bedroom, he slowly let Katie slide down his body as he placed her back on her feet. One hand never left her thigh and the other circled her neck as he bent down to kiss her. “I swear you have the sexiest legs I’ve ever seen.” She felt his desire against her stomach, making her desperate to get him undressed.
The feel of his warm lips and the sound of his voice was her undoing. When their eyes met, Katie could see the lust and his desire. Her heart raced. She slid her hands up his chest and around his neck as she deepened the kiss. He released his hold around her neck and caressed her cheek. His other hand slid up until he reached the top of her zipper.
He took his time sliding it down and she could feel the slight graze of his hand down her back, covering her skin with goose bumps and making her stomach twist. He pushed the dress down and helped her step out of it. Kicking it away, Katie stood in front of him in just her bra and panties; she felt a wave of self-consciousness. Her initial instinct was to cover herself, but she let him look.
His pupils dilated and he released a deep breath. With just a look, he reaffirmed what she already knew: she was standing in front of the love of her life, the man who understood her more than anyone else and loved her even though at times she felt unlovable. They shared the same dream of living a life surrounded by love and family.
“You are beautiful. Every single sexy inch of you.” He leaned his forehead against hers and breathed out. “Let me love you.” His voice was tight and his hands trembled as they slid down her body, touching her in all the places she wanted to hide. His lips followed behind, whispering words of love as he worshiped her body. Every kiss and every touch she fell more in love with him.
They stripped each other bare physically and emotionally as they touched, loved, and worshiped each other. They gazed into each other’s eyes as they took turns coming.
In the beautiful aftermath, Tyler held onto Katie, tucking her just under his chin. She ran her hand down his chest while wondering how she had ever thought he was average looking.
He wasn’t overly muscular, and he didn’t have six-pack abs, but his body was lean and strong. His eyes were expressive, softening every time he said, “I love you,” or darkening right before he kissed her. He didn’t need to say the words; Katie felt it every time he looked, touched and kissed her.
Spending the rest of her life with this man wasn’t going to be nearly long enough, and she couldn’t wait until she could wake up next to him every morning. “Thank you for loving me,” she whispered.
He lightly grazed her cheek with his fingers. “I’ll love you forever, Katie.”
She left a few kisses on his chest before she made herself comfortable, lying across him. He didn’t seem to mind as he ran his hands through her hair, playing with ends.
“You hungry?”
“Yeah. For some reason I’m famished.” She giggled.
He grinned as he slid out of bed and pulled on his slacks. He picked up the picnic basket and placed it on the bed then grabbed the wine and glasses.
Once their hunger was sated, they cuddled and lazily kissed between talking about their future. Katie not so subtly asked, “You know who would love to see the house?”
He chuckled. “I’ll get her.” He sat up and was about to pick up his shirt when she got out of bed and jumped on him, wrapping her arms and legs around him, planting kisses all over his face. “Thank you! We’re the luckiest girls in the world.” His willingness to get Erica only made her love and desire him more.
They fell back on the bed in a fit of laughter, and she made sure to show him how much she loved and appreciated him.
An hour later, he walked out the door, promising he would be right back.
While he was gone, she explored the house a little more. She felt like she was walking on air and still couldn’t believe this wasn’t a dream.
They were going to fill this home with love and laughter and one day she hoped they would fill the third bedroom with another baby. She wasn’t in a hurry, but she did want to have a little Tyler around.
Katie walked out to the backyard and looked up into the darkened sky. Peace fell over her as she thought about how much her life had changed in a year. Katie wasn’t sure if she believed in destiny, but a part of her felt like it was the only way to explain how she ended up with Tyler. If she had never loved Eric, she might have never loved Tyler. She didn’t want to think about the possibility of not having him in her life.
She would never regret loving Eric or the love she still had for him. He gave her a precious gift, Erica, and Katie would always be grateful, but in her heart, Tyler was her forever and always.
When she heard the sliding glass door open behind her, she quickly wiped at her eyes and smiled when she turned to see Tyler holding her daughter and Bubba at his heels.
“Hey, are you okay?” his voice was just above a whisper making sure not to wake her daughter.
She nodded unable to speak. Seeing him holding and loving Erica touched Katie’s heart in places only Tyler could reach.
He came and stood next to her with his arm around her waist. “Just out here thinking?” he asked.
She gave him a watery smile. “That obvious?”
“Maybe a little.”
She leaned into his side and took one of Erica’s hands and kissed it. “What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“How lucky I am to have you and Erica.”
He looked into her eyes and smiled. “We’re a family.”
A loving warmth spread through her body. He was givi
ng her everything she had ever dreamed of. She reached up and ran her hands through his hair before lifting on her toes to give him a tender kiss. “I love you.”
Epilogue
June 2017
Tyler
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Tyler admired his wife of two hours dancing with a giggling Erica in her arms on the makeshift dance floor in their backyard. Nothing in the world could remove the perma-grin on his face, even the two men standing in front of him threatening his life and limbs.
Phillip with his sheer size and Billy’s physical rough exterior gave the impression that their threat should not be taken lightly, and Tyler didn’t. But he didn’t need threats to deter him from ever hurting Katie and Erica. They were his life.
This past year had been what Katie called ‘an adventure’. Once they closed on the house, they moved in and got under way making small updates. Every day, it felt more and more like a home. But he was pretty sure that had more to do with Katie and Erica.
They were his home.
Katie kept herself busy working a few shifts a week at The Coffee Pot, going to school part-time, and starting a popular mom blog and YouTube channel openly talking about their day-to-day issues of parenting a special needs child. Her hope was to help change the way the world saw people with disabilities, and he was incredibly proud to be her husband.
Katie’s infectious laugh broke through the chatter of their friends and family who came to help them celebrate. She and Erica looked beautiful in their matching white tea-length sundresses. They even wore matching eyeglasses. Once Erica had to wear glasses, Katie no longer wore her contacts even on special occasions.
Erica giggled at Alexis and Benji twirling around on the dance floor until Benji fell face first into the grass. That brought a round of laughter, including Jason’s, who seemed to smile a little easier lately.
“Did you hear us?” Billy questioned as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. His death stare was already making Tyler nervous.
“My Billy!” Katie said reproachfully. She walked toward them with Erica still in her arms. “Be nice to my husband.”
Phillip chuckled under his breath as he reached out for a wiggling Erica.
If Erica had a choice to have anyone hold her, it was usually Phillip. If they were in the same room together, they were inseparable. Three days a week, he took her to her physical and occupational therapy appointments. He called it Papa time and Erica loved it and threw a fit every time he dropped her off with Tracy who babysat her while Katie was in classes.
“My Sweets, I’m just making sure we’re on the same page.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, my Billy.”
He closed his eyes and held her in his arms. “Watching you grow up is hard.”
“I know.” She patted his chest then moved to give Phillip a hug.
A six-month pregnant Bridget waddled up to them, carrying Will, who she handed off to Billy. “Your turn,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “I can’t keep up with him.” Billy happily took his rambunctious son from her and gently kissed her on the lips then lovingly rubbed her belly. “How you feeling, sweetheart?”
She smiled up at him and placed her hands over his. “I’m tired, but good.”
This coming year was bringing big changes for them. Not only were they expecting another baby boy, but they were in the process of selling the diner. It was bittersweet for Billy, Bridget, and Katie, but they agreed that it was time. Plus, Bridget and Billy could hardly stand being so far away from their grandchild.
“Do you guys mind if I borrow my wife? I haven’t had a chance to dance with her yet.”
Katie jumped into his arms grinning ear to ear. “I’m your wife!” she squealed.
Tyler felt his heart expand with the amount of love he felt for her. Katie took his hand and pulled him on to the dance floor filled with his nephews jumping wildly around to the music. The moment Katie waved her hand at the deejay he changed the music to a slow song and the boys magically disappeared but not before a chorus of moans filled the air.
The grown-ups quickly took over the space. Alexis and Jason shuffled side to side with their arms around each other looking like two twelve-year-olds at a Junior High dance.
Tracy and Jeff danced up to them, using their newly learned ballroom dancing skills. They let go of one another long enough to give Tyler and Katie a kiss on the cheek. Tears pooled in Tracy’s eyes. “I’m so happy for both of you. I believe Eric would be glad that his best friend and his best girl are happy together.”
Tyler got choked up as Katie expressed her love for them. “Thank you for making me a part of your family.”
Jeff wiped at his eyes and cleared his throat, breaking the cry fest that Tracy and Katie started. “We should let the newlyweds dance,” he said, putting his arms around his wife.
Tyler watched Jeff and Tracy look at one another with a mixture of love and sadness. He knew the feeling. He was crazy in love with Katie but knew the only way they could have been together was because of Eric.
Tyler held Katie tight against his chest, swaying back and forth. With each inhale he felt everyone around them disappear. It was just him and her. He had been looking forward to this day since before he asked her to marry him.
When the song came to a close, Katie led him off the dance floor and into a hidden part of the yard. Grinning, they reached for each other to kiss, hinting of what they had planned to do in a few hours when they were to start their honeymoon.
Each time they kissed, he felt more connected and fell more in love with her. She opened up to him, letting him taste her. She ran her hands through his hair, making it impossible to hold back a moan.
When she pulled back to look into his eyes, he knew he could move mountains as long as she was by his side.
“I’ve only been your wife for two hours and it’s already the best two hours of my life.” Happy tears fell down her cheeks.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I never imagined I would be this happy or feel so much love—until us.”
THE END
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Acknowledgments
Thank you, my husband for being supportive.
Thank you, kids for cheering me on, giving me hugs and telling me you’re proud of me.
Thank you, Carrie for staying up late with me to work out character issues even when you have to get up early the next day.
Thank you, Liz for fitting me into your schedule even though I had to push back editing multiple times.
Thank you my readers who have sent me sweet messages. You have no idea what it means to me especially on days I struggle.
Thank you, my sister who has always paved the way, taught me how to be brave and to follow my heart.
Thank you, Jason for reminding me what’s important. I love you and I miss you.
About the Author
When I’m not writing, I’m riding on the back of my husband’s motorcycle or hanging out with my four kids. I love my family, reading, writing, napping and sunshine. Not always in that order.
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Books In Series
Until Now- Until Novel book 1
When a pregnant girl shows up at a diner alone with very little money, she changes her life and that of the owner.
Then: Sixteen‑year-old Bridget Larson was no stranger to heartbreak. When she found herself pregnant and alone, a flashing neon sign changed her fate. Bridget discovered the love and belonging she craved in strangers at a fifties‑style diner.
Twenty-four-year-old Billy Hall struggled with his own grief. He was wandering Europe in search of his purpose in life when he received a call that would leave him saddled with his family’s diner. It was a noose around his neck until a pregnant teenager stumbled in hungry and scared. Inexplicably drawn to the girl, he had no idea the purpose he traveled the world to find was simply waiting for him to come home.
Now: After spending years repressing their feelings for each other Bridget and Billy's life is about to change again. The baby who brought them together is leaving for college today. Is she taking their last reason to stay in each other’s lives or giving them a reason to finally admit their love?
* * *
Until Here- Until Novella book 1.5
After getting their hearts broken, will this couple give love a second chance.
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After a failed marriage Melanie Campbell quit a career she loved, friends she shared with her husband and her social life. She spent three years burying herself in her job avoiding living her life until one evening her boss told her to take a month off or she’s fired.
Ready to find love again, Preston Reed was going home after spending the past two years working through the pain of a broken heart.
What started as a chance meeting at a hotel bar began to feel like fate. Their connection was instant and nothing either expected.
Until Us Page 23
