by J P Sayle
The wealth of emotions surging through me prevented me from being able to blink back tears so they slid down my face. I swiped at them, rubbing my eyes in order to clear my blurred vision. Willow was the first to turn around and spot me, her face lighting up brighter than the tree behind her.
“Surprise Dad,” she shouted at the top of her lungs, Tiny and Neil turning to stare at her.
My emotions of a moment ago were nothing in comparison to hearing that one word… Dad. My throat closed over, refusing to give air entry into my body. My hands lifted before falling back to my sides uselessly as I attempted to deal with my feelings. It was through watery eyes that I saw Tiny step behind Willow and bend to whisper in her ear.
My stomach flip flopped as Tiny’s eyes met mine a second before Willow came running up the garden towards me. I got down on my knees and opened my arms to her.
She flew into them, wrapping her chubby arms around my neck and clinging on for dear life. “It’s alright for me’s to call’s ya Dad, isn’t it’s? I’s discussed it with’s Daddy and he says it’s okay’s. I’s told him I’s a lucky girl to have two daddies, is dat’s what I’s got?”
Her head tilted and her eyes filled with hope as she stared at me. I was grateful that I’d knelt because I was no longer sure I could stand. My whole body shook as I held the precious gift that someone had deemed I deserved.
I buried my face in her sweet-smelling hair. How could I not love her? How could anyone reject such a gift? Not me, that was for sure. “I’m the lucky one, bean sprout. I get to come home and find a little Christmas fairy living right next door to me. I’d be honored to be your Dad.” My choked words received a giggle, her gentle hands tracing the hair at the nape of my neck.
“We’s both lucky as we’s got Daddy to share,” she whispered, causing my heart to constrict further in my chest.
The emotional blows just kept on coming and I wasn’t sure I was ever going to recover. I lifted my tear-stained face, needing to see Tiny, needing him to know that I’d honor the gift he’d given me. I might have mourned the loss of Christmases past, but this was something I’d never forget. He gave me a smile which melted my insides, leaving nothing but a gooey mess where my heart had once been.
“You’ve been keepin’ secrets from me?” I accused, but without any heat. My lips twitched at the sight of the beautiful shade of pink which invaded his cheeks. Was that why he’d distracted me the other night in the kitchen? He shifted uncomfortably confirming my suspicions and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Just a couple, but your reaction when you saw the garden was worth all the effort.” He gave me a big, silly grin that I couldn’t help but respond to.
“Some of us want to eat sometime this century, when you two have quite finished having this conversation,” Neil complained, but his eyes looked decidedly damp as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his low-slung shorts.
A grin spread across my face. “You sentimental ole fool,” I quipped back, managing to stand with Willow in my arms.
Her tiny hands grasped my face and she held onto my cheeks while puckering up. “I’s never got a kissy, Dad.” She pouted, making both Tiny and Neil laugh.
“That’s Daddy’s girl.”
I rolled my eyes at Tiny before giving Willow the kiss she’d demanded and then I stepped over to Tiny and gave him a quick kiss too.
He made a small sound of disappointment as I pulled away so I gave him a saucy wink. “Later,” I mouthed, maintaining eye contact to convey that I’d be giving him a lot more than a quick kiss later.
His lips curled back into a smile. “I’ll be holding you to that,” he whispered into my ear before spinning around and heading down the garden and over to the table where Neil was eyeing the food like he hadn’t eaten in days.
“Come on’s Dad, we’s need to get some food’s before Uncle Neil eats it all. Or before the other’s get here’s.”
Willow’s words drew my gaze back to her. “Others?”
“Yes. Uncle Andy and Del. We’s can’t have Christmas without them, can we’s?” She said it as if I was being stupid, the way only a child could do.
“You’re right, we can’t, bean sprout.” I tweaked her nose before joining Tiny at the table. The array of food made my mouth water as I took a seat, perching Willow on my lap.
I fixed Willow a plate and was about to tuck into the food I’d piled on my own plate when there was the sound of an engine stopping. Tiny’s gaze moved in that direction and he grinned. I glanced over in time to see Del and Andy come strolling around the side of the house. I glared at Andy. “Thanks for the extra work, dickwad. You could have at least taken it easy on me.”
“Dat’s a bad word, Dad” Willow chastised, making everyone laugh.
“Sorry bean sprout,” I said sheepishly, giving Andy a ‘you’ll pay for that later,’ look.
Andy’s brow furrowed as he glanced between me and Willow, his eyes lighting up with a mixture of joy and amusement. “What fun would that have been, Dad? I was given strict instructions to keep you busy so that Tiny could get everything set up. I did as I was told.” He chuckled, slapping my shoulder and knocking me forward as he moved past me. I hadn’t failed to notice the emphasis on the word Dad, but I let it slide as he didn’t seem too bothered by the new turn of events.
Tiny sighed as he shifted closer to me on the bench while giving his brother a hard stare which he completely ignored.
I eyed Neil suspiciously. “You had a hand in this big secret too?”
He shrugged, showing no remorse as he didn’t bother to answer, continuing to shovel food into his mouth instead.
Del held up his hands. “Don’t look at me! I only found out this morning when Andy invited me for Christmas lunch. There was no way I was turning that down.”
As the afternoon wore on, I listened to Willow chatter about how they’d made Christmas for me in July—of all things. My… daughter had gone out of her way to replace the memories of the last few years with special ones. My eyes stung as I looked at the two people who had become the most important people in my life in such a short time.
I have a daughter. I have a daughter. Fuck, and a beautiful man in my life.
It might not be Christmas, but it sure as hell felt like it with the bounty of gifts I’d received. I’d take… what was it Tiny had called it in the beautiful book he’d given me? Christmas beyond Christmas, that was it. Yeah, I’d take that. Because nothing could compete with the priceless gift they’d given me... the gift of family.
Will
I propelled Tiny and myself onto the hammock, a smile playing on my lips as I watched Willow giggle as she talked to Andy. Andy had arrived half an hour earlier, looking pissed off, Willow playing with her dolls at the time.
He’d been close-mouthed when Tiny had asked what was wrong. His headshake and sour expression had made Tiny shut his mouth and leave Andy to it. When he’d lowered himself to the grass to stretch out next to Willow, I’d had Tiny all to myself. For me, it was a win-win situation. Willow had company and Tiny was now pressed up against me.
He stirred, his head tilting back so he could look at me. His brows furrowed giving him a perplexed look—something that had become quite familiar over the last few days. My stomach clenched as he opened his mouth but then closed it with only a sigh.
“What is it? You’ve been wearing that same expression on and off for days. Ya startin’ to worry me.”
He stared at me for a while, his expression wary. I kept silent, willing him to talk about whatever was bothering him.
The last two months had been all but perfect as we’d meshed our lives together. I’d moved most of my clothes into Tiny’s bedroom and every day something else migrated from my home to his. Was I moving too fast for him? Did he want to spend less time with me?
They were only a few of the questions I frequently asked myself as my unease kept growing. Maybe he didn’t want me the same way I wanted him?
Don’t be daft. He loves y
ou.
That thought warmed me like no other. I loved recalling the first time he’d ever uttered those words to me. We’d been sitting, much as we were now, spending some quiet time together while Willow was playing with friends. I thought I’d burst with happiness at hearing those three words—I love you.
How could those words change everything and make a world appear brighter? It didn’t matter that I couldn’t come up with an answer, all that mattered was that the memory was now tucked safely in my heart, along with the first time Willow had called me Dad and claimed me as hers.
“My parents called a few days ago. They’ll be coming home next week,” he said in a rush.
Why would that make him look like someone had died?
My brows drew together as I racked my brain, trying to work out why that would be a… well, shit! Once his parents were back, I’d not be able to stay in the house. There was no way we could… fucking hell!
“See, now you get it! I’ve been trying to come up with a solution for days.” He shook his head. “But with Neil living here and my parents next door neither place is an option, and I don’t want to go sneaking about in the middle of the night. We’ve been living together… I can’t go back. I don’t want to,” he complained, sounding defeated.
“Then what about we find a place for Neil… or for us?” The question popped out before I could think about it. But as the idea formed, I couldn’t find a damn thing wrong with it. “It might be easier if Neil moves out. I’m sure ya parents won’t want ya moving away from them.”
“Could we ask Neil to move out?” There was hope and guilt on Tiny’s face as he chewed his lower lip.
“If we come up with a place for him to move to, I don’t see why not.” As I said it, I recalled one of the ranch hands mentioning he had a spare room he was looking to rent out. “Adam mentioned he was looking for a roomie. What about if I speak to him before we talk to Neil about this?”
Tiny nodded tentatively, the guilt on his face now replaced by optimism.
“We’ll work it out. You, me and Willow, we’re a family, and it’s time to make that permanent—”
“What the heck are you sayin’?” he screeched, his face turning bright pink.
“What do ya think I’m sayin’?” I asked, struggling to keep the grin off my face.
He pushed at my chest. “Stop messin with me—”
He got no further as I tugged him down to kiss his pouting mouth. Only once he was breathless and pliant did I release his mouth. His dazed, starry eyes and swollen mouth made my ears buzz.
I cupped his cheeks and without breaking eye contact whispered, “Will you marry me?”
His eyes turned dewy and his lips trembled. “Yes,” he replied in a breathy whisper.
There was a cough and I glanced up to find both Willow and Andy staring at us with their mouths wide open. “Well, that’s a first,” I chuckled.
Tiny grinned, glancing between his brother and his daughter. “We left them speechless. Quick! Grab my phone and record it because Neil will never believe it.”
“Ha ha ha,” Andy muttered.
“Ya not’s funny, Daddy,” Willow said, but then spoiled it by giggling.
Tiny turned back to me. “Ya do know what you’re taking on?” he said in mock seriousness.
“‘A’s family, Daddy. A’s family.”
I grinned at Willow. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Standalone
When Fake Changed Everything
Series by the Author
Potters Creek
A Christmas Wish (Book One)
The App Series
The App: Daddy Kink (book one)
The App: Littles (book two)
Flamingo Bar
Always More (The Flamingo Bar Book 1)
La Trattoria Di Amore Series
Puzzle Pieces (Book One)
Dominated but not Subdued (Book Two)
The Playroom Series
Mine, Body and Soul: Part One
Mine, Body and Soul: Part Two
Mine, Body and Soul: Part Three
Mine, Body and Soul Trilogy
Ferron’s Journey, Part One: Damaged, The Playroom Series (book four)
Release June 4th 2020
Ferron's Journey: Part Two Hidden
Release July 17th 2020
The Manx Cat Guardians Series
Boxset
Where it all Began: Origins (Book 1)
Seeing Beyond the Scars (Book 2)
Destiny Collides Past and Present (Book 3)
Searching for a Soul to Love (Book 4)
The 12 Disasters of Christmas (Book 5)
Laws of Attraction (Book 6)
The Teacher’s Boy (Book 7)
Audio Books
Mine, Body and Soul, Part One: The Playroom Series
Narrator Matt Haynes
Mine, Body and Soul, Part Two: The Playroom Series
Narrator Matt Haynes
Mine, Body and Soul, Part Three: The Playroom Series
Narrator Matt Haynes
The App (Daddy Kink) – Book one
Narrator Matt Haynes
Always More (The Flamingo Bar Book 1)
Narrator Matt Haynes
When Fake Changed Everything
Narrator Matt Haynes
Hi all,
My name is Jayne and I live in the Isle of Man. A tiny place in the Irish sea. It’s an island steeped in folklore and history and just begs to have stories written about it, and one of my true inspirations.
I’ve been happily married for over 25 years to a wonderfully complicated man, and I have a wonderful daughter with two very young grandbabies. I am also an identical twin, so if you see me, check, as it may not be me.
I have written contemporary and historical gay romance with a paranormal twist, daddy kink, fake boyfriends, out for you and enemies to lovers. My head is so full of ideas. I never know where it will take me next. I have a twelve book plan for this year and already I’ve a few new ones bubbling inside me waiting to be written ☺
I hope you have enjoyed this book, and if you are in need of more, then you can find all my other books, on Amazon and in KU.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
About This Book
Dedication
