by M. A. Foster
I throw my arms around his neck. “I love you so much, Cole Mackenzie. My heart is so full it could burst.” I pull back to meet his gaze. “Do you think it’s wrong? You know….”
“Because of Jade?”
“Yeah. If she were still alive—”
“Harper, I’m not trying to diminish Jade’s character because she was Willow’s mother, but I didn’t even know her. And she didn’t know me. I was a fifteen-year-old kid who got drunk and hooked up with a college girl. That’s all. Even if she were here right now, I seriously doubt we would be anything more than two strangers who share a daughter.”
“I feel like I’m stealing the life she should’ve had,” I admit.
“Harper, stop.” He bends at the knees and scoops me into his arms, carrying me bridal-style to the bedroom where he gently sets me on my feet and proceeds to unzip my bridesmaid’s dress. It falls into a puddle on the floor and he holds out a hand to help me step out of it, then twirls me around to face him.
Suddenly it hits me like a wave of déjà vu. How many times have we done this?
Since our first date, I thought I was dancing in the rain. When actually, I’d been dancing in the eye of the storm.
Whether it’s standing on a sidewalk, the middle of a dancefloor and half-naked in the bedroom, this is our dance. Slow and seductive.
“Do you believe in fate?” he asks as he leans forward, pressing a kiss just below my ear before dropping to one knee.
“I guess. Do you?” He smooths his hands slowly up my legs, hooking his fingers into my panties and sliding them down to my ankles. Using his shoulders for balance, I lift my right foot, then my left, stepping out of my panties before he tosses them over his shoulder.
“Most guys don’t really buy into the whole fate bullshit.” He guides me over to the bed and gestures for me to lie back before he begins unbuckling the strap of my heel.
Well, this is new. Usually he likes for me to keep the heels on.
He must see the confusion on my face and that cocky smirk appears. “We’re going bare tonight, Harper. I want every inch of your naked skin pressed against mine.” He tosses one heel, followed by the other, over his shoulder to join my dress and panties on the floor. “The first time I ever even heard the word ‘fate’ was from Uncle Marcus.” I suck in a deep breath, watching as he deftly unbuttons his tuxedo shirt. “According to him, the day he met Emerson was the first time he believed in fate.”
“How so?” I press my thighs together, attempting to ease the need to have him inside me again.
“He missed his flight to LA because he was hooking up with a woman and lost track of time. His bandmates left without him, so he had to wait for the next available flight. Where he was seated right beside Emerson.”
My heart twists in my chest.
“He told me that by the time their flight landed at LAX, he’d fallen in love with her. A week later they eloped.”
I didn’t think there was a more perfect love story than Zach and Jay being in love since they were kids. Jay told me that her family flipped when they found out Emerson had eloped with a rock star, but hearing their story from Cole’s point of view, it sounds like Marcus and Emerson had the perfect love story.
The bed dips, pulling me from my thoughts as Cole’s naked body stretches over me and settles between my thighs.
He props himself up on his elbows and looks down at me. “You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think this is our fate.” He lowers his head and presses a soft kiss to my stomach and works his way up to my lips. “If Jade were still alive, yes, things would probably be different. But fate stepped in and did her thing. People got hurt, lives changed, but in the end, we survived. We’re meant to be. Don’t feel guilty for being with or for loving me. I believe Jade would want you to be happy. For Willow to be happy.”
I curl my arms around his neck. “I am happy. So happy.”
“Me, too.” He grins as he slides into me. “Can you feel how happy I am?” he asks, rotating his hips, grinding himself deeper.
I throw my head back and let out a loud moan.
He pulls my arms from around his neck, clasping our hands together and pinning them to the mattress on each side of my head. “Watch us, Harper.” I tilt my head up to watch as he thrusts into me slowly. “Do you see how perfect we fit? This is meant to be, Harper. This is our fate.”
For the rest of the night and into the early morning, Cole makes love to me with nothing between us, every inch of our naked skin touching.
“AHPEE!” WILLOW CALLS out as she runs toward me with her arms outstretched. I squat to catch her, hugging her to my chest, and she throws her arms around my neck. “Where yous goin’?”
“I’m going to visit my dad, but I’ll be back in a couple of weeks,” I promise. “Be a good girl for Cole, okay?” I feel her nod. I pull my head back and pepper her entire face with kisses. “I love you, Willow. So much. You know that, right?”
She nods again, the big toothy smile on her face making my heart ache and beat harder at the same time.
“Ahpee?”
“What, baby?” I ask, giving one of her ponytails a playful tug.
“Will yous be my mommy?”
I go still and a sharp exhale forces its way past my lips. My feet give out under me, my knees rock forward, and I drop down on the pavement with my butt resting on my heels.
My blurry gaze moves over Willow’s shoulder to Cole who’s wearing his usual cocky smirk. He raises his brows as if to say, ‘I’m waiting.’
This guy.
Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I smile at Willow. “Do you really want me to be your mommy?” My gaze moves to Cole again, then back to Willow.
She nods again.
“Then yes, I’ll be your mommy. I would love to be your mommy.”
Willow swivels around to face Cole. “Co, hers says yes! Can we give hers the pwesent now?”
I can’t help but snort.
Cole moves forward and drops down on his knees, mirroring me. “I meant what I said, Harper. I love you. Everything that’s happened up to this point is meant to be. I’m not asking for us to get married tomorrow, or even next year, but I am asking to be your future. Willow’s future. We want you, forever.” He pulls a small red box from his pocket and opens it. “Will you be our forever and marry us?”
I can barely see his face through the tears as I lunge forward and wrap my arms around his neck. Willow squeals with laughter.
“Yes.” My answer is muffled against his neck. “I’ll be your forever.”
Five years later
“OH MY GOD, Cole, yes! Right there!” Harper moans loudly as I work my magic fingers. “Fuck, that feels good.”
I chuckle. “Shhh. Language. You’re gonna wake everybody up.”
“I don’t care, Cole. Don’t stop.”
“What are you guys doing?” Willow asks as she walks into the living room half-asleep, rubbing her eyes. Her long dark hair is a tangled mess, and I cringe. I’m not looking forward to the battle that awaits Harper when she attempts to tame that beast.
“I’m giving your mom a foot massage.”
She crawls up on the sofa and settles at the opposite end, propping one of her feet in my lap and presses the other against Harper’s.
Harper and I got married nearly three years to the day that I proposed, and we just celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary. Harper wanted to wait until we were old enough to drink champagne at our wedding.
Unfortunately for Harper, she never did get that glass of champagne because she was pregnant with our daughter Quinn.
“Will you do mine next, Daddy?” Willow asks, and I look over at Harper.
Harper jerks her chin, silently telling me to go for it, knowing she’ll be out in less than five minutes.
Yes, Willow calls me Daddy.
It was weird at first, and it took some time to get used to hearing it.
For Willow and for me.
<
br /> But last year, after our daughter Quinn Avery Mackenzie was born, Harper put her foot down. That was also when Harper and I decided it was time to talk to Willow about Jade. Or as Willow calls her, her angel mommy.
Although I didn’t know Jade very well, Harper points out certain mannerisms in Willow that remind her of Jade.
Quinn is the spitting image of Harper, red hair, green eyes, and all. She’s the sweetest baby, and she hardly ever cries.
Willow loves being a big sister, and she’s been a big help to Harper.
Especially with Harper being nine months pregnant with our second child. A son.
Not gonna lie, I’m fuckin’ stoked. Don’t get me wrong, I love my girls, but I’m gonna need more testosterone under this roof.
Harper’s miserable, hence the foot massage, but she’s never more beautiful than she is when she’s pregnant.
Her eyes are brighter.
Her smile is bigger.
Her skin glows.
And hell, if she isn’t horny twenty-four seven.
Bonus for me.
However, pregnancy isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
She burps like a college frat boy.
Farts like an elephant.
And she grabs her crotch every time she sneezes, as if it’s going to stop her from peeing her pants.
Doesn’t make me love her any less. It actually makes me respect her more for sacrificing her gorgeous body to carry my babies.
“Did you RSVP for the reunion next month?” I whisper because, just as we suspected, Willow is out.
“Yes, and we’re staying at Jay’s,” she tells me.
Last year, my senior year of college, I was drafted by the New York Knights just as Harper was finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Harper’s mother was an art teacher, and Harper shares her mother’s love for art and all things beautiful. However, she chose to be a stay-at-home mom over teaching. Honestly, I’m relieved at her decision to be here for the kids, but I wouldn’t hold her back from doing what she loves.
“My parents are going to want us to stay with them so they can spoil their grandkids.”
It’s hard on everyone with us being thousands of miles away from home, but Jay constantly reminds us all that she has a plane and can bring us home whenever we want.
Speaking of home, we’re currently living in Jay’s penthouse in New York City. The thought of house hunting with a newborn in a fast-paced, foreign city nearly sent Harper running back to Heritage Bay. The penthouse gives her a sense a familiarity and makes her feel closer to Jay.
Our building is secure, and there’s a team of security always on stand-by in case we ever need them. And Willow attends a private school just a few blocks away, within walking distance.
“I’ve already talked to them and they’re fine with it.” She winks. “There’s more space and privacy in the apartment.” She gives me a knowing smile. “And besides, your parents and Aiden have been spoiling them all week.”
My parents and my not-so-little brother Aiden have been here for the past week, eagerly waiting for our son, Caden Maxwell Mackenzie, to make his debut into the world.
Harper’s father, Patrick, and his family are coming tomorrow.
“You know we can’t have sex for eight weeks after the baby,” I remind her.
Harper pushes out her bottom lip in a playful pout. “Six. But we can still play,” she offers.
“Someone is feeling frisky tonight.”
Who am I to say no?
“Wait here.” Lifting her legs from my lap, I stand from the sofa and scoop Willow into my arms, cradling her to my chest as I carry her to her room. As I tuck her in, I drop a kiss to her cheek and brush the rat’s nest away from her face.
Suddenly it hits me like an arrow to the heart.
My little girl is growing up.
Willow was my first love.
The day she came into my life, I instantly fell in love with her. It took me some time to adjust and make sense of what happened to my life and why.
But thinking back to the days when it was just me and my baby girl, we had a bond that no one can ever compare to. Willow changed me. She molded me into a better man. Into the father that she deserves, that her siblings deserve. And the husband Harper deserves.
Maybe it was fate that brought Willow and Harper into my life. Who knows? I’d like to think Uncle Marcus has been watching over us, protecting us and guiding us toward each other. His words “even our biggest mistakes turn out to be the most beautiful blessings,” ring true in my mind, and every day I thank God for choosing me to be her dad.
My gaze shifts to the black-and-white photo of Jade, which Harper proudly hung over Willow’s bed. It’s a photo Harper took of a very pregnant Jade, looking down at her hands resting on her bare stomach.
She looks very much like an angel.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
This book was so hard to write for so many reasons. But I’m glad I did. At first, I couldn’t connect with Cole and Harper. Cole was an asshole and Harper was just… blah. So, I pushed their story aside and started a whole other series.
But they came back.
And I listened to their story.
Then I cried over these two perfectly imperfect people who truly deserved a happily ever after.
So, I gave them one.
There are so many people to thank for accompanying me along this journey. First, thank you to all the readers out there who have taken a chance on me. I write these stories for you.
Thank you to my family for all your support. To my husband, for keeping me fed, caffeinated and hydrated while I’m writing, I love you. Thank you to my boys, Matt and Ryan. And to Taylor, my future daughter.
Thank you, Kim Deister, Jessi Gibson and Kathleen Payne for being my first eyes on Cole and Harper’s story.
Thank you to my brother, Ruben Carbonell, for an amazing book cover. It’s so perfect for this story. And to Robin Harper at Wicked By Design for the additional artwork.
Thank you to the ladies at Hot Tree Editing, Becky, Donna, Kristin, Mandy, and Kolleen.
Kolleen, you’re tough with your beta feedback but it’s exactly what I needed. Thank you, Mandy, for your final eyes and the mental hugs when a certain someone *cough Kollen cough* shredded me with her beta feedback. I love you ladies.
Thank you to Angela at Fictional Formats.
Thank you to my best bitches. You know who you are. I love you girls with all my heart. Thank you for being patient with me and not writing me off as your friend, when I’ve been too busy trying to meet deadlines. We’ll always have our movie dates.
Leigh Craig, I’m going to miss you and our days of jewelry making. I hope you’ll continue to read my books, even if they’re unedited and you’re hundreds of miles away.
Louise Rogers-Thomas, my PA and beautiful swag maker. Thank you for putting up with my squirrel moments and taking care of me, even at the last minute.
Louise Evans, you are selfless and sweet. You never forget about me and I can’t wait to hug you one day. To Louise Evans and Emma Lloyd, thank you for everything you do to help get my name out there.
A huge thank you to my team, Angie Hallock, Amy McCoy Crull, Missy Kretschmer, Kasey Sullivan, Louise Rogers-Thomas, Ann Fitzgerald and Heather South, for your support, feedback and laughs along the way. Without you, I’d have given up by now.
Thank you, Kasey Sullivan, for thinking of everything. I seriously would be lost without you. Hugs.
Darlene Avery-Ward thank you for just being you. You are the kindest woman with the biggest heart. “Love you big, gorgeous.”
Dee Shelvey, Melanie Nenno, and Katrina Smith, thank you for the feedback.
I’d also like to give a shout out to all the bloggers and authors I’ve befriended along the way, Martha Sweeney, Kim Deister, Louise Evans, Marcus Brown, Shelby Reeves, Angie Hallock, Marian Girling, Tammy Dozier Sanders, Heather South, Kasey Sullivan, Melanie Nenno, Sara Koelsch, Nikki Al
len, Nikki Mays, Kolleen Fraser, Aria Peyton, Xana Jordan, Michelle Rene, SE Hall, AM Johnson, Amber Lacie, Nicole Dykes, Julie Solano and Tracey Justice. You ladies rock.
And lastly, thank you to Enticing Journey Book Promotions and to all the bloggers who read, reviewed and shared Mackenzie. I’m forever grateful.
M.A Foster is a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and best friend. She loves chocolate, lattes and all things sparkly. She was born and raised in Tampa, Florida and currently resides in Land O’Lakes, Florida with her husband and her crazy dog, Rocky.
When she’s not reading or writing, she’s either catching up with friends and family or chatting with her readers and fellow author friends on Facebook.
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