“I don’t want to leave. But, Mason, I can’t go back to the set up that we had. I think you would be an amazing father for my children, but I want marriage and a man I can build a life with. I want my children to grow up with a mommy and daddy in the house. You were right from the beginning when you said that our set up wouldn’t be enough for me.” Sighing, London looked him in the eyes. “Besides all of that, I know I won’t be able to handle running into you around Atlanta.”
“Even if we were married?”
London sat stunned, wondering if she had heard him correctly. “What did you say?”
When he dug through the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out a velvet box, London covered her mouth with her hands.
“This is not how I planned to ask you to be my wife, but now is as good of a time as ever. By the way, have I ever mentioned that you talk too much?”
London laughed through her tears. “You used to say it all the time when we were kids.”
“These last few months with you have been some of the best months of my life. I love talking to you at the end of a work day. I love being able to sit across the table from you and share a meal. While sharing my home space with you after the tire incident, I realized how much I love having you around. I love waking up to you, even at three in the morning.”
London laughed again, her love for him growing by the minute.
“And I love our relationship, especially since I was so against the idea of settling down. Hell, I even love forcing you to eat. It makes me feel as if I’m taking care of you.”
“Oh, Mason.” London swiped at her tears, not sure how much more of his sweet words she could take.
“I love you, Tiny. If you’ll agree to be my wife, I will spend the rest of my life proving to you just how much I love you.” He opened the box and a sob rattled in London’s throat. “Will you marry me … and have my babies?”
“Yes!” She laughed and then squealed. “Yes, I’ll marry you … and I’ll have your babies.”
Epilogue
20 months later
Mason leaned against the kitchen counter watching his son make a mess of his oatmeal. There were still times when he couldn’t believe that he was a father. Each day brought with it a new adventure.
“Are you done, lil man?” His son flashed a two-teeth grin. At ten months old, Mason Jr. was taller and weighed more than most children in his age group. He’d been born a month early, but was a happy, healthy baby.
The last year and a half had been life changing for Mason. Readjusting his attitude and his life to accommodate a wife and a child hadn’t been as hard as he thought it would be. For years he told himself that being in a serious relationship meant a life of drama. Boy had he been wrong. Once he changed his mindset, his life changed. He and London talked and dealt with the Cory situation and the lack of trust, as well as dealt with getting her the right medication to help better control her asthma. After those issues were handled, their relationship soared, bringing him to this moment of contentment and happiness.
Mason glanced up as London entered the kitchen. “Good morning, beautiful.” He reached for her hand and pulled her to his side, kissing her lips.
Smiling, she cupped his cheek. He lived for seeing the love radiating in her eyes the way it was now. “Good morning.”
“For a minute, I thought you were going to sleep the day away.”
“Nope. I figured I’d better get up. I was afraid you and the munchkin were going to try making breakfast again.” The cooking lessons for Mason had fallen by the wayside after he had set the kitchen on fire when he tried making her pancakes and bacon.
London ruffled Mason Jr.’s curly hair and kissed the top of his head. “How’s Mommy’s baby doing?” she cooed, nuzzling his neck. Covered in oatmeal, with some dripping from his mouth, he graced her with a huge grin and some babbling. “Looks like you’re wearing most of your food, sweetie.”
“You’re right,” Mason said. “I started off feeding him, but then he decided he wanted to feed himself. He kept putting his hand in the bowl and then stuffing food into his mouth.”
Mason wrapped his arms around London and kissed her again. “How are you and my other two boys doing this morning?” He rubbed her belly before placing a kiss on it. At four months, she looked as if she was carrying a basketball under her shirt, instead of two babies.
“We’re okay, but you don’t know what we’re having. They might be girls. What I am certain of, though, is that we are stopping at three kids.”
“What? We’re just getting started. What about my basketball team? We agreed on five.”
London chuckled and pushed him away when he started kissing on her neck. “No, you wanted five. I never agreed to that. When I said I wanted children, I was thinking two or three. Not five.”
Two months after Mason proposed, they’d had a small church wedding with friends and his family. He often wondered where his life would be had she not propositioned him. Like with his son, life with her was an adventure that he couldn’t imagine being on with anyone else.
London nudged him. “Are you listening to me?”
“I’m sorry, baby. What did you say?”
“I asked if you wanted pancakes. Have you eaten?”
Mason chuckled. Funny how time changed people. Instead of asking her about whether or not she’d eaten, a day didn’t go by without her asking him. Juggling the responsibilities at Club Masquerade, and finishing the final details of Supreme Security Agency-Atlanta, Mason was stretched pretty thin. Some days, meals weren’t a priority.
“Nope, I haven’t eaten, and pancakes sound good. Throw in some scrambled eggs and I’ll give you a foot rub later.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, eliciting a smile, knowing his bribe wasn’t much of a deal for her. Massaging her feet was practically a nightly ritual.
“Throw in a candlelight dinner, with someone else cooking, and you have a deal.”
Mason laughed and Mason Jr. grinned and babbled as if he understood the conversation. “Deal.”
He sat at the breakfast bar, next to the baby’s high chair, debating on how to bring up something that he and London needed to discuss. He watched as she moved easily around the kitchen.
“We’re going to have to start looking for a larger place. In a few months, the loft is going to get real small, real quick, especially with three boys.”
London frowned. “Don’t you want a little girl?”
“No.” He stood when the baby started whining. Reaching into the refrigerator, Mason grabbed the bottle that he had prepared earlier and handed it to his son.
“How can you just say no without even thinking about it?”
“I have thought about it. And no, I don’t want a daughter. Only sons.”
“Why?”
“Because if you think I’m protective of you, how much worse will I be with daughters?”
“Good point, but don’t rule out the idea.” She smiled when he narrowed his eyes at her.
“Why? Do you know something I don’t know?” He stood behind her and rubbed her belly.
“I’m just sayin’. I think I see a baby girl in our future.” Pulling away, she opened the refrigerator and took out the carton of eggs.
“Does that mean you know what we’re having? Because for the record, I’ll be happy with boys or girls.”
Now she was the one wiggling her eyebrows before smiling again. “Nah, I don’t know, but I’m just saying don’t rule out the possibility.”
The idea of a little girl who looked just like London brought a smile to his face. But then he shook the thought free when he remembered that having girls meant they’d be dating boys, which was something he definitely didn’t want to deal with.
Leaning his back against the breakfast bar, Mason folded his arms across his chest. “Let’s go back to the original conversation. We need a bigger place.” After marrying, London had moved into his loft. But now that Mason Jr. was starting to walk, the fact that they needed a bigger hom
e was more apparent.
London said nothing. Each time he brought up the idea of them moving into a house, she shut the conversation down.
“Baby, I know how you feel, but I promise you, I’ll keep you and the kids safe.”
She sighed and moved over to the griddle, flipping a couple of pancakes. “I know you will try, Mason, but there are no guarantees that you can stop a home invasion.”
The number of home invasions in Atlanta were growing at a startling rate, but Mason refused to let her keep living in fear. He had already taught her how to handle a gun, but that hadn’t been enough to change her mind. Even after seeing a therapist for six months shortly after they were married, she still harbored some fear.
“What if we purchased a property with some land outside of the city? I’ll make sure that it’s gated, we’ll have a state of the art alarm system, and if needed, I’ll hire an armed guard to be on the property when I’m not home.” There was nothing he wouldn’t do to ensure the safety and happiness of his family.
Raising her gaze, London studied him. “You would do all of that just to convince me to move into a house?”
Mason approached her and pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. “Baby, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You know that.”
“I know.” She looped her arms around his waist, which was getting harder to do as the babies continued to grow. Laying her head against his chest, she released a noisy sigh. “You take such good care of us. And I know you’re right about us needing a larger place.”
She had told him on more than one occasion that she wanted a big house with a large yard for their children. But whenever they started the process of looking, she’d change her mind.
“Why don’t I call a realtor and we can start searching this weekend?”
Seconds ticked by before she lifted her head, a smile ghosting on her lips. “Okay.”
His brows shot up. “Okay? You sure?”
She nodded just as Mason Jr. started banging his empty bottle on the tray of his high chair.
“It’s time.” She raised up on tiptoe and kissed Mason’s lips. “I’m ready. I’m so grateful for our little family. I want our children to have plenty of room to run around in a backyard of their own. Most importantly, I don’t want to transfer my fears to them. You don’t have to go as far as hiring an armed guard, but everything else sounds good.”
“Consider it done.” He captured her mouth in a heated kiss. He’d been right about kissing her becoming his favorite past-time. She got sweeter as the days went by.
“I love you,” he mumbled against her lips.
“I love you more.”
*
Coming Soon by Sharon C. Cooper
Jenkins & Sons Construction Series, a spinoff of the Jenkins Family Series is coming soon! Of course you’ll be able to catch up with the Jenkins’ women, but you’ll also get to journey with the Jenkins’ men as they find love.
Atlanta’s Finest Series – Atlanta’s finest was first mentioned in A Passionate Kiss. You’ll get to catch up with some reader’s favorites in this series, including Malik & Natasha, Wiz & Olivia, as well as Mason & London.
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Check out the other two books in The Bennett Triplets Series
A Passionate Love by Delaney Diamond
Simone Brooks and Cameron Bennett should not be together. She’s a wealthy socialite looking for a suitable husband. A man with the right pedigree and an economic status that matches her own. He’s part owner of the hottest nightclub in Atlanta with his siblings. Someone who loves cooking, the outdoors, and women, not necessarily in that order.
After one night together, their sizzling chemistry makes it difficult to stay away. Then comes the hard part—navigating their differences to salvage a relationship that, while it may be imperfect, overflows with love and passion.
A Passionate Night by Candace Shaw
Mixing business with pleasure leads to a passionate night …
Harper Bennett’s motto is work hard, play hard. Lately, she’s forgotten the latter and has focused her time as part-owner, along with her brothers, of the hottest nightclub in Atlanta. When an intriguing client enters, Harper forgoes her promise to never date a man that doesn’t live in the same city and she finds herself playing hard to get with Hunter Arrington. The passion that has ignited between them can’t be extinguished, and she dreads the day he has to leave.
Hunter travels the world because of his career and has no intentions of settling down until his eyes land on Harper. There’s something about the petite, sassy woman that he adores and makes him feel at home for the first time in years. Now he’s faced with a life-changing decision and the thought of being without Harper isn’t an option.
Other Titles by Sharon C. Cooper:
Jenkins Family Series (Contemporary Romance)
Best Woman for the Job (Short Story Prequel)
Still the Best Woman for the Job (book 1)
All You’ll Ever Need (book 2)
Tempting the Artist (book 3)
Negotiating for Love – (book 4)
Seducing the Boss Lady – (book 5)
Reunited Series (Romantic Suspense)
Blue Roses (book 1)
Secret Rendezvous (Prequel to Rendezvous with Danger)
Rendezvous with Danger (book 2)
Truth or Consequences (book 3)
Operation Midnight (book 4)
Stand Alones
Something New (“Edgy” Sweet Romance)
Legal Seduction (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
Sin City Temptation (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
A Dose of Passion (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
Model Attraction (Harlequin Kimani – Contemporary Romance)
About the Author
Award-winning and bestselling author, Sharon C. Cooper, is a romance-a-holic - loving anything that involves romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. Sharon writes contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She’s been nominated for numerous awards and is the recipient of an Emma Award for Romantic Suspense of the Year 2015 (Truth or Consequences), Emma Award - Interracial Romance of the Year 2015 (All You’ll Ever Need), and BRAB (book club) Award -Breakout Author of the Year 2014. When Sharon is not writing or working, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit http://www.sharoncooper.net
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