by C. A. Harms
The slight sinful swivel of his hips was all it took. I ignited around him in such an intense orgasm that for a moment it took my breath away. His movements continued and prolonged my pleasure, and my fingers dug into the flesh of his hips.
A deep moan escaped him as he, too, reached that moment of bliss.
Our fate had been sealed. There was no way to stop it, no way to control it. I had fallen irrevocably in love with Darren, and there was no coming back.
I wanted to get lost in him and forget all the wrongs of my past. I wanted to surround myself with nothing but this man and his sweet girls.
And whatever our future may bring.
Chapter 35
Darren
Things had picked up at work. A new subdivision was going up a few miles just outside of town and I’d landed the bid. It was a huge opportunity for my company.
I’d expanded my crew, and that meant more time away from home. A project like this involved an extreme amount of details and it needed structure. And authority. There were too many new guys working on it for me not to oversee things.
But in the process, I missed my girls, a term that now included Greer.
I was a lucky man. I had two sweet, beautiful daughters and an amazing woman who loved me. I’d go home every night to find them waiting for me to share smiles and hugs, I love yous and miss yous. A greeting like that made a man feel special.
I worried at first that Greer would grow bored, but she kept busy. She enrolled the girls in gymnastics alongside their dance classes. As if that wasn’t enough, the three of them and my mother took a ceramic class once a week. My house was now filled with the little knickknacks they’d made and then painted.
Greer was now part of the family. Everyone referred to her as such, and I could see the joy it brought to her.
It was close to eight on a Tuesday night when I turned onto my street and slowed instantly.
A familiar car sat in my driveway, one I hadn’t seen in some time.
Lynn’s parents. We talked often, including over Skype so they could see the girls. But they hadn’t visited in almost a year. They sold everything, and decided to travel the world after Lynn. I knew it was a way to cope with their loss, and I guess we all had our ways we dealt with the hard times. This was theirs.
Knowing they were alone inside with Greer made me nervous. I’d told them over and over what she meant to me and the girls, but I’d never planned on her meeting them for the first time without me.
I pulled into the driveway behind Greer’s car, wondering why she hadn’t called me when they arrived. Just as I was about to place my key in the lock, I jumped in surprise at the sound of Lynn’s father’s voice.
“You’ve got a good woman in there.”
I turned to the left to find Simon sitting in the chair tucked back in the corner of the porch, hidden by the darkness.
He chuckled at my surprised expression. “Didn’t expect us to be here, did you?” he said as he stood and moved into the light of the front porch.
“No, but you know you’re always welcome.” That was the truth.
He pulled me in for a hug.
“Greer is amazing,” he said, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“She is,” I replied. “And she’s so great with the girls.” Once I said it, that familiar sense of guilt washed over me.
I loved Greer, and I loved that the girls had her now too. We were a family now. I just wasn’t sure Simon wanted to hear that when his daughter should have been the one loving our children.
“I can see that,” he said as he stepped back. “We’ve only been here a couple hours, but we could see immediately how much they love her. And how much she in turn adores them. Believe it or not, that made Lisa and me very happy.”
I nodded, knowing her loss still hurt them too.
“I never expected you to spend your life alone, Darren, and Lynn wouldn’t have wanted that either. Vivian and Violet deserve to have a mother figure in their lives, and that woman you’ve got in there is a keeper. You can almost feel the compassion and love pouring off her.”
“She’s one of the good ones,” I assured him, and he smiled.
“Shall we go inside and rescue her from Lisa?” he asked with a chuckle, and I smiled too. Lisa could be just as overwhelming as my own mother at times.
We found the girls, meaning all three of mine as well as Lisa, in the kitchen. Violet was squealing in delight as Lisa helped her add spoonfuls of cookie batter to a tray on the countertop. Vivian and Greer stood just behind her, a spatula in each of their hands, removing freshly baked chocolate chip cookies from another cookie sheet. I took in a deep breath. Each day I fell deeper in love with Greer. She was always doing something special with the girls, like taking them on a trip to the beach or a walk in the park, or baking something sweet with them. The woman was full of so much love that there was no way people couldn’t be happy in her presence. She comforted the girls when they needed it and showered them with love even when they weren’t looking for it. I’d worried my girls would never know the love of a mother, but that was no longer possible. From the way she behaved with them, an outsider would never have known she didn’t share the same blood as Vivian and Violet. She was our gift, our angel.
When our eyes made contact from across the kitchen, I winked at Greer, and the redness in her cheeks made me smile. It was still so easy to get a rise out of my sweet girl.
Simon and I remained off to the side, just watching as the ladies moved around the kitchen with grace. They had perfected some type of assembly line, it seemed. In that moment I realized that though Lynn wasn’t here physically, she was still with us in spirit. I saw her daily in Vivian, in her kindness and her need to take care of those around her, like making sure her daddy had his milk with dinner and his keys when he left for work. Or the way she combed Violet’s hair with her fingers as they sat side by side to watch cartoons. I heard Lynn’s laughter in Violet’s voice. She even tilted her head to the side and covered her mouth with her hand the way Lynn used too.
Each time Violet giggled, I closed my eyes for a moment and held on to the sound for as long as I could.
I knew if Lynn were here, she’d approve of Greer because the love this woman has for me and my daughters wasn’t a selfish love. She gave us her all, and just when you’d think she couldn’t do anything more to prove her devotion to us, she’d surprise you and do something else.
I wanted to spend the rest of my life loving this amazing woman profusely, unconditionally, and without hesitation.
Greer was my future; she was our future.
Chapter 36
Greer
I sat on the back deck looking over at the blue house that had been the beginning of the rest of my life. When I’d agreed to take a mini vacation from life, I hadn’t realized I was being led toward the man that would complete me and the two girls that would bless me with their love.
My mother called only moments ago, and I could tell she had something she wanted to say, but she was stalling. This concerned me, because I suspected it meant that whatever she had to say wouldn’t be something I wanted to hear.
“So,” she said finally, dragging out the word. “We, um….”
“Just say it, Mom,” I encouraged her. Things had changed for me over the last few weeks. I still had rough days, but I made it through most of them without a single tear of sadness, though tears of joy were common around Darren and the girls.
“We got an offer on the house,” she said so quietly I almost missed the words, “and I’m going to accept it.”
I could tell from her tone that she thought it would bother me. In a way it did, but not nearly as much as when she first told me she was selling it.
“Do you remember Mr. Jackson,” she began again with caution, “from the hardware store on Meeker?”
“Yes,” I replied. Mr. Jackson used to give us kids free Blow Pops every day after school when we’d pass his store on the way home. He was a kind man wh
o would stand on the corner and make sure the children got across the street safely before he’d wave and go back inside his store. He also joined my father in his monthly poker games that the kids were never allowed to attend. I know it had a lot to do with the naked ladies that were on the faces of the cards the men chose to use. Oh, and the excessive cussing from those who would lose and have to go home to explain to their wives why they couldn’t take them out for dinner or they couldn’t get their hair done.
“His grandson and his wife are moving to town.” My mother’s voice pulled me out of my trip down memory lane. “They’re planning to take over the store after Mr. Jackson retires.” She paused again, and I weighed her words, noticing I didn’t feel as sad as I thought I would. “They fell in love with the house, and they have a baby on the way,” she added, and I smiled. “It’s perfect, Greer. Another family will build memories to last a lifetime there,” she whispered.
“Just like we did,” I said, and it was true. That made me happy. “It’s perfect,” I assured her, and she sighed in relief. “I’m okay, Mom,” I told her, hoping she’d believe me. “Each day it gets a little easier. And even though I never actually visited Carolina Beach with you and Dad, I feel like both of you are with me always.”
“Your father would be proud of you,” she stated, and I teared up. It was all I ever wanted. “I’m proud of you,” she added, and I blinked as a tear dripped down my cheek.
“And I’m proud of you,” I assured her. “You are the kind of woman I hope to be.”
I was raised by two of the most amazing people who gave me all I needed and more. I was who I am because of them.
“I love you, Greer,” she said, and I closed my eyes for a moment.
I was a grown woman, yes, but I still got emotional when my mother expressed her love, especially after losing my dad. I understood more than ever why it was so very important to show love to those you cared for. A day that passed without taking that opportunity was a day I would never get back, so I resolved to love hard and show it to everyone.
“I love you too, Mom,” I said in return. “And come visit soon. The girls miss you too.”
Violet and Vivian had asked about my mother over the last few weeks. They created a bond with her during her visit, and I could see many memories in the making.
“You give those sweethearts big hugs from Nana Wendy,” she said, and I could sense her smile. “And tell them I’ll plan a trip soon.”
I was just about to say good-bye when she spoke again.
“Oh, and hug that man of yours for me and tell him to send me a bottle of that cologne he wears. Damn, that boy smells good.”
I laughed as she said good-bye. She had definitely been spending too much time with Gran and Aunt Stella.
***
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Darren asked as he stepped up behind me and wrapped me in his arms.
I leaned back into his embrace and let my head rest against his chest. I loved when he held me like this, and the way he’d bury his nose in my hair. It made me feel so safe.
“I’m good,” I assured him.
He’d come home from work shortly after I spoke with my mother and listened as I told him my parents’ home had sold. He didn’t try to comfort me when I teared up. I think he knew if he had, I would have broken, not because it would have upset me but because Darren always brought out my vulnerability when I was trying to hide it.
Darren was my safe place. He was the one person who I knew would never judge me, no matter how I felt or whether I was wrong or right.
Later that night, long after the girls had gone to bed, he took the opportunity to make sure I didn’t need to break.
“You amaze me,” he whispered before he kissed my temple. “Every day you give me another reason to love you more.”
When I was younger, I fell for the fairy tales of heroes rescuing the woman they loved and giving them the happy ending all people wished for, but my fantasies had been tainted by a man who wasn’t a hero.
The greatest thing about Darren was that he made me believe in those dreams again. He made me realized that just because there are villains in the world, that doesn’t mean heroes don’t exist.
Darren was definitely my hero.
Epilogue
Ten months later
Darren
My hands shook, my palms were sweating, and my stomach rolled uncontrollably with each step I took.
I left the house two hours ago, leaving Greer under the impression that I was going to be tied up all day with paperwork. Now here I stood, watching from a distance as Greer and the girls played in the sand. They hadn’t yet noticed me, and I was glad.
Someone who hadn’t met Greer would never have known she wasn’t Vivian and Violet’s biological mother. Along with all of them having blonde, wavy hair, Greer treated them as if they were hers.
That was another thing I was thankful for.
Just last month Violet called Greer Mommy and my heart raced. I wasn’t sure how Greer would react, but when she took Violet in her arms and held her tightly, my chest tightened. Though she tried to hide it, I saw her crying into Violet’s hair, and it brought tears to my eyes too.
It was a beautiful moment, one that assured me that I was about to do the right thing. Not that I had any doubts prior to their interaction.
Vivian was the first to notice me approaching.
“Daddy,” she squealed, waving her arms in the air, and Violet and Greer spun around to look at me.
I faltered for a moment as I took in Greer’s appearance. She wore a rosy-pink bikini that hugged her body in all the right places—places only I should see enhanced.
I looked around the beach in search of any bastard that dared to admire what was mine. The few men down on the sand were in luck because they weren’t looking in our direction.
Greer smiled as she stood, still holding the bucket and shovel she’d been playing with only moments ago. I stepped up to them, attempting to block the sun that had her squinting.
“Hey, handsome,” she said with a gleam in her eyes as she placed her free hand on my left hip.
I didn’t hesitate before hooking her around the waist and pulling her body as close to my own as possible.
“Hi,” I said as I moved in for a kiss.
I kept it simple. After all, we were in the presence of the girls, and strangers. But in my mind it was a whole lot dirtier.
“I like this,” I told her as I pulled back and traced the string on her hip that tied one tiny triangular piece to the other. “Why am I only seeing it for the first time?” I looked at her chest and may have groaned at seeing the swell of her perfect breasts peeking out on each side. “I take that back,” I said, knowing I sounded as if I was in pain. Hell, I was in fucking pain. “I love this,” I corrected, and she grinned wider.
“If you’re a good boy, maybe I’ll model the other two I bought later for you.” She wagged her eyebrows, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying the dirty shit rolling around in my head. I really needed to reel this in fast. Erections on public beaches were definitely a bad thing.
“I thought you had to work?” she asked, changing the subject. Apparently she also felt what our conversation was causing.
“I did,” I assured her, “but I may have embellished a bit about the amount of work I had to do.” She gave me a questioning look and I grinned wide. “I had something else to take care of.”
She continued looking at me curiously.
“I wanted to surprise you,” I added as I stepped back, creating a little space between us.
“I am surprised,” she assured me as she glanced to her side to check on the girls. They were playing contently in the sand, which gave me the opportunity to follow through with my plans.
I slowly lowered myself to one knee and pulled the ring box from my back pocket. Greer instantly covered her mouth with her hand, and I will admit I fucking loved her reaction.
“Darren,” she whispere
d as I lifted the box and opened the lid.
I’d spent weeks searching for the perfect ring online, and when I finally ran across the one that screamed Greer, I went for it without giving a second thought to the amount I’d spend.
Now, I’m a dude, and things like this don’t mean much to me, but apparently it was Greer’s fantasy ring. Her mother told me that when Greer was younger, she’d often talked about the perfect ring. And when I found the vintage princess-cut pink diamond with a square white diamond halo, her mother assured me it was pretty close. I just knew it belonged on her finger, like it had been made specifically for her.
“How?” she whispered, her eyes instantly growing glossy. “It’s the—” she tried, as if she couldn’t form the word.
“I want to give you everything you’ve ever wanted,” I said.
By now the girls had noticed something was taking place and had joined me as I knelt before Greer. They looked at the ring, expressing great interest in the shimmering diamonds. They didn’t know I’d also got them a gift that was waiting at home. Though it wasn’t shiny jewelry, it was fury and barked, so they’d be ecstatic. Boots, on the other hand, would probably not like me much.
“I told myself that when I found the perfect ring, I was going to place it on your finger,” I began. “And I almost gave up and decided to settle for any ring because I was growing impatient.”
She laughed at my confession, because she knew I wasn’t a patient guy when it came to her.
“But just when I was about to settle, I saw it. The perfect ring. And I knew what that meant.” My heart was racing. “To me it was a sign that neither of us would ever have to settle. Because together we can have it all.”
Tears rolled along her cheeks as she nodded in agreement.
“With you by my side, I know I will always have more than I ever could have imagined. You’re beautiful, generous, and selfless. You put me and the girls first all the time, and your kindness overwhelms me daily.” My throat grew tight with a rush of emotions. “And I’d be honored to call you my wife.”
