Reluctant Dad
Page 20
Those dreams exploded now in his head. A little boy, holding his hand as the child learned to walk. A woman, sharing his life, his hopes and his passion. Not just any little boy, but Jamie. And not just any woman, but Melissa.
“Dominic?”
He stood and faced her. “No, I don’t want to be Jamie’s godfather,” he said. Her eyes lost some of their shine and he hurried on. “I want to be his father.” He heard the intake of her breath and he pulled her and the baby into his arms. “And I want to go to sleep each night with you in my arms, wake every morning with you by my side.”
She trembled, tears once again filling her eyes and clinging to the tips of her lashes. “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice breathless.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” He dipped his head and captured her mouth with his. She smelled of sweet flowers and sunshine, and tasted of hopes and dreams. “Marry me, Melissa,” he said when the kiss ended. “Marry me and let me love you forever. Let me be Jamie’s father.”
“Yes...oh, yes,” she replied. “Oh, Dominic, I want a life with you. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Again their lips met in a kiss of fiery passion and promise. Dominic’s heart was so filled with her, there was no room for doubt, no room for anything but the love he’d tried for too long to deny.
“It’s right this time,” she said when his lips finally left hers. She gazed at him, her eyes the clear blue of summer skies. “Don’t you feel how right it is?”
He nodded. Yes, as he looked at her beloved face, saw the love shining from her eyes, he knew the utter rightness of loving her.
He touched Jamie’s cheek. The little boy grinned, a string of drool lacing his chin. Dominic laughed, for in that drooling baby smile and in the eyes of the woman who held him, he saw a future of love.
Epilogue
“Melissa, you look absolutely beautiful!” Samantha exclaimed as she smoothed the skirt on the bridal gown one last time.
“I can’t believe this is happening.” Melissa hugged her sister, then turned back to the mirror to look at her reflection. The long white silk dress was simple and elegant, but the shine of its pearl buttons could not compete with the glow of happiness in her eyes.
In five minutes she would say the vows that would make her Dominic’s wife. It had been three months since they’d arrested Neal, three months since she and Dominic had confessed their love for each other. It had taken that long to disentangle Bill’s lies from the truths, learn that she wasn’t a widow. She and Bill had never been legally married—he’d never divorced Susan.
In the past three months she’d found the true meaning of love, the give-and-take that occurs, the exchange of hopes and dreams, of passion and of tenderness. Rather than taking away her power, loving Dominic had filled her with power.
She turned away from the mirror and looked at her sister. “Oh, Samantha, I never knew happiness could feel this way.”
Samantha took Melissa’s hands in hers. “I just wish you had been able to tell me everything sooner. I wish I had known so I could have helped you.”
Melissa squeezed her sister’s hands. “I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t tell anyone.” She frowned thoughtfully. “That’s what’s so insidious about abuse...the shame that keeps it secret.” She shook her head, not wanting to look back, but instead only wanting to focus on the glorious future ahead of her. She leaned forward and kissed Samantha on the cheek. “It’s over now, and there’re only tranquil waters in my future.”
“Are you nervous?”
Melissa shook her head. “Not a bit. There’s nothing to be nervous about.” She thought of Dominic and the time they’d spent together. Each day had only made their love grow stronger and Melissa knew that, unlike her redbirds, she and Dominic were mates for life.
The faint sound of organ music drifted up the stairs and into the bedroom where the two women stood. “I think that’s your cue,” Samantha said. “Come on. It’s time.”
Time. Time to walk down the stairs and into the living room where Dominic and the minister awaited her. Time to legalize what was already legal and right in her heart.
As the strains of the wedding march filled the Dark family home, Melissa slowly descended the stairs, her heart thudding the rhythm of joy. There were no doubts, no uncertainty, only her love, a bright and shining force, propelling her eagerly forward.
She stepped off the last stair and turned into the living room. She paused, her breath catching in her chest. Dominic stood at the opposite end of the room, looking handsome and proud. In his arms, he held the best man. In the past three months Jamie had transformed from a tiny, half-bald baby into a chubby, laughing delight with a full head of blond curls.
Dominic smiled at her, a smile so filled with love, so filled with promise, her heart quickened and she moved forward, eager to officially begin their life together. She smiled at the two men who held her heart: the groom, clad in a black tuxedo this time around, and the best man—in diapers. These were her heroes.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-6558-5
RELUCTANT DAD
Copyright © 1998 by Carla Bracale
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure intention.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
PRAISE FOR BESTSELLING AUTHOR CARLA CASSIDY:
Letter to Reader
Books by Carla Cassidy
About the Author
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
Copyright