by Lacey Silks
“He’s up.”
This baby was the exact opposite of Mackenzie. He’d started kicking two weeks ago and slept during the night, for which I was grateful, and was more active during the day. I dated our conception to the day of the fire, when I first made love to Nick after his return. He’d been excited about the pregnancy since we first found out. Actually, Nick was over the moon in love with my belly — he wanted to feel the baby’s every kick and had fulfilled every single one of my pickle cravings. We had jars of these, courtesy of Mrs. Clark, who could not stop thanking Nick for saving Carter. If he could have, he’d have gotten up in the middle of the night to pee for me as well.
I in turn would never be able to express my gratitude enough to Carter, who had saved our daughter.
I kissed Nick’s expectant lips when he stood back up, then pulled my finger over Mackenzie’s Welcome Home drawing. She was now adding finishing touches on the flowers and butterflies she’d drawn. Carter was coming home today, and we’d planned a huge “welcome back” party at the Clark house. I’d had a special wooden plaque made for him from the only piece of unburnt wood that I’d found in the rubble, inscribed, “No fire can burn hot enough to destroy our family.”
“Do you think he’ll like it?” I asked Nick, pointing to the package.
“He’ll love it. And I found something else in the rubble as well.” Nick pulled out a rock from his pocket: his rock, with the scratched out “N.”
“What? How?”
“I went back after the investigation. It took a while to find it, but I did.” He set it on the table in front of Mackenzie.
“Daddy, this is our rock.”
“Yes, it is.”
“We should frame it.”
“I have a better idea. Why don’t we go to Pebble Beach and skip it? I think it’s time for this little stone to hit some new records.”
I couldn’t remember the last time we went stone skipping, and with the few days that we had left of this beautiful fall weather, I was looking forward to making use of it before the party.
“Maybe I should change out of this dress. It feels too fancy,” I said. Last week, I’d gone shopping in the city with Marge, and she’d insisted on buying the white summer dress for me. It had beautiful white floral patterns and right now, at least, it fit perfectly.
“You look beautiful, and it’s a special occasion, isn’t it? Carter’s finally coming back.”
“Yes, you’re right. It is special.”
“And if he wants to move in here for a while, he’s very welcome to. Our home is his home.”
“Thank you for saying that, but last I heard, Molly was taking him into her house. She finished her residency.”
“Is she really giving up the hospital for him?” After becoming a nurse, Molly had decided to be a doctor.
“She said she’s gaining much more by moving back. And Doctor Burke will be retiring soon, so she’ll be the only other doctor in town.”
“Come on, Mackenzie, put your dress on as well.” Nick winked to her and she winked back. I’d never seen them do that before. Nick then leaned into me, whispering, “I hope you don’t mind, but I bought a special dress for her as well.”
“You bought a dress?”
“Yes. Mom helped.”
On any normal day, I would have questioned the gesture, but given that we’d lost all of our possessions in the fire, we’d been slowly catching up each week with clothes, toys and other items that we still needed for the house.
When Mackenzie came downstairs, she was glowing. Her smile stretched wide, just like her father’s when he smiled.
“Looks like Daddy is good at picking dresses. Uncle Carter’s not going to recognize this big girl.”
“It’s a special dress.”
“Yes, it is. Come on, let’s get going.”
“Daddy, can I pick some flowers for Uncle Carter?” Mackenzie asked, and winked at him again. It looked like this was a new thing between the two of them. Seeing the growing bond fused the broken pieces of my heart like crazy glue.
“Of course.”
Fifteen minutes later, we were in the car, on our way to Pebble Beach. “You think we’ll make it? The party starts in fifteen minutes.” I looked nervously at my watch, but Nick was as calm as ever.
“We’ll make it.”
We pulled up over the grass, and I took Mackenzie’s hand. “Mommy, can you hold these for me?” she asked, passing me her bouquet of beautiful daisies.
“Of course.”
Nick took her other hand and we headed over the hill toward the lake. As soon as we passed the top, I froze. Right by the water, a floral arch with flowing white fabric at the sides had been set up. Chairs were lined to the left and to the right, with an aisle down the middle, and our entire family, friends, and pretty much the whole town was waiting. Near the head of the aisle, Carter was sitting in a wheelchair, waiting with Molly, smiling. We walked toward them with Mackenzie between us. It didn’t hit me until I felt everyone’s eyes on Nick and me that this was not a welcome back party for Carter.
“Nick?”
But he was already down on one knee in front of me, looking up. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You are my love. You are my everything, and I would not only give up my life for you, but also for anyone here. We were meant to live in this town and nowhere else, and I promise to spend the remainder of my life here, with you, our children, and one day, our grandchildren. I know we’re technically still engaged, but since so much has happened, I’d like to ask you in front of our family and friends: will you marry me, Joelle Kagen? Will you marry me today?”
Mackenzie urgently tugged on my hand. “Say yes, Mommy. Say yes!” Her eyes were filled with joy, the kind that soared through her and filled the hearts of all the guests.
I laughed, feeling my happy tears trickle over my cheeks, and slowly drew my gaze from our daughter to Nick.
Molly passed me a handkerchief.
“Yes, I’ll marry you today.”
Mackenzie squealed, Marge cried, and everyone cheered.
“Are you the best man?” I asked Carter. He stood up from his wheelchair, his legs a little wobbly, but Molly took him under her arm, steadying him. “I’m so happy you’re doing better.
The right side of his face was still bandaged to protect the healing wounds.
“You can’t get rid of me, Cupcake. I’m like glitter.”
“How do you know about glitter?”
“Mac.”
I laughed.
“Molly, will you—”
“Of course. It would be my honor.”
And so the five of us slowly walked down the aisle toward the arch where Father Sinclair was waiting. The scene was out of this world. When I woke up that morning, I didn’t expect that I’d be married by the end of the day, yet here we were, a husband and wife, sharing a kiss that sealed our vows. Mackenzie clapped with happiness, and everyone cheered.
“Is it time, Daddy?” she asked.
“Yes, I think it’s time.”
He reached into his pocket for the stone I’d given him for his thirteenth birthday. I removed Mackenzie’s sandals, then mine. Nick rolled up his pants and left his shoes and socks on the shore. The three of us stepped into the shallows of Stone Lake, and Nick handed Mackenzie the special stone. She swung her arm like a professional, lunging the stone forward. It skipped further than I’d ever seen her throw, gliding over the glassy water until its heart shape sank to the bottom.
The sound of applause and laughter echoed around us. Dad and Marge cried, Molly leaned over to Carter and kissed him, and for the first time in my life I knew that I didn’t need another falling star to wish upon, because all my dreams had come true. The world ceased to be his and mine, and became ours.
* * *
Don't miss the other Friends with Benefits standalone romances:
The Billionaire Escape Plan by Ember Casey
The Billionaire’s Ballet by Deanna Roy
Always You by Rachel Schurig
The Rock Star's Secret Baby by Blair Babylon
Going for Broke by Gretchen Galway
Next to You by Daisy Prescott
For more information visit Romance Frenzy.
Afterword
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed reading Yours and Mine. If you have time, I would love for you to leave an honest review for the book.
Do you love Carter and Molly as much as I do? Well, Carter’s been talking to me day and night and has been persistent. Especially when he talks dirty. It’s a whole new ball game for this dude when he wants to woo a lady, but his mouth gets away from him. So the good news is that Carter and Molly will get their own book! When? Most likely before the end of the year (though if he keeps talking so much, it may be earlier).
Happy reading!
xoxo
Lacey Silks
Be the first to know! Click here to be informed about new releases and future discounts.
Also by Lacey Silks
Dazzled by Silver (prequel to the Layers Trilogy)
Layers Deep (Book 1)
Layers Peeled (Book 2)
Layers Off (Book 3)
Crossed (prequel to the Crossed Series)
Layers Crossed (Book 1)
Double Crossed (Book 2)
Crossed Off (Book 3)
When Things Go Wrong (short prequel)
Cheaters Anonymous (Book 1)
Loyal Cheaters (Book 2)
Broken Cheaters (Book 3)
Chloe (Book 4)
Perfectly Equipped (short prequel)
Perfectly Seduced (Book 1)
Perfectly Kissed (Book 2)
Perfectly Loved (Book 3)
Friends to Lovers Series
My First, My Last
Yours and Mine
Short Stories
My Only One | Dance With Me | Teacher’s Pet
Bossy Request | Over The Limit | My Neighbor’s Will
Mistresses (a five story collection)
Connect with Me Online:
Twitter | My Blog | Mailing list | Facebook
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Silks writes erotic and contemporary romances with a touch of suspense. Her stories come from her life, dreams and fantasies. She’s a happily married wife with two kids who uses her husband to test out the more intimate scenes for her writing – he said he doesn’t mind it at all.
Lacey likes to make her readers blush and experience the story as if they were the characters. Drawing on the reader’s most sensitive emotions through realistic stories satisfies her more than… …ok not really, but you get the point ;)
She likes a pinkish shade on a woman’s cheeks, men with large feet and sexy lingerie-especially when it’s torn off the body. Her favorite piece of clothing is a birthday suit.
@LaceySilks
LaceySilksAuthor
www.laceysilks.com
This and That
Also known as Acknowledgments
Yours and Mine came to be for three reasons:
1. I wanted to tell a story of friends who became lovers and fought through life’s obstacles to stay together
2. My First, My Last is probably one of my favourite novels that I wrote, and so I wanted to create a similar feeling (though the two are completely different)
3. A bunch of great ladies decided we would all write a Friends with Benefits series, with a Friends to Lovers trope, and release them within days of each other. And so that’s how the Friends with Benefits Series came to be.
This novel was different than what I usually write as it didn’t have the suspense and some violence, that’s in the other series. Okay, maybe there is some suspense, but it’s different kind. I wanted to show the strength of love, perseverance and family. I needed to keep hope present throughout and I “hope” I accomplished that.
To my AA (not what you’re thinking) group: I’ve learned so much from everyone there, thank you, thank you, thank you.
To the LOL Ladies : you’re the funniest and most supportive chicks ever!
To the Bimbos: I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.
To my readers: I love your emails and adore your excitement. You make me want to write more. There’s nothing better than knowing you’ve enjoyed my work.
To anyone who took a chance on my books – thank you!
To my family, I could not do what I love without you. Mom, your go getter attitude has rubbed off on me. Dad, your humour is infectious. Mike, “all you need is love”. Maya and Alex, you are who I live for. You are my life.
