When wrong feels so right

by Mia Ford

  “What do you think, Carli?” Mom asked my sister as Riley watched them with a gleam in her eye.

  “I know that I could work from here. I think that would be good for you, Mom. This weather is amazing, and we could help Than out more. He needs some time with Riley.” She winked at us. “It can’t be easy with this little monster.” She ruffled Ella’s hair and Mom nodded.

  “I do want that.” Mom agreed as she smiled at us.

  “Good, go home Monday and take care of anything that you need to do. I have some houses for you to look at online. I can put in an offer or two if you want your own space.” I knew that Carli liked to have a good time without Mom knowing her business.

  “Nathan. That’s too much,” Mom protested as I grinned.

  “I’ve worked hard, and I have the cash. We can also get the apartment downstairs set up for one of you.” I smiled at Riley, who was finally getting used to being in my room with guests.

  “That is a great option. I think we might be coming separately depending on how things go.” Carli smiled at Mom and I leaned forward, taking a bite of the meat.

  We stayed up late looking at homes online, with me passing the tablet back and forth. Mom liked a little cottage just on the other side of my street that was a perfect size for her. There was beach access, but I knew she’d be over here a lot. Carli liked a loft that was for sale close to Mom and we discussed it before agreeing that I’d call a realtor next week.

  We went to bed late that night and Riley was buzzing with excitement. I took her into my room and closed the door, knowing that Ella was sleeping with Mom tonight and Carli tomorrow.

  “They’re moving here! You are so sweet to get them homes, Nathan.” She danced over to the bed and dropped down, looking up at me.

  “I want to take care of them. They did that for me. I wish that you would let me pay you our agreed salary.” Riley was trying to cut it entirely since she was living here as a girlfriend now, but I wanted to help her towards her goal of school. I knew she wasn’t the type to take a handout. I paid her half of what I initially offered her, not taking no for an answer. She watched Ella all day for me. She rolled her eyes at me.

  “Whatever. You won that battle, stubborn ass.” I kicked off my jeans and pulled my shirt over my head, loving how she watched me.

  “There are other ways to thank me,” I told her suggestively as she raised an eyebrow before shimmying out of her shorts and shirt.

  “Hmmm. What do you mean?” Riley feigned innocence as I moved onto the bed, moving towards her possessively. She laughed as I kissed her, slipping her arms around my neck. The kiss heated up immediately, and she moaned against my mouth. I slipped a hand down to stroke her slick cleft, pleased at how wet she always was for me. I stroked her as she arched her back, begging for more. I found her sweet, swollen clit and teased her as she jerked against me. Her nipples were hard, and I leaned down to suck one into my mouth as I increased the pressure of my hand, sliding a finger inside as I continued to stroke her. I knew Riley well now.

  I brought her to the edge, biting down on her nipple as she rocked with the orgasm shooting through her body. I let her recover before easing her to her knees and teasing her with my finger again. I slipped my cock inside as she wrapped around me, fresh from her orgasm. I moved slowly at first, waiting for her to push back before I fucked her harder. Riley moaned into the pillow as we moved, so tight and wet. I knew that she’d be coming again soon and just as she did, I shot deep inside of her. I dropped onto her back, breathing heavily as I stroked her stomach gently. We rolled to our sides and smiled at each other.

  Chapter 21: Riley

  We got up the next day and took Nathan’s family out to see some sights. We had a nice lunch while we were out and chatted about the upcoming move for them. They were both excited, and I sipped my water as I watched them with a soft smile. I got to make love with Nathan again this morning, making me want to set the alarm every day for that private moment between us. We already agreed to work out three nights a week, but we both knew that involved sex when we were done.

  This was still happening quickly, but I was happy about it now. It was meant to be with the way that things fell into place so easily. We were planning a future, and it didn’t matter what anyone thought. He already indicated that his friends had stopped inviting him out as much but everyone else in his life supported us. They knew how happy I made him and Ella.

  I got into the car after lunch, sitting up front with Nathan while they surrounded Ella. Nathan wanted to take them to the shops in La Jolla and show them the snorkelers out there. It was a beautiful part of town, but we didn’t go too much. As rich as Nathan was, he lived simply in some ways. We didn’t shop in La Jolla, but he also didn’t go to Walmart too often. Everything was in between that though he did give into my love for Target.

  His mom loved watching the people down in the water, amazed that people jumped into the ocean from a cliff up there. She thought it was crazy, and I shared the same opinion. I still thought about the day on the beach where I could have lost Ella to the current. We didn’t tell them about that and Ella seemed to have forgotten about it.

  We went into some shops, looking at the unreasonably expensive items as Linda rolled her eyes. She would never ask for any of this. We took Ella to a fancy toy store, and I laughed when she left with a bag in everyone’s hand of stuff that they bought for her. We went back to the car and Nathan took them to his favorite ice cream place, getting us a big table in the middle of the room.

  My face hurt from smiling and laughing. I was so happy with these people and I smiled at Nathan over the menu. We’d used the words that I held in for what felt like forever last night in bed. It felt wonderful, and I knew that more than loving him, I was in love with him.

  We ordered and enjoyed our dessert, all of us aware that they were leaving the following day. Even Ella seemed a bit subdued, but she also might be tired. We headed back to the beach house when we were done, getting her down for a nap and sitting outside on the deck. There would be one more walk on the beach tonight and lunch tomorrow and we’d be back to normal.

  I’d miss them until they came back permanently. I loved his family, and it was great having a mom again. She’d never replace Mama, but she was sweet and loved Nathan and Ella. Carli was a sharp-tongued sister that I could not wait to introduce Emery to next time they were here. My sister was out of town for the weekend, so she missed it this time.

  I watched as they disappeared up the escalator sadly. Ella was waving and calling out to them and I picked her up as Nathan turned to walk towards us. He hated seeing them go but was looking forward to talking to someone about the properties they’d agreed upon in. He took my hand, and we walked back to the car together. Ella cried a little as he buckled her into her seat and I watched as he came to the driver’s seat. She fell asleep, and we fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the drive.

  Nathan took Ella to her room, and we went into his, dropping down in exhaustion. It was rare that we were in here dressed and sleeping but there was no other option today.

  We had a simple dinner of leftovers and watched TV with Ella before getting her ready for bed. It was so quiet now. I finished my book and went downstairs to see Nathan sipping a beer as he stood on the deck. I stood beside him as he looked over at me.

  “Hi.”

  “Hey, baby.” He tried to smile, but it was still sad. “It’s quiet now.”

  “Pretty soon, they’ll live in town and you’ll welcome the silence. Besides, they can watch her, so we can go out on dates.” I leaned against him as he wrapped an arm around me.

  “I love that idea.”

  “I love you.” He kissed my hair, and I smiled.

  “I love you so much, Riley. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and Ella.”

  I kissed him softly, needing to feel him beside me for the rest of my life.

  Epilogue: Riley

  Two years later

  I sto
od in the small room, twisting my curls in my fingers. I was nervous and excited all at once. I heard the door open and Emery walked in, dressed in a beautiful plum dress that showed off all her gorgeous curves. She was holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses and grinned as she sat down in the chair across from me.

  “I had James open it for us,” she told me as I sat down and tried not to mess with my hair. She tilted the bottle and poured us two glasses, giggling as it nearly bubbled over the rim.

  “He opened a whole bottle for us?” I asked as she handed me one of them before setting the bottle down.

  “There is a lot. Nathan went overboard.” His name made me smile, and she held up her glass. “To the future.”

  “It’s going to be a great one.” I clinked mine with hers and we sipped it. It went down easily, and I glanced at the bottle. “He doesn’t play.”

  “No. This is the real deal and so are the two of you.” She looked at me with a soft smile. “Mama would be proud of you. I’m proud of you.”

  “I feel like I didn’t even work for this. I just got a job,” I argued as I looked down at my silk, flowing white dress. “I was thinking of myself and my future.”

  “That’s how it happens. Remember when I got the job at the coffee shop just for a while before school started?” I smiled and nodded. “I met James there and here we are. I went to school later than planned but life just shifted. It happens that way sometimes.” I remembered when she told me about him, not sure what was going to happen with the handsome dark-eyed guy.

  I wasn’t in school yet. I got caught up with Ella and my life in the house with them. I loved that life and becoming a parent. The first time that she called me Mom three months after I moved in made me sob in Nathan’s arms that night. He held me, telling me that I was good for her. He told me that I treated her as much more than a job from the start and that Ella knew how much I cared about her.

  We were on a trip to a private island in The Bahamas for a week with his family and mine six months ago when he changed my life. It was sunset, and we were out on the beach watching it as we did at home. Everyone else was behind us a bit watching the kids play and Nathan took my hand to walk with me alone. I knew that Ella was safe, so I went with him, loving the peace between us. He glanced up as the sky turned a bright pink and told me to take a picture.

  I lifted my phone up and snapped a picture, listening to the sounds of the waves and laugher behind us. When I was finished, I turned to ask him if he’d take a selfie with me. Nathan was on his knees, smiling up at me and I stared at him.

  “Nathan?” He swallowed and slipped his hand into the pocket of his shorts.

  “Riley.” His voice was hoarse, and he cleared his throat as I froze. “You came into my life to take care of my daughter and you were the best person I could have asked for. You took her in and loved her like I did, and I had never seen her take to someone so fast. I was just a single dad and her mom was gone. I was a little lost. No, I was a lot lost, and I didn’t know where I was headed.” His eyes filled with tears and I felt my own streaking down my cheeks. “The moment I saw you, my world was tilted in a different direction. You were beautiful but there was more than that. You looked like an angel in my doorway and I knew that you were going to be a fit for the job even though I fought the urge to make you fit into my world. I didn’t want to hurt you and there’s still times I worry that I will. I couldn’t stay away and every day with you has gotten better. I love you so much.”

  “I love you,” I whispered as I brushed at my cheeks to wipe the tears away.

  “I want us forever. I want you to be the mother to Ella and our own kids and a part of my family. I can’t imagine living my life without you, now that you are in it.” He took a deep breath. “Will you marry me?”

  I started to cry as I dropped to the sand. I hugged him and closed my eyes, memorizing this moment.

  “I can’t wait to be your wife.” He moved to kiss me, our lips melting together as we both cried. He managed to pull the ring out of his pocket and slip the shimmering band on my finger as I watched the remains of the sun shimmering in it. It was a delicate band of diamonds with a small but gorgeous stone centered on it. It was perfect, and I grabbed his face for another kiss. We fell together, still kissing and laughing as I heard voices. “Oh my God. They saw it.” I looked behind me to see our family cheering and clapping before I smiled at him.

  “They were in on it.” He kissed me again, his tongue slipping against me. I wanted to make out with him all day but there was tonight to show him how in love I was. I returned the kiss for a moment before I heard Emery’s unmistakable cries and pulled away.

  “I love you.” I turned, and she pulled me up into her arms, crying freely.

  “I am so happy for you. He’s perfect. You’re perfect. Ella is amazing, and you guys are going to have more beautiful babies.” I hugged her tight before moving to Linda and then Carli. I was sobbing when I looked down at Ella, moving down to my knees to be at her level. She was the light of my life alongside her father and I hugged her.

  “I get to be your mom, baby girl.” She hugged me, and I closed my eyes.

  “You’ve been my mommy for a long time, Riley. I love you.” Her voice was clear, and I smiled through my tears. When we pulled apart, I saw her holding a blue box.

  “What is that?” I asked as she smiled and shoved it at me.

  “I want you as my mommy forever.” I took the box and opened it, seeing another ring that was delicate with three stones on the band. It was gorgeous, and I tried to make sense of the stones. “Daddy’s mine, and yours. We’re a family now.”

  “Oh, God.” I felt someone beside me and looked up to see Nathan. He nodded at Ella and she pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on my right ring finger. “Who gets engaged with two rings?”

  I stood on wobbly legs and looked at my fiancé.

  “Can we get a picture together?”

  He pulled me against him and handed his phone to Carli. She shot the picture with the backdrop of the sky first and then facing it. Ella joined us for the next set of pictures and we all hugged again.

  We made our way to the cottages where a large candlelit table was set up. I gripped his hand and looked at Nathan with surprise.

  “A late dinner to celebrate the occasion.” He kissed me, and I pressed into him as my light pink dress blew in the wind.

  I blinked and came back to reality. It was my wedding. We found a beautiful place on the beach for the wedding and a gorgeous outdoor area for the reception. I only had my sister and her family and a few close friends from Tennessee to invite while Nathan knew far more people. He kept it small and there were just fifty people out there waiting for my entrance. I looked at both of my rings that never left my fingers and smiled as I wiped a tear away.

  Emery checked the time and held out her hand. We toasted with one more glass of champagne before walking arm in arm to the makeshift aisle., standing just out of sight of the guests. We were walking down together once Ella scattered white rose petals on top of the dark red ones that were already set up to form the aisle.

  “Mommy!!” Ella came running over to me in a flowing light purple dress and hugged my legs. “You look like a princess.” She was bigger now and just as pretty. She amazed us every day with her intelligence and kindness and Nathan told me daily that I was good for them.

  “Thank you, baby girl. You are gorgeous. Ready to drop some roses for me?”

  “Yes!” She beamed at me. She was a part of the ceremony. I was going to give her a flower once we were married, and we were walking back down the aisle together. I never thought that I would have a husband and a daughter at the same time, but this was perfect.

  I asked Emery how I looked, and she touched my hair gently. My makeup was light, but it enhanced my eyes and full lips perfectly. Nathan could kiss me all night and the stain was not going to go anywhere.

  Linda walked around the corner, pausing when she saw me.

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sp; “Beautiful.” She hugged me, kissing my cheek as Carli joined us. She was walking with her mom down the aisle for Nathan and she looked stunning on a dress that was another shade of purple.

  “Hi,” I hugged her again. We’d all spent time together in the room getting ready, but this was it.

  “Are you ready?” Linda asked Ella, and she nodded with a huge smile. The music started, and she took Carli’s hand to lead the way. Ella followed, and I stepped up with Emery, meeting Nathan’s shimmering eyes.

  Epilogue: Nathan

  My hands were shaking as much as they did when I proposed to Riley as I stood in front of the small crowd, my back to the ocean. It was just an agreement with Brenda and something we both did for Ella. Even if she’d lived, we would not have lasted long. With Riley, I waited and planned something that suited us and included our families.

  Though small, our families got along great. Mom and Carli had their cottages and were happily settling in and Emery was always there to help when needed. They’d adopted Jada and Ally as their own and the three kids spent a lot of time together. It was so perfect and something I never expected.

  I took us all to the beach with the idea of proposing but also to get away. We needed it since I worked so much, and Ella kept us both busy. It was great having family to help, so we could get out of the house for dates, but life was still busy. I looked into the trip and booked the island for just us. We spent days on the beach, cooked outside and relaxed. I asked Riley to marry me the night before our last one, knowing that we’d celebrate in private. Ella seemed to stay with other people almost every night.