Always My Home (The Aster Lake Series Book 2)

by Alora Kate

  “Are you sick?” he asked.

  “Were you going to propose?” she asked shyly, slowly looking at him.

  “You know I was.”

  “Why?”

  He chuckled, “Seriously?”

  “Yes.”

  He leaned back in his chair and admired her. He adored her. He loved her. One of the best days of his life was waking up in her arms this morning. He wanted that every morning.

  “I had a speech prepared.”

  “Was it a good one?”

  He grinned. “I’m in my prime, baby.”

  She tried to hide her smile but he saw it before her cheeks turned red and she asked,

  “Do you think it’s weird we haven’t had sex since I got home?”

  “I don’t.”

  She was still stalling.

  “What else?” he prompted her to keep talking. “I’m listening.”

  “I know. You’ve always been a good listener.”

  “It’s part of the job, but I’d listen to you regardless.”

  She glanced at the wine bottle, then back to him.

  “I can’t drink.”

  “You said that.”

  She leaned over and started banging her head on the table. Cussing at it.

  “Madi,” he growled, frustrated and concerned at her actions.

  She popped her head up. “I can’t say it out loud.”

  “Why?”

  “Think about it, Rocco.”

  He tilted his head in confusion and she slowly said, “I can’t drink.”

  Chapter 20

  I was a chicken. A big old chicken shit. I couldn’t even say the words. I thought he was going to propose because he found out I was pregnant. But then I saw the wine. He’d never put wine at the table if he knew I was pregnant. I was giving him the best hint I could without having to say it. I just couldn’t say it, not yet. It didn’t feel real to me.

  He needed to figure it out! I needed for him to figure it out!

  He just stared at me.

  He glanced at the wine bottle a few times before it clicked. It clicked. He rubbed his hands on his face, then shook his hands out. He looked ill. He looked like he had earlier, before I botched his proposal. He figured it out and he didn’t look happy about it. He took a few deep breaths and then ran his hands over his face and head again. He wasn’t looking at me. He was letting it all soak in.

  Maybe I was going to end up single and pregnant. I didn’t want to be single and pregnant, but I could do it. I knew lots of people-

  He pushed away from the table and rushed to me. He grabbed my head and crushed his lips to mine. So maybe I wouldn’t be single after all. His kissed me with passion and promise. He gave me it all to me. He was telling me yes. He was happy. He was still going to propose.

  “Rocco,” I breathed against his lips, “please don’t propose.”

  He didn’t say anything, just leaned his forehead against mine.

  “Give us time.”

  “Nine months,” he said softly and opened his eyes.

  I smiled. “Something like that.”

  “I want you to be happy Madi, and if it makes you happy…us waiting for that moment, then you let me know when you’re ready.”

  “You’re such a gentleman,” I said cupping his head in my hands.

  “I’m in my prime, baby.”

  “And a flirt.”

  “Only with you.”

  “I hope you’re going to be okay with just me.”

  He stood and went to the jukebox and turned the music up. It was a slow country song I hadn’t recognized. He came back over to the table and I stood up. “I can’t dance.”

  “Legs around my waist, baby.” Pure sex laced his tone. I saw it in his eyes, and felt it in his jeans when I was up in his arms. Dancing. I laid my head on his shoulder and he slowly moved around the bar. I’d never danced with a man like this, and Rocco was one hell of a man.

  “This is nice,” I said right before I started kissing his neck. He moaned but kept dancing. I took my time kissing and licking his neck until he was walking across the room.

  He sat my ass down on the bar, kissing me and his hands slowly moved up the inside of my thighs. “I love your dresses,” he said against my lips and started kissing my neck. He pushed my dress up and slid my panties to the side. “I’ve missed you.”

  “We don’t have time for that,” I panted, grabbing at his jeans. He grinned and helped me unbutton his jeans. He pushed them down enough to free his cock and pulled me forward so my ass was halfway off the bar. He put his hands between my legs and pushed a finger inside of me.

  “Jesus,” he muttered, pulling his finger out and rubbing it on the tip of his cock. “Your foot okay?”

  “I’ll put it around your waist.” I pulled him to me and kissed him. He rubbed his cock up and down me a few times before pushing in.

  “I’ve missed you,” I told him in between kisses.

  He slowly kept pushing in and out until he was all the way in. “Fuck, Madi,” he moaned.

  “Fuck is right,” I said breathlessly. “Fuck me, Rocco.”

  “That honey, I can do.”

  #

  “You’re holding his hand again,” Rocco commented and I paused the TV. We were binge watching the show together, like we had planned. Rocco didn’t like how close I was to Isaac and that I held his hand a lot during the judgments, but he was getting used to the idea of me having a male friend.

  “I told you, Rocco, it was stressful and nerve racking. I look horrible on camera.” And I did. I loved my hair and clothes, but my facial expressions were horrible. I hated watching the show but Rocco wanted to see them all.

  “It’s just weird,” he said.

  “You met him at the funeral,” I reminded him.

  We flew out to Idaho for Isaac’s mom’s funeral. Steph and Sam where also there. Isaac had his mom cremated and had a small funeral for her. He didn’t know who donated the money, and it seemed like it was the furthest thing from his mind. We didn’t talk about the show while we were there, and Sam stayed after we all left. They were coming to visit soon during Christmas break, and I was hoping he was doing better by then. I didn’t talk to him as much as I thought I would but he was going through a tough time. Ian told me he had sold the house and because of the anonymous donor that paid his second mortgage off, he made a little money from the sale. Sam told me he was moving to New York to live with her. I was happy for them.

  “He was grieving his mother; I didn’t get a chance to get to know him.”

  “You will soon.” I gave him a quick kiss and got up to go to the bathroom. I wasn’t showing yet, which surprised me because I thought for sure I was going to plump up soon with all the ice cream I’d been eating with Adalyn. Adalyn, on the other hand, was getting big. Just in her belly though. From the back, you couldn’t even tell she was pregnant.

  A few had passed and though my foot was still sore, it was healing well enough that I didn’t need to use my crutches. I walked down the hall and stopped at our bedroom door. I always stopped. The ring was sitting on my dresser in a closed black box. It’s been sitting there since the night at the bar. He told me when I was ready for him to propose that I was to open the box. He’d do the rest.

  I smiled, used the rest room, and went back to watching the show.

  #

  “Harder!”

  “Fuck, Madi,” he growled into my ear and went harder. And faster. My ass was in the air and he was behind me with a fist full of my hair. I loved it when he pulled my hair.

  My orgasm was close.

  So close.

  Harder. Faster.

  He pulled my hair again.

  “Oh God,” I panted.

  “Fuck.”

  I came. Hard. My whole body locked up with pleasure and Rocco slammed into me a few more times, coming himself. He leaned over me and my legs started to give out. They were shaking and I slowly slid down onto my belly. He pulled out and lay next to me,
moving my hair off my face. We were both trying to catch our breath as we laid there ogling each other.

  “You’re so handsome,” I told him.

  “Thanks, beautiful.”

  “We need to shower and get ready for our company.” I slid off the bed and ran to the bathroom to clean up.

  “We’ll shower together,” he said when he joined me. He turned the shower on and got in. My foot was completely healed now, but Rocco was still worried about me wearing my heels so I wore my snow boots outside and my tennis shoes at work. We showered, dressed, and started cooking dinner. Adalyn, Rudd, and the kids came over first and started helping with the food.

  Sam, Isaac, and Steph were visiting for the first time and we were celebrating Christmas with them a week early. I had the house decorated, the tree was up in the living room, and it of course, looked fantastic. I got Bailey and Danny a few presents for tonight and had one gift for Rocco. We agreed to celebrate Christmas next week but I was giving him something later on tonight. It wasn’t much but I went out and bought some new lingerie to wear. I was going to add a few bows and ribbons to it so he could unwrap me.

  After a few hours of cooking and making sure everything was perfect, the doorbell rang. I ran to the door and swung it open. Sam was the first one to throw herself at me.

  “You look amazing!” she squealed in my ear and walked inside. Steph was next, then Isaac.

  “I hope you’re doing okay,” I told him while we hugged.

  “I’m good, Madi.”

  I stepped back. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Congrats.”

  “I’ve missed you,” I sniffled and tried to keep myself together. I wasn’t going to cry. I shut the door, waited for him to take his shoes off, then we went and joined everyone in the living room.

  “Isaac,” Rocco said and they shook hands, “good to see you again.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  He sat down next to Sam and she grabbed his hand. I went and leaned against Rocco. Sam was head over heels in love with the man and I’m sure Isaac felt the same way. Steph was still single and she was good with that. The girls were working long hours, along with Raymond, and they were looking at hiring two more people to help them out in the store. Speaking of dresses, Steph, Sam, and I were all wearing the same dress today. They were light red, with white flowers and green leaves around the bottom, and we each had different white flowers on the straps. We took pictures, we ate, and played card games. At the last minute, we found out Adalyn wasn’t coming over because she still had severe morning sickness this late in the pregnancy. I got lucky though and haven’t had any. I just struggle with exhaustion, causing me to sleep way too much.

  I excused myself to use the bathroom and stopped by my bedroom door. The ring still sat there in its box. I walked into my room and stood before it. I ran my finger over it and slowly opened it. It was so beautiful. Striking but elegant, and totally my style. It was a Tungsten & Sterling Silver ring with half a carat. The single diamond was square cut and sparkled whenever a ray of light hit it. He said I was his one and only and it needed no more than one.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Isaac asked walking into the room, leaning against the dresser so I could see his face.

  “Yes,” I said softly closing the box.

  “Why’s it just sitting there?”

  “I wasn’t ready. Rocco put it here so I could see it every day and told me when I was ready for him to propose, to open the box, and he’d do the rest.”

  “Do you love him?”

  I nodded. “The day we heard the baby’s heart beat was incredible, Isaac. We made him. It was both of us together as one and I knew then that I was in love with him.”

  I ran my fingers over the box again. “I don’t want it to feel like we were getting married because of the baby. Rocco didn’t know when he went to propose, but I did. So I asked him to wait.”

  “Why are you still waiting?”

  I shrugged a shoulder. I liked what we had now. We lived together and Rocco finished remodeling his apartment and let Olivia, his bar manager move in. Things were good. The rest of my money went into a savings account for the baby’s college fund. I started saving for retirement when I was sixteen. My parents always taught me to be responsible and to save. I knew I could give the baby the life I wanted him to have.

  “When the time is right, you’ll know it,” he said smiling down at me.

  “I’m glad you all came to visit.”

  He pushed off the dresser and cleared his throat. “I know it was you, Madi.”

  “Huh?” I pursed my lips together. I had no poker face. I knew what he was talking about as soon as he said it.

  “The money. Mom’s funeral and the second mortgage.”

  I crossed my arms on my chest and turned around. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Thank you.” I said nothing and he continued, “I’m not sure how you found me or how you managed to do that, but I don’t care. You truly are an amazing person and I’m so honored to be your friend.”

  “Best friends,” I reminded him with a smile.

  He chuckled and pulled me into a hug. “Thank you.”

  “You should have been there.” We never knew what happened and they decided not to have a reunion, which was probably better for them because I would have brought the subject up. They either figured it out or buried the situation, never to be spoken of again. We did receive a letter letting us know that all the items from the show that we made were donated to families in need.

  “But I wasn’t, and you won.”

  “But if you were there-”

  He pulled away. “I wasn’t there, Madi. You won. I’m grateful for what you did and if at any time I can pay you back, I will. I’m starting my business over again in New York, and Sam and I want to move out and have our own space.”

  “I’m so happy for you guys.”

  “Thanks, it’s going good for us. New York is expensive so it might be a few more months before we can actually move out.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, Isaac, but if you want to buy the baby a gift you’re more than welcome.”

  “I guess you’ll need a bigger house then,” he joked.

  “Don’t go overboard and ask me first about the gift. My mother already started and the baby’s room is filling up fast.”

  “You said him earlier…”

  I nodded and looked down at my belly. “They said it was eighty percent chance it was a boy because it was still early, but I know one hundred percent. It’s a boy.”

  “Do you have names picked out?” he asked at the same time I saw Rocco come into the room.

  “No,” I answered and smiled at Rocco. Isaac turned around and dismissed himself and I went to Rocco.

  “He knows about that money.”

  “I told you he’d figure it out.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and I leaned my head back to look into his eyes.

  “I denied it.”

  “He doesn’t believe you.”

  “Nope. Be prepared to have a shit load of baby crap.”

  “Your mother’s bought everything in this town.”

  I grinned because he was right, but the baby stuff was super cute. I had no idea what she’d buy for the actual baby shower.

  I gave him a quick kiss and told him I’d be right out. I still needed to use the bathroom. I admired Rocco’s ass on his way back to the living room. He always looked good in a pair of blue jeans. He also looked good naked. He was handsome. Sweet. Kind. Passionate about life, about us, and about the baby. He was all in. He loved me, even with my crazy obsession with my dresses and dinner parties. He’d do anything for us, he’s told me many times. I loved him back. Rocco and the baby were everything to me and I can’t live without either of them.

  I went back into the room and flipped the ring box open. This time I picked it up and noticed the engraving on the inside, my one and only. I put it back in the box and fought back my tears.
I would spend the rest of my life with Rocco because he was my one and only. I left the ring box open and left the room.

  He didn’t propose that night.

  He didn’t propose the night after either.

  Epilogue

  Rocco walked into the bedroom and saw his wife lying in bed with Isaac. She had one arm wrapped around his side and was holding him close to her. They were both sleeping peacefully.

  Rocco stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed with them. He placed a kiss on Madi’s forehead and then Isaac’s.

  Isaac was born early, and had to be flown to the city for neonatal care. He was a fighter but had to spend two months in the NICU. Madi blamed herself because she had drank while she was pregnant, but they didn’t know exactly why he came early. He was now six-months-old and pushing fifteen pounds. He was already growing up way too fast. Rocco wanted him to stay a baby forever. He was a good baby; hardly cried and would sleep all night so Madi could also rest. Madi was working part time now so he had him during the day, and he would go into work after they fell asleep for the night. They had a routine and it worked well for all three of them.

  Rocco picked up Isaac’s hand and played with his fingers gently like he did every night. Then he glanced at Madi and smiled. He had never been so happy in his life. He had the life he always wanted with the girl that stole his heart. Every day he fell more in love with his wife. She was an amazing mother. She was strong but stubborn, and they’d fight over the littlest of things. But he loved that about her most. She was opinionated and didn’t take shit from anyone, not even him.

  Rocco woke up the next morning to an empty bed. He walked out of the bedroom and found Madi and Isaac in the kitchen. The table was full of food and Isaac was dressed and sitting in his baby chair.

  “Good morning, handsome.”

  He yawned. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

  She smiled and gave Isaac another bite of food. “You needed the sleep.”

  Rocco moved to them, gave them each a kiss to the forehead, and grabbed a cup of coffee. He joined them at the table and sipped on his coffee. He needed time to wake up before he ate.