Sara was facing a kid conspiracy.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH she grilled the girls over the next twenty-four hours, neither of them broke. Finally, Sara gave up. She’d just deal with whatever mischief they were cooking up when the time came. Knowing her girls, it wouldn’t be too bad. Even though David was a new player in the mix and older, Sara had no doubt that Tana was still the ringleader.
After a long day of work the next day, she arrived at Ruby’s to find a note.
Gone to the beach with the girls. Come over to Blue Cove after you change. Ruby.
All she wanted to do was soak in a bubble bath for about an hour, but maybe she and the girls could watch the sunset together. She’d been so wrapped up in Adam lately that she worried she’d been neglecting the girls. Her common sense told her she hadn’t, but she guessed that fear of not being the perfect parent wasn’t going to go away overnight.
After changing, she headed to the Blue Cove beach access. But when she didn’t find Ruby or the girls, her heart sped up. She turned in a quick circle atop the dune, but all she saw was a white table on the beach flanked by a tall tent with white fabric sides blowing in the breeze. She was already dialing her phone as she turned toward the parking lot in time to see Adam pull in beside her car.
The moment he got out of the car, she asked, “Have you seen Ruby or the girls?”
A look of surprise crossed his face. “No. I got a call from David to meet him here.”
“David?” Sara looked over her shoulder to the table, noticed that it appeared to be set for a meal. A flash of Tana and David whispering to each other at Elizabeth and Ben’s house helped her realize what was going on just as Adam joined her on top of the dune.
“I think we’ve been played,” she said as she nodded toward the table.
He stared at it for a moment before the truth sank in. Then he smiled. “Well, I’m game if you are.”
Sara accepted Adam’s offered arm and allowed him to lead her to the table. She had to admit that this setting was really romantic. For that, she was sure she had Ruby to thank. As Adam sat across from her, uncharacteristic nerves fired within her. She tried not to think about where this might end up, especially when she suspected the kids were in that tent several yards away.
But it wasn’t the kids or Ruby, not even Elizabeth or Ben, who emerged from the tent. It was a waiter in black slacks, white shirt and black bow tie. He arrived at the side of the table bearing two shrimp cocktails and a bottle of champagne. Sara couldn’t find words, but Adam managed to thank the unknown man before he disappeared back into the tent.
For a moment, she thought she could see someone peeking out the side of the tent, but she wasn’t sure. She’d go along with all this because she missed Adam, and here he was so close.
He popped the cork on the champagne bottle. She laughed when the liquid rolled out and down his arm.
Adam shook the excess liquid off his arm. “I never was good at that.”
“More of a beer kind of guy, huh?”
He grinned at her. “Yeah.”
“How have you been?” she asked, hating that she found talking to him so awkward now.
He shrugged. “Okay. Busy. The state certainly has a lot of hoops to jump through before you can foster a kid.”
“It’s to protect the kids from bad situations.”
“I know,” he said as he poured some champagne in her glass.
She lifted the glass and took a drink. “So, you’re going to go through with it?”
“Yes. Kid kind of grew on me, I guess.” He met her eyes. “Lots of people been doing that lately.”
Sara’s heart sped up, fueled by hope. “I know what you mean.”
She asked him about where he was in the foster process and he responded with details as they ate their shrimp cocktails.
The waiter arrived to remove their dishes just as they finished. “Your main course will be out momentarily.”
Sara watched as the waiter retraced his steps.
“Where do you think they got him?” Adam asked.
“I’m sure that’s Ruby’s doing.” She looked back at Adam, taking a moment to appreciate how wonderful he looked in the slant of setting sun, like some gilded gift to women. To her. “I’m sorry about all this. They’re determined to play matchmaker.”
“I’m not.”
“Not what?” she asked, a lump threatening to form in her throat.
“Sorry.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I’ve missed you.”
Sara bit her bottom lip to keep from spilling every single feeling that was swirling inside of her. He didn’t even release her when the waiter returned with the main course, a delicious-smelling combination of grilled chicken and steak.
How was she supposed to eat when Adam’s thumb was stroking the top of her hand?
Her stomach growled, betraying the hunger she’d temporarily forgotten.
Adam laughed. “Hungry?”
“Apparently, I can never hide that fact,” she said as she remembered doing the same thing on movie night in the park. She lowered her gaze to her food.
Despite her hunger, she was only able to take a few bites before her nerves got in the way.
“Your food okay?” Adam asked.
“Yeah. It’s just…” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry about the way I acted when you were at my house the other day. I shouldn’t have questioned you like I did.”
Adam lowered his fork to his plate. “I’m glad you did. It made me examine my reasoning one more time.”
“And?”
“And, crazy as it might seem, I don’t like the idea of anyone else raising him. I’ve changed in the past several weeks, in ways I didn’t think I ever would. Thanks to you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You liked me, the me behind all the flirting and bluster.”
“It’s not hard.”
Soft music drew their attention, and Sara had to laugh when she saw Tana’s iPod dock sitting in the sand outside the tent.
“I think that’s our cue to dance.” Adam extended his hand.
She went willingly into his arms. Oh, she’d missed this, the wondrous feeling of being encircled in his strong arms, their hearts beating so close together, the male scent of him tickling her nose. She gave in to her yearning and laid her cheek against his chest, closed her eyes and drank in all the sensations of being next to him, listened to the waves and the soft music intertwining.
Sara dropped the barrier she used to protect her heart from further loss and let the truth come out. “I’ve missed you, too.”
Adam stopped dancing and moved so that she faced him. Then he dropped his lips to hers and kissed her like they’d been looking for each other for a thousand years.
When Adam lifted his mouth from hers, he kept her close and ran his hand gently over her windswept hair. “You know, I think our kids might be smarter than we are.”
The way he said “our kids” melted her heart, and she knew without a doubt she’d found her Mr. Perfect.
“I love you,” she said, no hint of fear or tentativeness in her voice.
He looked startled for a moment, then smiled before capturing her mouth again.
She was still floating on a cloud of satisfaction when she heard Adam chuckle. She looked over her shoulder to see a handmade sign sticking out of the side of the tent that said, “Ask her!”
Ask her what? When she turned back toward Adam, she saw such an intense look of love on his face that it took her breath away.
“I think they’ve been reading my mind.”
Sara’s pulse kicked into overdrive as she suddenly knew what was about to happen.
Adam caressed her cheek as softly as the beach breeze. “For a long time, I didn’t think I could fall for anyone again. I was wrong.”
Sara’s heart stopped in anticipation.
“I’m ready to try happily ever after if you are,” he said. “I know I’m not perfect, but—”
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Sara placed her fingers against his lips, forcing him to stop speaking. “I’ve been looking for Mr. Perfect for a long time, and I finally found him. You’re perfect to me.”
Adam pulled her closer. “I love you, Sara Greene. Will you marry this lowly pier worker?”
Happy tears sprang to Sara’s eyes as she said, “Only if you promise to flirt with me forever. I kind of miss it.”
“That I can do,” he said just before he kissed her to seal the deal.
Voices from inside the tent drew their attention.
“Should we put them out of their misery?” Adam asked.
Sara laughed and nodded.
“You can come out,” Adam called out. “She said yes.”
The tent threatened to collapse as Tana, David and Lilly ran out, followed by Ruby. As the kids careened into Sara and Adam, squealing with happiness, Sara’s heart swelled. She had her family. Life was perfect.
Epilogue
Sara stepped out into a beautiful, bright October day to find her new husband on a ladder reattaching the gutter that had come loose on the corner of her…their house. Feeling mischievous, she whistled in appreciation of the sight before her. Nothing like sexy, sweaty male.
He turned and gave her a crooked grin. “Like the view, huh?”
“Whoever invented the tool belt must have been a woman.” She admired how it hung at his waist, accenting his jean-clad assets.
“You just come out to ogle, or can I have one of those glasses of lemonade?”
She held up a glass and wiggled it. “Come and get it.”
He growled as he came down the ladder and stalked toward her. “You, Mrs. Canfield, are a tease,” he said before lowering his lips to hers for a long kiss that promised more.
When the kiss ended, he took one of the glasses and downed half of the contents, then rolled the cool exterior against his forehead. He looked back at the gutter. “I think I’ve got it fixed.”
“Looks good. You’ve become quite the handyman around here.”
Again with the flirty grin. “I aim to please.”
She ignored the innuendo and returned her attention to the back of the house that had now become home to two more people. “What do you think about adding on another room?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. We’re doing fine now. I know Tana probably wishes she didn’t have to share with Lilly now that David’s here, but we’ll get by.”
“Yeah, but I kind of doubt David is going to want to share with someone who needs to be fed every two hours.”
Adam froze then turned slowly toward her, looking like he hadn’t heard her correctly.
“A baby?”
She couldn’t stop the mile-wide smile that took over her mouth. “Yes. In May.”
Adam whooped and pulled her into his arms, lifted her and swung her around. The small ball of worry she’d harbored that this extra responsibility might put him over the edge dissipated. His joy washed over her, making her laugh.
“When does all this newlywed goofiness end?” Tana’s question alerted them to the fact that Ruby and the kids were back from their trip to Destin for a day of mini golf and riding go-carts.
“Never,” Adam teased her.
Sara couldn’t stop smiling when Ruby gave her a look that said she knew something was up.
“Adam and I were just talking about adding another room on to the house,” Sara said.
The kids all talked at once.
“Toy room,” said Lilly.
“Media room,” offered David.
Tana crossed her arms. “Hello, it’s so I can have my own room again.”
“Actually,” Sara said. “It’s going to be a nursery.”
Lilly looked confused, but understanding hit David and Tana at the same time.
“You’re having a baby?” Tana said, her face and voice reflecting wonder.
Sara nodded.
The kids ran forward to envelop her and Adam in hugs and squeals. She caught Adam’s gaze and hoped her private smile for him reflected how very much she loved him and their family. And the fact that he’d become the perfect family man.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5043-1
THE FAMILY MAN
Copyright © 2010 by Trish Milburn.
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