by Alice Ward
“He left it to him?!” Zach roared. “There’s no way. He hated him!”
“Apparently not,” Tara said with fire in her eyes. She fixed Zach with a menacing stare. She refused to look away until Zach did first.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Yates,” the lawyer said to Zach. “But the will is final unless Sean refuses the company.”
Zach and Tara looked at me quickly. Zach grinned like he knew what was going to happen. To him, I had always hated my father’s company, and there was no reason in the world for me to keep it. To Tara, it was the last piece of my father I had left, and there was no way I could surrender it. Only one of them was right.
“I won’t refuse it,” I said simply. “If this is what Dad wanted, then okay.”
Zach let loose an infuriated scream and jumped up from the table. With a disdainful look at me, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him. I watched him go with amusement. When I turned back to Tara, she grinned from ear to ear.
I thought about this day on and off for the past week, wondering what my father would leave me. I didn’t care if he left me everything or if he left me nothing, but I couldn’t deny that I was curious. If my father meant what he said about me and about Zach, then his will would reflect that. Deep down, I worried that my father’s regret was just an emotion inspired by his illness. If he never got sick, he never would have thought twice about me.
It was a sad thought, but one I entertained often throughout that week. Now, I had to imagine a different scenario. One in which my father always loved me and thought the best of me. One in which he trusted me above anyone else, including my brother. Just as these thoughts entered my mind, a new question surfaced.
“When was his will last changed?” I asked.
“Six years ago,” the lawyer said simply. “When he got sick, I asked if he would like to make any amendments and he said no. He was happy with his decisions.”
“So, the company,” I said. “He wanted to leave it to me all along?”
“Yes,” the lawyer said simply.
“And Paisley,” I said. “He always wanted to make sure she was taken care of?”
“Yes,” the lawyer said. His voice was kind, and he waited patiently while I processed all this new information.
After I was ready, he continued with the reading of my father’s will. There wasn’t much left to discuss, and we were soon on our way. I held Tara’s hand while we left the office, Paisley running a little ahead of us. I watched her closely but let my mind drift as we stepped outside.
“I still can’t believe it,” I said. “He left it to me. Me.”
“I can,” Tara said simply. “He always loved you and trusted you. He always knew that, between you and Zach, you were the right choice.”
“He could have left it to you,” I said.
“No.” She shook her head firmly. “He wanted it to be a family business, and I’m not family.”
“He trusted you,” I reminded her. “He promoted you before he died.”
“I know,” she smiled. “And I’m grateful. But now, I work for you.”
She grinned widely without a trace of resentment. I knew her excitement was genuine and that she was just happy Zach didn’t get his hands on the company again. We walked hand in hand around the building. Paisley was dancing in front of us, her dress billowing out around her. She looked happy. Young and innocent. Exactly what I always wanted her to be.
“What are you thinking?” Tara asked while I watched Paisley.
“Nothing,” I said truthfully. “I’m just watching her.”
“Do you think,” she began slowly. “Do you think you’ll get a paternity test done?”
“What?” I asked.
“Just to be sure,” Tara said. Her voice was low, almost as if she was afraid I might be angry at the suggestion. I wasn’t angry, but my answer came easily.
I watched Paisley for a few minutes longer, enjoying the sight of her there in front of me. In all my life, I had never loved anyone as completely as I loved her. She was my entire world, and no piece of paper would ever tell me differently.
“No,” I said firmly. “She’s my daughter. I’m her father. I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me that. She’s mine and she always will be. No matter what.”
Tara’s smile widened even more, and she squeezed my hand. She leaned her head against my shoulder, and we watched Paisley together. She played in a stretch of grass, spinning in circles so that her dress flew up around her. I laughed and kissed the top of Tara’s head.
“I’m glad you said that,” Tara whispered.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because it just proves me right,” Tara said. “It proves that I’m right about you.”
“And what exactly are you right about?” I asked.
“That you’re an amazing man,” she said simply. “One of the most amazing men I’ve ever known. Paisley is so lucky to have you, Sean. And so am I.”
Her words filled me warmth, and I wrapped my arms tightly around her. Paisley was still playing, and I wanted to enjoy this moment for as long as possible. I held onto Tara, and we stood there in silence, letting the joy of the day wash over us. My father’s memory would live on inside of us forever, and our sadness was just beginning, but so was our happiness. With his will, my father gave all three of us a fresh start. We would never be able to repay him for that. In his death, he provided us with a life we never imagined we would have.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Sean
Paisley, Tara, and I spent almost every waking moment together for weeks. When Tara wasn’t working, she was with us. It felt surreal sometimes. Suddenly, Tara was this fixture in my life that I never thought would be there. After Claire left me, I didn’t think I would meet someone again. I imagined myself alone. Forever. It wasn’t until Tara that I finally let myself think I could really be happy again.
Now, with Paisley and Tara, I felt truly at peace for the first time in years. I missed my father every day. I hated how much time we wasted over such a petty, insignificant vendetta, but I knew he loved me. We forgave each other in the end, and that’s all that mattered. Still, I wished he could see me with Paisley and Tara. I wished he could be a part of my happily ever after.
In a way, I knew he was. His hand was on everything. From the college fund that now existed in Paisley’s name, to the growing success of Yates’ Motorcycles, to the brand-new home I just bought for my family, he was a part of everything. Without him, none of it would have been possible. I owed him more than I could ever repay, and my gratitude felt so strong that I thought it might burst out of my chest. As I got dressed for my celebratory dinner with Tara and Paisley, I imagined him standing next to me. I heard him whisper how proud he was of the man I’d become.
I smiled at the thought and finished tying my tie. When I was dressed, I made my way into the living room to wait for the girls. They were getting ready in Paisley’s room. At Paisley’s request, we were all going out to dinner to celebrate the new house. She was beyond excited to have a bigger room and a pool in the backyard. Plus, she wanted a night to get all dressed up and have Tara do her hair “like a princess.” When they stepped out of Paisley’s room, my mouth dropped.
Paisley was dressed in a light blue dress with her hair twisted up in a curly bun. She looked like a little lady, and it broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Beside her, Tara wore a long red dress with a slit up the side. It was low-cut and tight without being inappropriate. She had straightened her hair and pulled it back in an elegant ponytail. I stared at her for longer than I should have, unable to look away from her beauty. I’d seen her wear everything from work attire to pajamas, but never something this fancy. She took my breath away.
“I have the two prettiest dates in the entire world,” I said simply.
“Tara did my hair!” Paisley said with excitement.
“It’s beautiful,” I assured her. “Just like a princess.”
“Really?” Pai
sley asked.
“Absolutely,” I said, grinning. “So, are we ready to go?”
“Yup!” Paisley said. She hurried toward the front door. I stood back and held out my arm for Tara to take. She wrapped her hand gently around my bicep and let me escort her to the car.
“That’s really unfair,” I said softly. We crossed the yard slowly. Paisley was already climbing in the backseat.
“What?” Tara asked innocently.
“You looking that good,” I said. “How am I supposed to concentrate on dinner with you in that dress? I don’t even want to leave the house.”
“Oh?” Tara grinned slyly. “And what would you rather do instead?”
We stopped a few feet away from the car and turned to face each other. My back was to the car as I looked Tara up and down. My eyes slid over her face and her neck, lingering slightly on her breasts. I took in the curve of her hips and her slightly exposed thighs. Her legs were sexier than ever, and I had to fight the urge to trail my fingers along her skin.
“Now who’s not being fair?” Tara asked. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes came alive with desire.
“My god, you’re gorgeous,” I said, my voice deep and husky.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that,” Tara said, “We’ll never leave.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” I asked.
“It is for your daughter,” Tara said, pointing at the car behind me.
“I know.” I sighed. “We should go, but just so you know…”
I trailed off and leaned forward. Placing my lips at the tip of her earlobe, I wrapped my fingers around her hips and pulled her body against mine.
“The entire time we’re at dinner,” I continued, breathing softly in her ear. “All I’ll be thinking about is getting you out of that dress.”
Tara shivered and swallowed hard. I pulled away from her, grinning widely, and spun around to face the car. I was already almost to the driver’s side before Tara took a single step. Her eyes were on me, and she looked dazed. I grinned wider at the sight. I loved the effect I had on her.
“You’re evil,” she muttered as she climbed into the car.
I just winked at her and started the engine. Paisley was oblivious in the backseat, so I reached over and squeezed Tara’s thigh gently. She squirmed beneath my grasp and bit her lip. I chuckled and put the car in reverse. As we drove to the restaurant, I kept my promise. I thought of nothing other than slipping Tara out of that red dress. I could already picture her naked body lying on my bed, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to concentrate at dinner. As we drove down the street, I was grateful that Paisley was too young to notice any tension in the air.
***
Dinner was a long, enjoyable affair. I took Tara and Paisley to an upscale steak house and told them to order whatever they wanted. Of course, Paisley skipped right to dessert and ordered the most delicious slice of chocolate cake. She finished it all and requested seconds, but I knew I had to put my foot down sometime. I ordered her some steamed veggies and made her eat them before I got her a scoop of ice cream. She was in heaven.
Tara and I both ordered steak and savored every bite. The food was better than anything I’d ever tasted, and I couldn’t get enough. I knew I could have spent all night eating if it weren’t for my plans to spend the rest of the night alone with Tara. Just the thought of her made me excited, and I had to force myself to focus on something else. I turned my attention to Paisley.
“So,” I said. “You excited about the new house?”
“Yeah.” Paisley nodded. “Can we go swimming when we get there?”
“After we unpack,” I promised. “I don’t want to live out of boxes for months and months.”
“Okay,” Paisley said. “But then, we can swim?”
“Yes,” I promised. “Of course.”
“I can’t believe how big my room is!” Paisley said. I grinned and remembered the first time I showed her the house.
It was just pictures, but her entire face lit up so brightly that I knew I had to buy it. The house was far from a mansion, but it felt like one to us. Compared to my humble, two-bedroom house, the new one made us feel like royalty. There were four bedrooms and a library. Out back sat a pool and a huge garage that was perfect for my bike.
“I think we should turn the library into your art studio,” I said to Paisley. “We can fill all the shelves with books but keep the rest of the room empty just for you. We can put a desk or an easel. Anything you want.”
“That would be awesome!” Paisley said. “A whole room just to draw!”
She took a bite of her ice cream and grinned. I’d never seen her so happy. I felt like an amazing dad, and I wanted the feeling to last forever. I knew a fancy house wasn’t the way to her heart, but I felt accomplished and successful. I felt like the kind of father she could be proud of and that, more than anything, was all I ever wanted.
“What are you going to do with all the other rooms?” Tara asked. “Aren’t there four bedrooms?”
“Yup,” I said. “I don’t know. We’ll figure something out.”
I looked at Tara and forced myself to stay quiet before I said too much. My feelings for Tara got stronger each day. I knew exactly how I wanted to fill those bedrooms, but I wasn’t ready for Tara to know that quite yet.
We finished dinner and made our way back home. Paisley fell asleep in the car, which wasn’t a surprise. It was close to eleven o’clock by the time we pulled into the driveway, way past Paisley’s usual bedtime. I carried her easily through the front yard and into the house. After I laid her in bed and tucked her in, I hurried back to the living room where Tara was waiting for me.
As enjoyable as the night was, I was ready to be alone with Tara. Paisley was my ray of sunlight, but on nights like these, I just wanted to be with Tara. She had captivated me throughout the entire night. Every time I looked at her, I forgot how to breathe. She was beyond gorgeous, and her dress fit so perfectly.
“Hey, you,” I said as I walked into the living room.
“I can’t believe it’s your last night here,” Tara said. “I have some amazing memories in this house.”
“Me too,” I said, grinning. “What should we do to commemorate the evening?”
“I thought you had a few ideas about that,” Tara said slyly.
“I do,” I growled. I walked over to her and ran my hands up and down her sides. She felt amazing.
“Come on,” Tara said. She reached for my hand, but I stopped her.
“Tara,” I said. “I’ve never cared about anyone the way I care about you. I just need you to know that I—”
“Shh,” Tara whispered. She placed her index finger to my lips and stared into my eyes. She looked at me with so much passion and intensity that I got hard just standing there. She took my hand and led me to the bedroom.
We stepped inside and closed the door. My eyes were glued to her body. When she moved, the dress flowed seductively. My erection pressed against my pants.
“Come here,” I ordered.
Tara obeyed, walking toward me. I turned her around so her back was to me. I kissed the back of her neck and slowly licked my way down until I reached the zipper on her dress. I unzipped her slowly, wanting to watch as her skin was revealed. When the dress was completely unzipped, I pulled it down off her shoulder and let it fall in a heap around her feet.
She stood in front of me completely naked, and I realized she hadn’t been wearing underwear the whole night. I groaned and pulled her back against me. Her ass rubbed against my erection, and I moaned in her ear. She leaned back further, twisting her neck around so she could face me.
I held her neck gently while our lips met. We kissed slowly, letting our passion build before our tongues found each other and our breathing became ragged. I caressed her naked body, feeling every inch of her. When I reached her breasts, I cupped them tightly in my hands, and she gasped against my mouth. The sound was too much. I couldn’t take it anymore. In one motion, I spun h
er around to face me and threw her backward onto my bed.
She laid there, naked and beautiful. I couldn’t stop staring. Moonlight streamed through the windows, illuminating her body seductively. I let out a hungry moan and climbed on top of her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Tara
It took a while after Ray’s death, but things started to get back to normal. Work was back in full swing, and despite my insistence that he take more time, Sean was almost ready to get involved. I ran most of the day to day business and I loved it. Now that Zach was gone, my life at Yates’ Motorcycles was better than I ever thought it could be. The only thing missing was Ray. I missed him each time I walked past his now empty office.
It was hard, but we were all determined to keep living our lives. So, in the spirit of getting back to normal, I met Niki on my lunch break. She was getting her nails done in town, and I knew of a great sushi place right next door. I planned to stop in and catch up with her before picking up some food to take back to the office.
“I’m sorry,” Niki said for the hundredth time. “I know he was important to you.”
“He was,” I said. “But you don’t have to apologize every time we talk, Nik. I’m okay. I’ll be okay.”
“How’s work going?” Niki asked. “Now that he’s gone.”
“Hard,” I admitted. “I miss him a lot and so does everyone else. His presence still hangs in the air, you know? When I walk past his office, I feel like he’s still there. Watching me.”
“Creepy,” Niki chuckled.
“Very.” I laughed. “But also kind of comforting? In a way. It’s like he’s watching over me, making sure I’m doing the job the right way.”
“He doesn’t need to do that,” Niki said. “Even ghost Ray trusts you implicitly. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have picked you to run the damn thing.”
“I know.” I smiled. “Still, I don’t want to fail him. He put so much faith in me. I don’t want to let him down. Him. Or Sean.”
“Sean, huh?” Niki asked with raised eyebrows. “How’s he doing?”
