by Alice Ward
“Tara,” Sean said. “You deserve this.”
“What about you?” I asked weakly.
“I’ll keep my stocks,” Sean shrugged. “And I’ll be fine. That’s more than I ever thought I would have anyway. Tara, you were born to run this company. You know that.”
“I can do that job,” I admitted. “But that doesn’t mean I should.”
“You deserve this,” he said again. “Just let yourself have it.”
I stared at him and tried to think of another argument, but I couldn’t. Deep down, I knew Sean was right. This is what I’d always wanted. I hoped that Ray would leave the company to me, but I never thought he actually would, and I was right. When he left it to Sean, I thought that was the best-case scenario.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked.
“As sure as I am that I love you,” Sean said simply.
I blinked. It was like he was on a mission to keep surprising me. First, offering me the company and now this. We hadn’t said those three words yet, and now that he had, he could never take them back.
I grinned and kissed him softly, letting all my emotions come out in that one kiss.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it.”
“You will?” Sean asked brightly.
“I will,” I said. “And one more thing. I love you, too.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Sean
Two months later, I still wasn’t used to the new house. We moved in quickly. Everything I owned fit easily into the house, but many of the rooms were still empty. I’d never had a formal dining room before, so Tara helped me pick out a nice dining room table and chairs. She even found me a china cabinet that matched and looked amazing in the room. I never imagined myself in such a grandiose house, but I loved it.
Paisley’s room was decorated to her exact specifications, and she raved about how much she loved it. When she started back at school, she couldn’t wait to tell her friends all about her new house. She even asked if she could invite them all over for a pool party one weekend. I was so surprised by her excitement that I said yes without thinking about it. Having twenty eight-year-olds over wasn’t an easy task, but Paisley had so much fun.
Tara helped with the party and with everything else. She helped us unpack everything and get the house organized. She even went shopping with us whenever we needed a woman’s opinion. Paisley was great at decorating, but she was still just a little girl, and I couldn’t get behind polka dot everything. By the time we’d been there for a while, the place was starting to look more like a home. Paisley had taken over the library and made it her own, and the garage was covered in my mechanic gear. We were happy.
Still, as I woke up one Saturday morning, I had to remind myself where I was. After so many years of living in the same house and doing the same things every day, it was taking me a long time to fully settle in to my new life. I went back to work at the mechanic shop part-time to give myself a sense of purpose again. I stayed on at Yates’ as the face of the company whenever Tara needed me, but that took up so little time that I soon felt useless. Working as a mechanic again made me feel like myself. It was fun. It was me.
Plus, I knew I wasn’t the kind of man to live off someone else’s money. Despite what my father wanted to do for me, I still didn’t feel like modeling was a real job. At least, not for me. I needed to give myself a chance to feel like I was doing something worthwhile. Giving Yates’ Motorcycles to Tara was the best decision I could have made. I could stay in the life I loved, and she was finally playing the role she always wanted to play. Tara thrived as the boss, and everyone saw it.
As we woke up together that morning, I kissed her shoulder softly and pushed myself up. I leaned back against the headboard and watched her while her eyes flickered open. She rolled over to face me with a sleepy smile on her face. Her hair was ruffled, the way I loved, and her eyes were barely open. No matter how many times I woke up next to her, Tara always made my heart skip a beat. She looked her best in the mornings: simple, gorgeous, and natural. She never had to try to look beautiful, which was just one of the things I loved about her.
“Good morning,” I whispered.
“Morning,” she said back. “How’d you sleep?
“Good,” I said. “It’s still a little strange waking up here.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Tara said. She sat up beside me and rested her head on my shoulder. “This is your home now.”
“And I love it,” I said. “I really do.”
“Good,” she said. “I’m sorry I was so late last night. I didn’t mean to wake you when I came in.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I’m glad you did.”
“I still think I should just stay at my place when I work late,” Tara said.
“Not a chance in hell,” I said firmly. “I love you being here.”
“If you insist.” Tara laughed.
“I do,” I said. “Now tell me, what was so important that it kept you at the office so late?”
“New ad campaign.” Tara yawned. “We want to launch it at the end of the month, and to do that, we’ll have to pull all-nighters.”
“Sounds insane,” I said.
“But worth it,” Tara promised. “This campaign is projected to increased our profits by another twelve percent. I can’t believe how fast things have turned around. Having Zach out of the way has really helped. I never realized just how much trouble he caused until he left. There was so much none of us knew.”
“He was poisonous,” I said through gritted teeth. I still didn’t like talking about my brother, and I wasn’t sure that would ever change.
“He really was,” Tara said. “Did I tell you he was embezzling from the company?”
“What?” I asked. Tara lifted her head off my shoulder and turned to face me with a somber nod.
“Yup,” she said. “Not large amounts, but it was enough. He was incredibly clever about it. I never would have found it on my own. The accounting department did a complete sweep after he left and found the evidence. It’s insane. We were all busting our asses to bring in more money, and Zach was stealing it.”
“I’m glad my dad wasn’t around to find that out,” I said sadly. “It would have broken his heart.”
“I know,” Tara said. “I thought the same thing. Anyway, I’m just glad we’re rid of him. Now, we can really begin to move forward. I have so many plans and ideas. I can’t wait to put them all into effect.”
“You’re doing an amazing job.” I smiled. “My dad would have been so proud of you.”
“Thank you.” Tara blushed. “I really hope so. I learned so much from him. I’m just trying to do things the way he would have wanted.”
“You are,” I said confidently. “I promise.”
As our conversation came to a close, Paisley burst through the door and jumped on the bed. She bounced around a little, grinning at us in her childlike way. I reached over and ruffled her hair gently, pulling her against me for a morning hug. She hugged me tightly before she continued her bouncing.
“Someone’s in a good mood this morning.” Tara laughed.
“She has something she wants to tell you,” I said, remembering Paisley’s excitement from the night before. She came home from school with a wide smile, demanding to see Tara. I promised her she would see her in the morning, but she was disappointed. Her news was just too good to wait.
“Well, tell me,” Tara said eagerly. “What is it?”
“My report card came in,” Paisley said. “And I got straight A’s! Even in math!”
“Wow!” Tara said. “That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you, honey.”
“Thank you!” Paisley grinned. “And I got moved up to the next level on swim team. I’m now the anchor, which means I’m the fastest swimmer on the team! Me! Out of everyone, I’m the fastest!”
“I’m not surprise,” Tara said firmly. “You’ve been practicing nonstop. You deserve that spot!”
“I know!” Paisley sa
id.
She was still bouncing up and down on the bed, excitement practically seeping through her pores. Tara listened attentively while Paisley told her all about her week at school. Getting her report card and becoming the anchor were just the beginning. She had friend drama and school projects to share with Tara. I watched them talk with a smile on my face. Lately, it seemed like I was always smiling. I couldn’t be in the same room with Tara or Paisley without grinning from ear to ear. They both had a direct line to my happy button.
Tara only had eyes for Paisley while they talked. She stared at Paisley with rapt attention, never once looking away. I knew this was why Paisley loved talking to Tara so much. They were best friends, and Tara was quickly becoming like a mother to her. It warmed my heart to see Paisley opening up to someone. She needed a woman in her life, and I couldn’t think of anyone better than Tara. I loved them both more than I ever thought I could love anyone. The more they grew to love each other, the stronger my feelings for Tara became. I knew I could never be with her if she and Paisley didn’t get along. I was grateful that I would never have to worry about that. Tara could listen to Paisley talk for hours, and Paisley could spend hours just hanging out with Tara. They were inseparable.
“Come on,” Paisley said. “Let’s go make breakfast!”
“What should we make?” Tara asked as she climbed out of bed.
“Something special,” Paisley said.
“Absolutely,” Tara agreed. “After all, we’re celebrating.”
“Chocolate chip pancakes!” Paisley squealed.
I followed them out of the bedroom and down the stairs. We all stepped into the kitchen together, and I flicked on the light. Paisley moved to the pantry and pulled down the bag of pancake mix. She searched for the chocolate chips while Tara grabbed the milk and eggs from the fridge. They both moved around the kitchen easily, never second guessing where they were going. This kitchen was theirs. This house was their home.
Tara wasn’t living with us, but sometimes it felt that way. If she didn’t spend the night with us, I missed her. I could barely sleep without her warm body next to mine. She’d become such a vital piece of our lives that I couldn’t imagine her ever being gone.
As I watched them cook together, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. I knew I should get up to help them, but I wanted to watch them a little longer. The way they laughed and talked so naturally was amazing to me. I could have spent the entire day just sitting in the kitchen, watching them interact. They barely knew I was there. They were so absorbed in their own conversation and in what they were doing that I knew I was right. They truly were the best of friends, and Paisley loved Tara just as much as I did.
Finally, I stood up and walked over to join them at the stove. Paisley was standing on a stool, pouring pancake batter onto a hot skillet. Tara watched and instructed carefully, making sure Paisley didn’t burn herself or the pancakes. I moved to Tara’s side and wrapped my arm around her waist. I kissed her temple and smiled at her brightly.
“What was that for?” Tara asked with a smile of her own.
“Because I love you,” I said simply. I kissed her lips.
“I love you, too,” she said.
“And,” I said, turning to Paisley. “I love you, my little munchkin.”
“I love you, too, Daddy,” Paisley said.
My heart melted as I let go of Tara’s waist. Moving across the kitchen, I pulled down three plates from the top cabinet and grabbed a few forks from the cutlery drawer. While Tara and Paisley finished making the pancakes, I set the table and got the syrup out of the fridge. I warmed it in the microwave before I set it on the table beside a block of butter. Just as I finished laying out napkins, the girls finished making the pancakes.
Paisley carried the giant stack to the table and set it down in the middle. We each got a glass of milk and sat down to eat. Paisley dove right in, gorging herself on the delicious chocolate chip pancakes. She groaned happily, and I laughed. Chocolate chip pancakes were her favorite.
By the end of breakfast, the food was gone, and we were all happily full. We cleaned up quickly, ready to spend the day together.
EPILOGUE
Tara
Paisley wiggled away from me as I tied her hair back at the base of her neck. She usually loved when I did her hair, but tonight, she was anxious to leave. I smiled at her impatience and hurried to finish her hair. It was curled slightly and braided down the sides. I tied it back and let the curls cascade down her back. She looked beautiful in her little yellow dress. I couldn’t believe how big she was getting.
With her tenth birthday right around the corner, she was already turning into a little lady. She’d come so far from the little eight-year-old I met almost two years ago. Her entire life was different now. Living with Sean was now normal for her. She started calling him Dad a long time ago, and it was obvious that she couldn’t imagine living with anyone else. They were closer than ever, and I knew that they would only grow closer as time went on. I loved to watch them together, knowing that I was there for their beginning.
Paisley was finally ready, and I quickly checked myself in the mirror. My black dress was long and almost reached my feet. I adjusted it, making sure it laid down flat, before I fluffed my curls and checked my lipstick. When I was sure everything was perfectly in place, I grabbed my purse and turned back to Paisley. She watched me closely with curious eyes, the way a daughter would watch her mother get ready. Butterflies erupted in my stomach at the sight. I didn’t ever want to assume anything, but I already felt like Paisley was my daughter, too. After nearly two years of spending time with her, I loved her like she was my own.
“What are we celebrating again?” Paisley asked with a frown as we made our way downstairs.
“You know the company I run?” I asked.
“Yes.” Paisley nodded.
“Well,” I said. “We just made the top ten of the fortune 500 companies.”
“What does that mean?” Paisley asked.
“It means that Tara is incredibly successful and beyond amazing,” Sean said as we stepped into the living room.
“Stop it,” I said with a roll of my eyes. Sean leaned forward and kissed me lightly on the lips.
“You look gorgeous,” he said.
“Thank you.” I smiled. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
“I try,” Sean joked.
“Are we going?” Paisley asked. She bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. No matter how old he got, she never lost her childlike excitement. Just the mention of a celebration and she vibrated with energy.
“Yes.” I laughed. “We’re ready to go.”
“My ladies,” Sean said, offering each of us an arm. He led us out the front door and down through the yard. As he stepped into the driveway, a limo pulled up in front of us. It stopped on the street, and the driver stepped out. He hurried over to open the door for us. Paisley and Sean walked forward, but I stayed still. I was speechless.
“What’s wrong?” Paisley asked.
“A limo?” I asked, looking at Sean with wide eyes.
“Of course,” he said with a laugh. “This is a celebration, Tara. You deserve everything.”
“This is too much,” I said. I took a step forward, finally following them. We ducked inside the limo and sat side by side.
My eyes roamed around the car, taking in the bright lights and fancy decorations. The seats were a deep, dark purple, and the walls were shiny black. I could see my reflection in the them. When I turned, a saw a mini bar set up near the front of the limo. There were champagne glasses and a bottle chilling in ice. I gaped, completely shocked by the turn of events.
“I thought this was just dinner,” I said.
“It is.” Sean shrugged. “This is just how we’re getting to dinner.”
“You are crazy.” I laughed.
“Maybe,” he said. “But you deserve this.”
Sean slid to the front of the limo and poured us both a glass of champagne
. He then reached below the bar and grabbed a small bottle of sparkling cider. He poured Paisley a glass and came back over to us. He handed us our drinks and sat down with a grin.
“To Tara,” he said, raising his glass. Paisley clinked hers against his, and I followed suit. “Congratulations baby.”
“Thank you,” I said. I took a sip of my champagne and let the bubbles work their way down my throat. I felt them in my chest and then my stomach. I smiled wider, taking in the moment. Sean was completely insane for planning such a lavish evening, but I had to admit that I was having fun. The night had only just begun, and already, I was in heaven.
The last time I was in a limo was for my high school prom, and then, I shared it with nine other people. It wasn’t nearly as nice or expensive as this one. Sean sat beside me and held my hand while I sipped my champagne and continued to look around me. As the new owner of a Fortune 500 company, I should have been more used to this kind of treatment, but I wasn’t. Everything was so new for me.
I didn’t feel worthy of such an amazing night. When I told Sean about the company’s success, I expected him to be pleased. I knew he would be proud of me. I knew he would want to celebrate, but I imagined a quiet dinner at home with him and Paisley. I thought it would just be the three of us sitting around the kitchen table like always. That would have been perfect. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, but Sean had other plans.
As the limo pulled up to the restaurant and we stepped out, I was once again surprised. The restaurant was the nicest one in town. It had a French name that I couldn’t pronounce, and I knew it was insanely expensive. Money was no longer a worry for Sean and me, not since Ray made sure we were taken care of, but we still tried to live humble lives. We never splurged on a restaurant this nice. Ever. Our usual celebratory place was a steak house close to the house. It was nice and just fancy enough to feel special. This place? It was on an entirely different level.
