I wasn’t upset about the money. I couldn’t care less about that. But I felt sick knowing the extent to which my father had gone to cut me out of his will. I’d convinced myself that my mom must have been mistaken somehow, that my father would never have done what she’d accused him of. But this new information made me question my decision to let him into my life.
“Look, Ms. Brooks. I’ve known Samuel his entire life. He’s never wanted children. It doesn’t make him a bad man, he’s just not the f
atherly type. You’ll do much better on your own, out of this town, and away from his influence.”
“I can’t leave town. This is where Ethan lives. He has a business here. We can’t just pack up and go.”
“Ethan?” he parroted with a stunned expression on his face. “Ethan Parker?”
“Yes.” I held up my left hand and turned it so he could see the ring. “We’re engaged to be married. Surely you can see why what you’re suggesting is impossible.”
“It’s even worse than I thought, you poor girl.” He heaved a deep breath, stood, and walked around to my side of the desk. “Ethan is Samuel’s best friend, and quite protective of him. He’d do just about anything for him—including taking care of the potential issue of the long-lost daughter who suddenly turned up.”
“What? No!” I shouted, jumping out of my seat. I shoved Marcus in my attempt to get around him. I almost made it to the door, too, until he grabbed my arm and yanked me around.
“Where do you think you’re going? We aren’t done!”
“Out of here,” I cried. “You’re a lunatic if you think I’m going to believe a word you’ve told me. I might have fallen for it for a minute, but only because I haven’t had the chance to get to know my father well enough yet.”
“It won’t matter how well you get to know him. Facts are facts.”
“Yeah, and the fact is that Ethan loves me. He’s going to marry me. And he’s going to be an amazing dad to our baby.” My free hand dropped protectively over my belly. “If you’d kept Ethan out of it, I might have believed you about my father. But there’s nothing you can do or say that will convince me that Ethan is a bad guy.”
“It’s like déjà vu all over again,” he growled. “You and your mother. You’re two of a kind.”
“My mother?” I gasped.
“Bonnie?” my father asked from behind me.
I swiveled around and found him standing in the doorway. I tugged on my arm, trying to get the lawyer to let me go.
“You’re the reason Bonnie disappeared all those years ago?” His eyes darted between us and lit with rage. “And you’re trying to do it again, but with my daughter this time?”
Marcus sputtered, and I used his distraction to pull away from him, taking a couple steps backwards. It was good timing since Ethan barged in right behind my father. He took one look at my tear-streaked face and charged towards Marcus. “Nobody makes Lilah cry and gets away with it!” he roared, punching him square in the jaw.
Marcus fell to the floor, knocked unconscious. I rushed towards Ethan and threw myself into his arms. They wrapped around me tightly, and I felt safe once more.
“Marcus was behind it all,” my father rumbled. “Scared Bonnie off, convinced her I was going to try to take Lilah away from her.”
“Fuck, Samuel. I’m so sorry.” Ethan turned me in his arms so we were both facing my dad. “But we’ll make sure he pays for what he’s done.”
“It wasn’t illegal, so he won’t go to jail like he should. But I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he loses everything that matters to him.” My dad paused and shifted his gaze to me. “Just like he tried to do to me again, by scaring you off, the same way he did your mom. He would have succeeded, too, if it weren’t for your complete faith in Ethan’s love for you.”
Ethan gave me a gentle squeeze and kissed the top of my head.
“I only wish your mom’s faith in me had been as strong, but I didn’t manage to give her the same confidence in our relationship that Ethan has done with you,” my dad sighed, flashing me a smile before looking Ethan in the eyes. “You’re a good man. My best friend. A better man than me. You’ve proven it time and time again, but it’s something I forgot in my anger.”
“It’s okay, Samuel.”
“No, it’s not, Ethan,” my dad disagreed. “I didn’t react to the news of you and Lilah well, and for that I owe you an apology. You were right. She’s not the little girl I missed growing up. She’s a woman who makes me so damn proud. A woman in love with my best friend, and I’m damn lucky for it because I know you’ll treasure her the way she deserves.”
Epilogue
Ethan
“I’m pregnant.”
I stared at Lola in shock as she gripped Samuel’s hand tightly in her both of hers. Her cheeks were bright pink and she ducked her head before whispering, “I didn’t think I could—um, so we didn’t—” she broke off, burying her red face in Samuel’s shoulder.
My best friend, on the other hand, was puffed up like a peacock and grinning smugly. We had just finished dinner, barbecuing on the back patio Lilah had recently re-decorated when they’d asked us to sit so they could share some news.
I bit my lip to keep from snickering, but Lilah started giggling, leaning into my side as she began to shake. “I didn’t think we needed to have the protection talk with you two. Aren’t you old enough to know better?” The last word was snorted out as she threw her head back and laughed hysterically. Her large, round belly bounced with the force of her laughter and I frowned, placing my hand on the hard surface.
“Calm down, Lilah. You’ll put yourself in labor.”
“Good,” she chuckled with a roll of her eyes. “I’m a week late, Ethan. It’s about time your son made an appearance, don’t you think?”
“You’re okay with this?” Lola asked hopefully, prompting Lilah to raise her eyebrows in surprise.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well, you haven’t had much time with Sam and I don’t want you to think this baby will replace you or anything.”
With a groan, Lilah pushed off of the love seat we’d been cuddled on and staggered to her feet. I jumped up to help her, then kept my arm around her waist to keep her steady. She waddled over to Lola and held out her arms. “I couldn’t be more thrilled for you guys, as long as you’re happy.” Lola stood and fell into Lilah’s arms, crying happily.
“I counted myself the luckiest woman in the world to have you for a daughter, Lilah,” she sobbed. “Now, I get another one. I’m terrified and excited, all at the same time. I’m too old to have a baby! “
Lilah hugged her as best she could around her large stomach. “Oh hush,” she told her with a beautiful smile. “You’re only forty-two for Pete’s sake! Besides, I’m scared and excited too, Lola. At least we’ll be doing it together. This is—Oh!” Lilah yelped and stumbled backwards in to me, grabbing onto her belly. “Shit! This hurts!”
It was the first time I had ever heard Lilah swear, and I wanted to laugh at how cute she was. Except, it hit me that if my woman was cussing, she had to be in labor.
“Oh, fuck! Ethan! I’m going to kill you!”
***
I couldn’t take my eyes off of my wife as she fed our eight-week-old son. They were both gorgeous. Rush turned out to be a fitting name for our boy, since he came screaming into the world after only four hours of labor. However, it had been too fast for Lilah to get an epidural and I learned that my wife, for all she seemed so pure and innocent, had the swearing repertoire of a sailor.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I stepped out of the nursery to answer. After speaking with the other person for a few minutes, I was grinning when I pressed the end button.
After Samuel had fired Marcus and had him escorted from the building, I’d made a call and my team had gotten to work. It had been easy to spread the word, making him a virtual pariah in the business world, but that wasn’t enough for me. It took some time, but an associate of mine had finally found evidence of fraud. He’d just called to tell me that charges had been filed and Marcus arrested.
Now, I could put it behind me and focus on my family. I padded back into Rush’s bedroom just as Lilah was laying him down in his crib. Her pretty little ass was in the air as she bent over, and my mouth started to water. It felt like it had been weeks since I’d really sunk my dick into her sweet pussy. Quickies and silent fucking while trying not to wake the baby weren’t cutting it anymore. I’d finally convinced Lilah
to move Rush to the nursery, and I was going to take advantage of it before she batted her eyelashes at me and I let her change my mind.
Lilah stood up and turned around, a soft smile on her face. I held out my hand and when she took it, I pulled her into my arms. “My turn, baby girl,” I growled. “I can’t let Rush have all the fun with your tits.” My lips found hers as I swept her up into my arms and stalked down the hall to our bedroom.
I set her on her feet at the end of the bed and slowly removed her robe. She was wearing sexy little red panties underneath it, and I kissed every inch of her skin as I helped her out of them. After she was naked, I lifted her onto the bed, then got rid of my own clothes.
Lilah’s heated eyes were glued to my erection standing hard and long against my belly. It grew even more under her stare, and I groaned at the mixed pain and pleasure. I quickly checked the monitor and then climbed onto the bed.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Lilah,” I murmured reverently as I looked over her. She moved to cover her tummy, still deliciously soft from carrying our baby. Grabbing her hands, I set them above her head. “Don’t. I love your body, baby girl. Every inch.” Leaning down, I kissed her stomach. “I miss seeing you pregnant.”
“Swollen, bloated, and as big as a house?” she scoffed.
I grinned. “Yep.”
Lilah rolled her eyes and wiggled, trying to get out of my grasp. I held tight and moved fully over her, lowering until we were skin to skin. “Ethan,” she moaned, and I almost came right then.
I let go of her hands to cup her full tits. Milk pebbled on her nipples and I licked each one clean. Lilah whimpered and her pelvis bucked up. “I love that your tits are so sensitive.” I sucked on one, then the other. “Fucking delicious.”