“I look okay?” He frowned as he stepped back.
“You look awesome. Very grown up, little man.”
“Can I ask you something, Nick?” His brow furrowed as he fidgeted with his tie. “Are you my father today?”
I crouched down in front of him, unsure how to answer. “Why do you ask that?”
“Dylan told me since you’re marrying my mom, that means you're my father. Just wondering if I should start calling you Dad.”
Dad.The word knocked the wind out of me.
“Only if you want to.”
Jack grimaced as he lifted his gaze to mine.
“Is it okay if I want to?”
I laughed and pulled him into a hug. “It’s more than okay, buddy. I'd love that. In fact, you can start right now.”
“Cool! I have a dad.” Jack beamed and strolled off.
“Am I interrupting?”
My head swiveled to Ellie’s voice and watery smile. My brain raced to think of the right word to describe how she looked, but nothing I came up with seemed good enough. Gorgeous, breathtaking, fucking stunning. They all applied, but didn’t scratch the surface.
Ellie chuckled as she came toward me. Her hands drifted down the front of my suit.
“Hi, handsome. Good dress? I told you—all belly and boobs, no matter what I wear.”
Ellie wore a pink dress with lace sleeves. It hugged every inch of her pregnant body. I was grateful we were seeing a judge, not a priest. Suits didn’t do a good job hiding a tent in your pants.
“Beautiful, but then again so is everything on you. You'd be gorgeous in a burlap sack.”
Ellie’s lips pursed as she wrapped her arms around my waist.
“I already said I was marrying you. Flattery is unnecessary.” She gave me a chaste kiss on the tip of my chin.
After the bad luck I had, all I wanted was to be on my own—with no attachments or risk. Safe. Then this tiny lady burrowed herself into my life. I couldn’t forget her, even though I tried like hell. There was no way I could leave or stay away, no matter how hard she made it for me at times. She had me from the first time I laid eyes on her, freezing and lonely on that ice-cold patio. I didn’t know it then, and it wasn’t our time. Once she stumbled back into my life, there was never any going back.
Maybe fate was real.
I cradled her face and kissed her forehead.
“You're going to need to fix your lipstick before we go,” I growled as my hand slid to the back of her neck and tugged her closer.
Ellie stiffened and shook her head.
“No kissing on the lips until we're married.”
I scowled at my almost wife.
“You've got to be kidding me. You look like that, and I can't kiss you? You're serious?”
“You can, just not until I'm your wife. Oh, lighten up, Lieutenant. It's fun.” Ellie kissed my cheek and turned to move away.
I caught her wrist and pulled her back to me, and let my lips brush her cheek. I lingered and feathered a couple of tiny kisses along her jaw. I smiled against her neck as she took in a sharp gasp. My finger traced the goose bumps along her collarbone. “I agree. Thisiskinda fun.”
She giggled and dropped her head against my chest.
