Caleb. Daddy.
He was talking to one of the security guards.
Caleb was back. He’d come back for me? Or for the event?You know the answer to that!a voice inside my head said. I blinked away tears. I glanced back at Abby, but she was already on her way to the doors. She said something to the guard, and the three of them stepped aside, giving me a better view of Caleb wearing a light blue dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, paired with black slacks. He was holding a pink donut box and a bag with what looked like a takeout container in it. “Ohmygod,” I whispered under my breath as my lips started to quirk upward.He’d gone to Pinehaven to check on his daughter and come back for me! Not only that, but if I was right, those were what he owed me for being right about the rain last night!
Abby moved to stand in front of him. She was so short compared to him, but there was no denying she was probably warning him from hurting me.
Holy crap! Caleb is back!
I hadn’t lost my chance with him if he’d driven back, right? I didn’t get much time to think because before I knew it, the crowd of people moved to the side, giving him a clear path as he rushed right over to the bottom of the stage. Then he was right there. Staring up at me. I couldn’t see anything but him.
Mine,my heart said, and my brain agreed. I didn’t even pay attention to the cameras that started to pop up and probably were filming whatever the hell was going to unfold.
“Caleb.” I tried to think of something to say, but thankfully, he already had the words.
“Rosie,” he said my name, and just like that, my heart started to relax. “You were right.”
“I was?”
“About the rain. A bet’s a bet.”
“Oh.” I looked at the box of maple bars and bag that held the teriyaki bowl. “Is that why you came back?”
“Not even close.” He took a step up and then another, not stopping until he was in front of me, setting the things in his hands on the ground. Then he took my hands in his. “I love you, Rosie,” he blurted, and this time, it didn’t surprise me.
Those three words felt right. Perfect.
“Last night, bumping into you, going for a walk, dancing in the rain, you stole my heart in a matter of an hour. But when lightning struck and you looked at me, I knew it was love at first spark. It might sound cheesy and fast and too much, but… I’ve waited forty-five years to meet my other half. Please tell me Ididn’t mess things up this morning.” The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop as everyone in the crowd held their breath.
“I love you, too,” I said. “You didn’t mess anything up.” The whole room filled with cheers and gasps. Not that I was able to pay them any attention, not when Caleb pulled me into his arms and picked me up like a groom carrying his bride. I cupped his handsome face. He was really here! He’d said all that in front of everyone! Talk about a grand gesture!
“What are you doing?” I laughed as I held on. His long legs didn’t stutter as he took two steps down at a time until he was on the ground and carried me out of the venue like I weighed nothing more than a sack of flour.
“Getting us the hell out of here to show you just how much I love you and how fucking serious I am about you.”
“You’re crazy.”
“About you.”
“What am I going to do with you?” I grinned, nuzzling his nose.
“Anything you want, baby girl. I’m yours.”
“And I’m yours,” I whispered back a millisecond before those promises were sealed with a kiss.
Epilogue
Rosie
Seven Years Later
“Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful,” Caleb murmured into my ear. I sighed happily.
“Mmm,” I moaned, loving the way his hard, naked body felt behind me. I shifted, curling my ass against his hard length. “Morning. Happy Valentine’s Day, Daddy,” I whispered, my voice scratchy from sleep and hoarse from the activities from the previous night. His lips touched my shoulder and slowly started their descent to my neck.
“Fuck, you smell incredible,” he groaned, making me giggle.
“Mmm, you mean like sweat?” I joked and loved the deep sound of his chuckles vibrating against my overly sensitized skin.
