This time, he kissed her with so much passion, she melted into him. “Wow. My God, you can kiss,” she said. “I’ll take that as a ‘hell yeah’.”
“Damn straight.”
“She’s so young, but her thoughts and feelings are what matter most. I would never adopt her if she didn’t want it.”
“She adores you, Providence.”
“I love her so much.” She stroked his arms, sending jolts of energy powering through him.
“We can talk to her about it and see what she thinks.”
“I would love that.”
“You are the most amazing, loving, brilliant, gorgeous, bad-ass woman I haveevermet.”
She laughed. “You’re pretty bad ass yourself, you know that?”
“Yeah, I do,” he replied with a playful wink.
As they resumed their stroll down the beach, Dakota dropped his arm over Providence’s shoulder and kissed her temple. “I’m going to love you forever, Miss Rhode Island.”
“Right back atcha, cowboy.”
Epilogue
Two years later, September
“This is so exciting,” Providence said. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Sammy said. “But it’s no big deal.”
Dakota chuckled. “There was a lot of bedroom discussion last night about what to wear.”
A year and a half ago, the Luck family had moved to a different McLean neighborhood where they could make new memories. Sammy could walk to school, and Miranda had her own home on the Luck property. Mornings were father-daughter time and Miranda picked her up in the afternoons.
But on this day, she was accompanied by Dakota, Providence,andher one-year-old brother, Graham.
Ever since she’d turned six, Dakota’s little girl had morphed into a little lady. Providence had curled the ends of her long hair and she was wearing a new outfit from a recent mother-daughter shopping spree.
“Give me a hug goodbye.”
With a smile, she threw her arms around him. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, punkin. You’re gonna rock first grade, Samantha Lynn.”
Providence lowered Graham so Sammy could kiss his cheek. Graham just grinned at her.
“Bye, Gray-Gray,” Sammy said before turning her attention back to her parents. “I found a spider in the bathroom. I captured it in a cup and put it outside.”
Dakota high-fived her. “Nice job.”
“I’m proud of you, honey,” Providence said. “Was it big?”
“Not as big as me,” Sammy replied with a smile.
Providence put her arm around her daughter and kissed the top of her head. “Have a great first day of first grade and keep my suggestion in mind.”
“What suggestion?” Dakota asked.
