“Does Grady know?” I whisper.
“No, but I couldn’t wait. I mean, really. This is my baby, too.’” She laughs. I lean in and give her a hug.
I catch Ember staring at me across the room. Brody and Lucas are overindulging and will likely have tummy aches by the end of this evening.
He makes his way across the room toward me, and I swear I stop breathing for a second. I stand meeting him halfway.
“How’d I do?” I ask, looking up at him.
“Perfect.”
He places a kiss on my lips, and I smile against his. “You make me smile, Ember Dale.”
“That’s all I want to do, baby. For as long as you’ll let me.”
“I think you’re stuck with me.” I lace my hands around his neck.
“There is nobody else I’d rather be stuck with.”
A commotion has us looking behind me.
“Grady, I think my water broke.” My eyes widen. Grady rushes to his wife, the whole family does until Emma sets them straight, demanding they give the couple some space.
They leave a few minutes later, Grant driving them to the hospital.
When the crowdtapers down later that evening, Marcy takes the boys home with her. Soon, it’s just me and Ember, soft jazz music playing.
“Will you dance with me?” he asks.
I answer by taking his hand; he pulls me close as we sway to the music.
“Talk about an eventful day.” Ember laughs.
“You can say that again.” I lay my head against his chest. His hands trace my back, and I melt into his woodsy scent.
Ember kisses the spot between my neck and shoulder, and it sends shivers down my spine.
“You know I finally have you all to myself,” he whispers as he continues kissing my collarbone.
“I think you’re all talk, slick,” I tease.
He tips my chin until our eyes meet. “Not when it comes to you.”
I gasp when he hoists me up onto the counter, settling between my legs. His mouth crashes onto mine as he claims and demands everything I have to offer. My fingers dig into his neck. He doesn’t undress me; instead, he lifts up my dress, bunching it around my waist, tugging off my underwear. I hear his zipper, and I gasp when he pulls me to the edge of the counter.
“I have wanted to be in you all day,” he whispers as he lines himself at my entrance. With one thrust, he’s in me, and all words and thoughts dissipate.
Chapter 26
Ember
TWO YEARS LATER
There are days when I look at my family, and I don’t have the words to express what they mean to me. I never expected to come to Sunnyville two years ago and find a home, but I did, and my life with Shelby, Brody, and now his brother or sister, who is due in five months.
Over the last two years, I’ve gotten to know Shelby in every possible way. I can’t imagine how I managed to walk through life the way I did before her. She saved me, gave me something to believe in again.
I take a sip of my beer and watch as Shelby rocks Dylan’s little one in her arms. Shelby looks over at me and offers me one of those smiles that tell me that she feels it too, that feeling you get when you’re complete.
