Chapter 37
Happily ever after – something Fender never thought he’d have but he’s not giving it up
A month later
Fender
“This is the last of the boxes,” I say as I set the box in the hallway.
Leia glances around her hallway, which is currently filled with boxes. “How do you have this much stuff?”
“Why wouldn’t I have stuff?”
“You wear the same jeans and t-shirt ensemble every day. You had no decorations up in your rental house. What could you…. Hold on, is this all musical equipment?”
I grunt.
“I’m assuming your grunt is a yes.” She’s not wrong. “I know you’re a professional musician but where are we going to put all this stuff?”
“We’ll leave it in boxes until the extension’s finished.”
Her head snaps back. “The extension? We’re not putting on an extension.”
“But you love this house.”
She nods. “I do.”
“But this house isn’t big enough for a family.”
Pain flashes in her eyes before she covers it up and wags a finger at me. “I agreed to you moving in. I didn’t agree to give you children.”
I snatch her hands and draw her near. “I’m sorry.”
She blows out a breath. “You don’t have to apologize a million times.”
“Yes, I do. You’re still hurting.”
“I need time.”
“Okay.” I kiss her nose and step back.
She narrows her eyes on me. “Okay? You aren’t going to push me?”
I snort. “Pushing you hasn’t ever worked before, firecracker.”
The fight bleeds out of her eyes to be replaced by warmth. “You’re annoying.”
I grin. “I do try.”
“No using your dimples to get what you want.”
She’s wrong if she thinks I won’t use every weapon in my arsenal to ensure she’s happy.
She scans the boxes. “I still don’t know where we’re going to put all your stuff. My office is basically a closet I converted. There’s no other room.”
Time to try this again. “Do you like this house?”
She smiles. “I love it.”
“Do you want to live here forever?”
“It’s a rental.”
I tweak her nose. “You didn’t answer the question.”
“Yeah.” Her eyes glaze over as she imagines our future in this house.
“Thus, the extension.”
She frowns. “I said it once but I’ll say it again. This place is a rental.”
I clear my throat. “Actually.”
She holds up a hand. “No. Do not tell me you bought this place for us.”
I stalk toward her and she retreats until her back hits the wall. “Why not?”
“I’m not with you for your money.”
“I know.” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I was a fool to ever think otherwise.”
“At least you admit you’re a fool.”
“I was a fool. I’m not any longer.”
“Except you bought this house without consulting me.”
“It’s my ‘we’re moving in together’-present.”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s not a thing.”
“Says who?”
“You’re annoying.”
I grin before I drop my head and brush my lips against hers. “Is this annoying?” I plunge my tongue into her mouth and she grabs hold of my shoulders to hang on tight. I press my body against hers as my cock lengthens and hardens.
This is where I belong. Where I will always belong. Good thing I got my head out of my ass and realized Leia is not Vicki. And she sure in hell isn’t anything like my mom.
“Gross!”
At Isla’s shout, I release Leia and step back.
“Baby girl,” Leia begins. “Kissing isn’t gross.”
Isla feigns retching. “It is when it’s your mom and your dad.”
Dad? She considers me her dad? My heart hammers in my chest as I kneel in front of her. “You called me your dad, cutie pie.”
“Is that okay?”
“Do you want me to be your dad?” I hold my breath as I wait for her to answer.
Leia moves to stand next to her daughter. Isla glances up at her and she nods. “Go ahead.”
“Fender, will you adopt me?”
My chest warms as happiness pierces through me before spreading to the rest of my body. My entire body is alight with euphoria. My hands tremble as I reach for her.
“You want me to be your dad? Forever?”
“Yes. I love you, Fender.”
I squeeze her hands. “And I love you.” I pause before risking it all. “But I think I should marry your mom before I adopt you.”
I hold my breath as I wait for Isla’s response. I hope she doesn’t think I’m rejecting her.
“Then, ask her already. What are you waiting for?”
I chuckle as I release her hands. I should have known Isla would use the moment to get what she wants. Like mother, like daughter. I dig into my pocket and pull out the ring. When I hold it up, Leia gasps.
“Leia Wilson, will you marry me?”
She raises her eyebrows. Naturally, she’s not making this easy for me. Not my firecracker. And I love her all the more for it.
“I wasn’t looking for love. I didn’t think I deserved it. I never thought I’d find it. But here I am kneeling before my girls asking you to say yes and make us a family.”
She drops to her knees and throws her arms around me. “Oh, Fender, we’re already a family.”
Isla pushes her way in between us. “Does this mean you’re going to adopt me?”
“Your mom hasn’t said yes yet.”
“Mom,” she whines. “Say yes already. You love him.”
“How do you know I love him?” Leia asks.
“You get googly eyes whenever you talk about him.”
Leia giggles. “Googly eyes?”
Isla widens her eyes and bats her eyelashes. “Googly eyes.”
Leia tickles her ribs and the two fall to the floor laughing. It’s a sight I want to watch for the rest of my life. Preferably with more children. But I can be a patient man. I’ve waited thirty-two years to find a family. I can wait a little longer to grow it.
There’s just one thing missing. I snatch Leia’s left hand and slide the ring on her finger.
She stops goofing around with her daughter to smile up at me. “I guess I said yes.”
I grunt. “You were always going to say yes.”
She shrugs. “Maybe.”
“No doubt about it, firecracker.”
She rolls her eyes. “Rockstars. Always so full of themselves.”
Isla glances back and forth between us. “She said yes. Now will you adopt me?”
“I will.” She squeals but I hold up a hand. “On one condition.”
Her bottom lip trembles. “W-w-what?”
“You’ll call me dad and go to all father-daughter events with me.”
“Yes!” she screams and launches herself at me. I wrap her up in my arms and hold on tight. Leia winds her arms around my waist and lays her cheek against my back.
This is it. Everything I’ve ever wanted but was afraid to go after. Surviving my mother’s rants and Vicki’s deceitfulness was worth it to end up here. Home. This is home.
Isla pulls away first. “I’m going to call all my friends. Tell them I now have a daddy.”
She runs down the hallway and I stand before helping Leia to her feet. She stares after her daughter.
“The whole town is going to know we’re engaged within fifteen minutes.”
“Do you care?”
“No, but they do have a tendency to invade the house whenever there’s news to celebrate.” She motions to the boxes. “The house isn’t exactly ready for an invasion.”
“I’ll put these in the bedroom until the extension’s finished.”
“I agreed to marry you but we’re not done discussing the extension.”
I bark out a laugh. “Love you, firecracker.”
“And I must love you to allow you to bring twenty bass guitars into my house.”
“Our house,” I correct. “And I don’t have twenty bass guitars.” With me. “We’ll have plenty of space when—”
“If,” she corrects.
“The extension is built.”
She studies me. “You already hired a contractor, didn’t you?”
I shrug and bend down to pick up a box.
“I can’t believe you.”
“You love me,” I sing as I carry the box down the hallway to the bedroom. She follows me with a box of her own.
I scowl. “I told you I’d carry the boxes.”
“I’m short, not weak.”
We arrange the boxes in the closet before I snatch her wrist and haul her to me.
She shakes her head. “Isla will catch us again.”
I drag her into the closet and shut the door behind us. “Not now she won’t.”
“Fender Hays!” She slaps my chest. “Am I your dirty little secret?”
“Yes, you’re a secret. It’s why I bought you a diamond to wear in front of the world.”
“I do like shiny things.”
“And I love you.” I brush my lips against hers.
“I love you, too, future husband of mine.”