Chapter 39
Happy ending – includes new neighbors, a dog, and love – lots and lots of love
One month later
Lucas
“C hloe? Are you home, wildcat?”
When she doesn’t answer, I climb the stairs to our bedroom. I shake my head at the mess of her clothes scattered around the room on the floor. I can’t abide a messy home but with Chloe, I don’t mind.
As long as the woman I love is living with me and sharing my bed at night, she can be as messy as she wants.
“Chloe?”
She walks out of the attached bathroom and smiles at me. “Hey. I thought you were on law and protect duty until later.”
I catch her hand and haul her near. I meld my lips to hers and enjoy how she melts into my arms. How she gives herself up to the pleasure only I can offer her.
Unfortunately, I can’t bend her over the bed and sink into her now. I have news. News that might give me blue balls for a while if my wildcat doesn’t approve.
I pull away and she mewls. “Why did you stop?”
“We need to talk.” I sit on the bed and arrange her in my lap.
“This isn’t a talking position.” She rubs herself over my hard length.
I dig my fingers into her hips to still her movements and my cock protests. “I’m serious, wildcat. We need to talk.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “What do you want to talk about?”
“You know how you gave up the lease on your house?”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, I know I gave up my lease.”
“There are new renters.”
“I figured it wouldn’t be long before new renters arrived. Finding property on Smuggler’s Hideaway is tough. Ask Sophia how she ended up with Flynn sometime.”
I chuckle. I’ve heard all about how Chloe and her friends pushed Sophia to live with Flynn while her apartment was being renovated.
I wonder what they’re going to do about Nova now they know she’s pregnant with Hudson’s baby. I’d warn Hudson but I’ve seen the way he looks at Nova when no one’s looking. He wants her.
“We know the renters.”
Chloe perks up. “We do? Is it Nova and Hudson?”
Maybe I should warn Hudson after all.
“No. I don’t know if you’re going to like the new tenants.”
“Won’t like them? Are they teetotalers? Teetotalers and Smuggler’s Hideaway is not a good combo.”
“No.”
“Are they—”
I place my finger over her lips before she can offer another insane suggestion.
“It’s my parents.”
“Your parents? As in Dad Lucas and Mama Flo?”
“Yes.”
“Awesome. We’re getting a dog.”
Just when I think I’ve peeled back all the layers of her, she surprises me with another layer to reveal.
“What? I don’t follow. I tell you my parents are moving in next door and your response is we’re getting a dog?”
“If Dad and Mama Flo are next door, they can walk our dog if you have an emergency and have to work late or if I’m pulling a double shift at the restaurant.”
I know Chloe loves my parents. But it’s one thing to love your in-laws when they live several states away. It’s another thing for them to live next door to you.
“That’s it?”
Her brow wrinkles. “What’s it?”
“You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad? Am I supposed to be mad? Is this because you want to have make up sex? We don’t have to argue to have sex.”
She grabs my cock and squeezes. I moan. I grit my teeth and shackle her wrist to remove her hand. I need to make sure she’s okay with this latest development before I bury myself inside her.
“You’re seriously okay with my parents living next door?”
“I love your parents.”
“I love them, too, but they’ll be right next door to us. Mom will pop in for coffee and Dad will do our yardwork without us asking him to.”
“Great. I hate yardwork.”
“Wildcat, you’re not hearing me.”
Her nose wrinkles. “Are you trying to get me mad? Is this the make up sex thing again?”
“Your mind works in mysterious ways.”
She beams. “Thank you.”
“You won’t mind how involved they are in our lives? Because they will be very involved.”
“They’ll be involved in their granddaughter’s life, too. They’ll be there when she has school plays or track meets. When she goes to prom, her grandparents will be there to snap pictures. I think it’s great Natalia will have her grandparents close by.”
Typical Chloe. She’s putting Natalia before herself again. Why she ever thought she’d be a bad mother is beyond me.
“But they’ll be next door and involved in our lives, too.”
“Good. They can babysit Natalia whenever we want a little alone time.”
I cup her cheeks. “You’re really okay with this?”
“I’m more than okay with this. I love your parents and I know how to set boundaries. Everything is going to be okay. More than okay. It’ll be great. We’re getting a puppy.”
I want to add we’ll be having more children as well but I know she’s not ready yet.
The front door bangs open. “Hello!” Natalia shouts. “Is anyone home?”
Chloe kisses me quick before standing. She holds out her hand to me. “Ready to give your daughter the good news?”
“Let’s go.”
We discover Natalia rooting around in the refrigerator. “There’s nothing to eat in here.”
“I’ll make you a sandwich,” Chloe offers but I stop her.
“Why don’t we sit at the table for a family meeting first?”
“Uh oh,” Chloe whisper-shouts. “Someone’s in trouble.”
“The school called? It’s not my fault, I swear.”
“What did you do?” I ask.
Chloe draws a finger across her throat, but I grasp her hand and pull her into a chair next to mine.
“We’ll discuss what you did after our news.”
“You’re pregnant? Yes!” Natalia claps her hands. “I’m getting a sister or brother. I’ll be the big sister and can boss them around. I need to phone Piper.”
Chloe clutches her stomach. “I’m not pregnant.”
“You’re not getting a sister or brother yet, ” I add.
Chloe scowls at me before addressing Natalia. “We’re getting a puppy!”
“Yippie! I’ve always wanted a puppy, but Dad said I couldn’t get one. Can we go get one now? Where do you get puppies from anyway?”
“The puppy is not the news,” I say.
Chloe ignores me. “There’s an animal shelter on the mainland. We can go there.”
Natalia jumps up from the table. “I’ll get my shoes on.”
“Wait,” I order and she skids to a stop. “The puppy is not the news.”
“You’re not pregnant. Getting a puppy is not the news. What is the news, Dad?”
“Yeah, Dad,” Chloe mimics. “What is the news?”
She’ll regret teasing me later when we’re in bed and I won’t let her come until she’s begging me. My cock twitches as I imagine her cuffed to the bed and at my mercy. I clear my throat. In front of my daughter is not the appropriate time to have sexy fantasies.
“Your grandparents are moving to Smuggler’s Hideaway.”
“Yeah, I know. They told me a while ago.” Her eyes widen. “Wait! Are they moving in next door?”
I nod and she squeals.
“I’m going to say hi.”
She rushes off and this time I let her. She’s only going next door. Maybe my parents living close by is a blessing after all.
“We should go welcome your parents to the island.”
I shackle Chloe’s wrist before she can leave the kitchen. “We’re alone now.”
Her eyes flare. “We are,” she breathes out.
“I’ll call my parents to keep Natalia occupied for an hour. You go upstairs and get naked.”
“Your parents moving in next door is the best thing ever.”
I wrap my arms around her. “No. Me moving in next door to you was the best thing ever.”
She melts in my arms. “I love you, Lucas.”
“And I love you, wildcat.” I push her away. “Now, go get naked.” I pat her ass and she giggles as she runs away.
I am the luckiest man in the world.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed Lucas and Chloe’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it.