Chapter 31
Three weeks later
Mallory
Choices. I’d been given several of them over the last few weeks, including driving Beckett from my life forever.
I’d debated it, uncertain I could survive another attack. Then I realized that nothing in life is certain.
The moment Beckett walked in through the door, I threw my arms and legs around him, peppering kisses against his face.
“Good God, woman. What’s all that for?”
I pulled away, able to laugh finally once again. “It’s been six hours since I’ve seen you. That’s what.”
He’d rarely left my side in the last three weeks, even coming into the clinic more than once to check on me. As if I would melt into a puddle.
“Hmmm… Well, I guess then I need to have that talk with you.” He cupped the side of my face, lowering his head until our lips were almost touching.
“What talk is that?”
“You need to move into the cabin with me.”
“Uh, no. But you can move into the farmhouse here with me.”
He brushed his lips across mine and sighed before pulling away. “Me, live here?”
“I think it might work.”
“Hmmm… I guess I’ll think about it. Maybe I have a half dozen more offers.”
“You do, you die.”
He laughed and eased me down, then cupped both sides of my face. “Where’s Brady?”
“Where’s Jax?”
“He heard Sampson and raced around back as soon as he leapt from the truck.”
“They’re all out back playing like crazy kids.” I gripped his shirt, pulling him down a little closer. “So, how was your day, honey?”
“Perfect. We’re building four beautiful homes.”
“You are, huh?” I kneaded his shirt, marveling in how soft it was. In the three weeks since the carnival, it seemed as if life had been accelerated. Beckett had become the town hero, no one aside from Marjorie learning any details of why a bad man had attempted to kidnap my son.
Then there was Hank, a local celebrity, the woman he was dating already a permanent fixture in his life.
“How are his nightmares?” he asked.
“They’ve stopped, but you should know that. You spend almost every night here.” And he had. At first, it had been like he was watching out for me. Then it had been out of necessity for both of us, our passion exploding off the charts.
“I’m glad. That means we can get on with our normal life.” He captured my mouth and I was lost in a haze of lust for a few precious moments while he thrust his tongue inside.
There was nothing quite like kissing the man, enjoying our time together. Beckett had taken to being a homebody, something I would never have guessed. However, I’d witnessed him making several phone calls, destroying all trails to himself and us after Mike had been forced to sell out to Gio. At least Tessa and her son hadn’t been discovered, although I was considering asking him to move them here.
Maybe later.
The kiss took on a life of its own, soft and sweet, but with a sense of urgency just like always. When I finally pushed away from him, I dragged my tongue across my bottom lip.
“Careful, Doc. You know what that does to me.”
“I do, which is why I love tormenting you. Would you like a drink?”
“Please.”
“Come on.” He trailed behind me into the kitchen and I poured myself a glass of wine while getting him a glass of bourbon. His favorite. Once drinks were in our hands, I sighed and looked up at him.
He seemed sheepish. “I have some news.”
“Yes? Don’t tell me you’re going back to New York.”
“Oh, fuck, no. Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re a hero.”
Beckett shook his head. “I’m no hero, just a man wanting to live out his life with his adoring woman and son.”
“Then what?”
“The Bratva have taken over. None of Gio’s Capos have been left alive. It really is over, baby.”
I wasn’t certain how I felt about it.
“You have no intention of taking over where he left off?”
He almost choked on his drink. “Not for a minute. This is my life and exactly where I need to be.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that because I have a surprise for you.”
His eyes twinkled. “You do, huh?”
“Yep.” I could barely contain myself.
“To what do I owe this honor?”
“Let’s just say you’ve been a very good boy.”
After taking a swallow of his drink, he removed the wineglass from my hand. “Speaking of which.”
“What are you doing?”
He placed the drinks on the counter and rummaged through the drawers, finally turning around with a wooden spoon in his hand. “I think it’s long overdue for a spanking. Don’t you?”
“No, I really don’t, thank you very much.”
“Tough. You obey my rules now. Remember?” He pulled me to the edge of the counter right in front of the window.
“I’m a very good girl. You tell me that quite often.”
“When you want to be.” He was whistling as he’d done before when he brought the spoon down across my jean-covered butt several times. I had no clue how a wooden spoon could hurt so much, but Jesus, I was on fire within ten strikes.
He was methodical as usual. I wiggled and stomped my feet, which only prompted him to continue, adopting a rhythm that would forever drum in my head.
I didn’t know all the particulars of everything he’d been through in his life, but I was fine with that. What we shared was everything I’d hoped for and more.
“Maybe ten more. That should do it. Until later. Then I’ll use the belt.”
“You’re such a bastard.”
“I thought you knew that. I guess I’ll need to try harder.”
“Oh!” I shifted, but couldn’t get out of the last ten. As usual, my pussy was throbbing by the end. How was that even possible?
He tossed the spoon aside and pulled me into his arms. “I love you, Mallory McGregor. I think I did from the first time I saw you outside the hardware store.”
“It’s Dr. McGregor to you.” I winked and he growled in response. “Would you like your surprise?”
“You know how men hate surprises.”
“I think this is one you’ll like. Come with me.” I took his hand, intertwining our fingers as I opened the door to head to the back deck. The air was crisp, October such a beautiful month in Vermont. “Brady. Come here for a minute. Okay?”
He looked up, laughing as he’d been doing. “O-tay, Mommy.” I did so love his little feet as he scampered forward, tumbling onto the deck with such force, Beckett had to catch him.
“Whoa, little dude. Careful there,” Beckett told him.
Brady just giggled. Beckett had spun tall tales of adventure about what had happened to the little man, which had kept the nightmares to a minimum. For that and so much else, I was eternally grateful.
I crouched down on my knees in front of him, my heart racing. “I need to tell you something, little man.”
“What?”
“See that man right there?” I pointed up to Beckett.
“Mr. Meanie.” He giggled again. It was his little private joke.
“Yes, Mr. Meanie. Well, he’s not just our friend.”
Brady scrunched up his face. “Then what?”
I took Beckett’s hand, placing it around Brady’s. “Brady, I want you to meet your father.” There was no telling how my beautiful little boy would react. I backed away, giving them a moment alone. Beckett wasn’t moving, wasn’t saying a single word.
The man was holding his breath.
As Brady lifted his head, his expression was unreadable. Until his eyes lit up. “My daddy?”
Beckett choked and immediately scooped Brady into his arms, squeezing him tightly. He looked at me, his eyes filled with tears and I had to look away, wiping them from my eyes.
“Yes, honey. I’m your father and I love you very, very much.”
There was something so special about the word family and I’d almost lost sight of that. With Beckett and Brady, my life was complete. These moments were special and would never be taken for granted.
The man was the love of my life and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to ensure our happiness.
Nothing.
The End