“You better say yes,” Maggie says from behind me, and we all laugh. She’s bouncing in her seat, and Eli is practically holding her in a death grip to keep her still.
Alice nods, and I hear a teary “yes” before she throws herself into my arms. I wrap my arms around her and hold her close as she cries happy tears. I glance over and see Maggie crying now, but Eli is holding her and smiling at us.
We may be a makeshift family, but we’re family all the same. We’ve got it where it counts the most—in our hearts.
When Alice pulls back, I slip the ring on her finger, and she looks down at it. I bought it right after we met, knowing that one day I’d get it on her, one way or another. It’s a single carat solitaire on a gold band. It’s simple but beautiful, just like my sweet girl is. Once it’s on, she looks up at me, and suddenly her mouth is on mine.
The kiss nearly knocks me over backwards, but I hold her close and kiss her back until she’s finished. When we break apart, her cheeks are fiery red, as if just remembering that we aren’t alone. I give her a quick kiss and pull her to me as I stand up and look at Maggie and Eli.
“Who’s hungry?” I ask, and everyone jumps up.
“As long as Eli isn’t cooking, I’m down to eat,” Maggie says, and elbows him.
We make our way to the kitchen and start pulling stuff out of the fridge to eat. Alice leans into me and looks around at the scene.
“Is it real, all of this? It feels like a dream.”
“It’s a dream come true,” I answer, kissing the top of her head and holding her close.
I keep her by my side, where she’ll stay for the rest of our lives.
Epilogue
Alice
Six years later…
“Good afternoon, Miss Drummond.”
“Hey, Seth.” I wave over to our new neighbors’ son. They moved in a week ago, and I’m pretty sure I remember him saying he goes to the local college. I can’t exactly recall. When I’d met them the twins were running circles around my feet and I could only catch half of what they were saying.
He gives me a giant smile and starts to walk over toward me, but stops and the smile drops from his face. I don’t even have to turn around to know why. I know without a doubt my husband is standing behind me. I just don’t know why I don’t hear our louder-than-life little boys with him. Between the twins who just turned two and our five-year-old son, we are never a quiet bunch when we’re all together.
“That’s Mrs. Drummond,” Thomas barks.
I have to bite my lip to keep from smiling. I can’t even be mad. I love that he’s a beast and crazy jealous and possessive. Once we came out as a couple, he wanted everyone to know. I was surprised he didn’t hire someone to write it in the sky. Even after all these years, he’s still that way. No matter where we are or what we are doing, he’s always got a hand or his eyes on me. No one can miss that I belong to him.
“Sir,” Seth says in way of greeting. I know Thomas is intimidating. He’s big, and he still carries the aura from having been in the military. People always instinctively call him ‘sir’ if they don’t know him. “I’ve really got to get to my homework.”
“Then you should go,” Thomas snaps in a hard tone. The order is clear. This time I do roll my eyes. Seth stands there for a moment as if he doesn’t know what to do. “Now!” Thomas barks, and I know it’s one of those ingrained commands that he’ll never shake.
Seth half jumps and half runs for his house, and I shake my head.
“Come do your husbandly duties,” I tell him, popping open the trunk to my SUV. I loaded it full of groceries after I left my little shop today.
Living with three boys, I feel like I go to the grocery store every other day. I can’t imagine what it will be like when they’re teenagers. At least they all love to cook. I just have to bring the food home. They do the rest.
I only spend half days at my shop now since I have a staff of three people. Thomas stays home and does consulting jobs outside the military. I love my store when I have the time, but I love being at home with all my boys even more. Though I don’t think I can call Thomas a boy. Still, there’s just something comforting and sweet about saying ‘my boys.’ Thomas doesn’t seem to care.
“Yes, ma’am,” he says striding over toward me, but he doesn’t go for the groceries. He picks me up, throws me over his shoulder, and shuts the trunk. I laugh as he easily strides toward the house.
“Where are my little ones?” I ask.
“Gone for the night. I get you all to myself.” He carries me inside and throws me on the bed. “I figured Maggie could use the experience.”
I shake my head, knowing that’s a lie. She keeps the boys all the time. She loves her little brothers. She’s over here all the time stealing them away. They have a blast out at her and Eli’s cabin.
“She told you.” I smile up at him. “Grandpa,” I add, unable to hide my snicker at that.
“Hey now. You’re my wife. That makes you grandma.”
“So it seems.” I run my hands up his body, pulling his shirt from him.
“Their little girl is going to have her hands full with all these boys running around,” he says with a smile. He seems to like the idea of his new granddaughter having three little bodyguards.
“She’ll be okay.” I wrap my arms around his neck, and he leans down to kiss me. Slow and deep. Savoring me.
“Clothes off,” he growls as he rips at mine. I lie there and let him, watching him prepare to make love to me. I drop my head back as his mouth roams my body, thinking life can’t get any better. Before I met Thomas, I didn’t know that this kind of sweetness was out there for me to have. He moves down my body, and my legs fall open for him.
“Kids aren’t home, and I’m debating if I should make you scream so loud the little shit next door knows to keep the fuck away. Or if I should put a gag in your mouth because no one else should get to hear what’s mine.”
I squirm beneath him. “You wouldn’t,” I say breathlessly.
“You like that idea? Me gagging you? Maybe tying you to the bed so you can’t go outside?” I bite my lip, thinking how hot that sounds. He jumps from the bed and goes to the dresser.
“You know what today is?” I shake my head as I watch him pull a few ties out from the dresser. He comes toward me, going for my legs first.
“Today is the anniversary of the first time I ever saw you.” He binds me to the bed rail and then kisses my ankle. He moves to my other leg.
“Grab the headboard.” I reach up, grabbing it instantly. My quick response makes him smile. He does the same to my other ankle, tying it to our bed rail, then kissing my ankle. My breathing picks up.
“I think it’s fitting, really,” he continues. “This is what I wanted to do to you that day when Maggie brought you over. I didn’t want you to leave. I wanted to grab you and pull you into me. Keep you here and never let go. That night I lay in this bed thinking about that. That I should have tied you to my bed. Never let you out of it.”