I hear a few snickers from the crowd as the kiss drags on, but I barely notice. When we finally pull apart I hold her close, wondering how long I have to sit through the reception before I can take her to bed.
It turns out I have to sit through exactly two hours and forty five minutes of hand shaking, music, dancing, and eating before I’m allowed to take my bride home and consummate the marriage. Roman is staying with Lyla at the bed and breakfast, and Sandra and I end up at her place.
“Damn it,” I growl. “Getting into this dress is like trying to break into a fucking bank vault.”
She bites her lip, reaching back to help me by pulling a hidden strap that loosens everything enough for me to get her out of the dress. She’s wearing the sexiest fucking white lace lingerie and stockings I’ve ever seen. I push her down on the bed, working my belt open and tossing it to the ground. I strip off my shirt and undershirt and then let my pants fall.
“I’ve got the sexiest fucking wife on the planet,” I say.
“You just remember that if you ever get any ideas about being unfaithful,” she says, grinning up at me.
I plant my hands on either side of her, climbing atop her and looking down into her eyes. “There’s no woman on this Earth that could tempt me away from you, Sandra. Not a single fucking one. Don’t you ever doubt that for a second. You’re mine, sweetheart. Body and soul.” I smirk, biting my lip. “Especially body.”
Bonus Content: Protector - A Second Chance Romance
Thank you so much for reading Single Dad Next Door. I’ve decided to include a completely free copy of one of my most recent novels, Protector as a way of saying thank you. And in the shameless hope that you’ll enjoy it enough to check out more of my work!
XX
Penelope
Prologue - Protector
Ten Years Ago
I lean my head into Jesse’s shoulder. In all my eighteen years I still haven’t found anything as comfortable as him. Even through the thick material of his letterman jacket and my cardigan my skin reacts to his. We’re on the hood of his old Camaro parked in a field outside the airport, far enough away from town that I can forget all the noise. I can forget the way everyone wants our relationship to fail, or the way other girls look at me now because they assume I’ve given my virginity to him.
Friends I’ve had for years distanced themselves and people I never knew have come out of the woodwork to spread dirty rumors about me. All because they wish it was them. They wish Jesse had picked them. He never dated a girl longer than a week. It became something like a legend--a challenge for some girls. Who can tie down Jesse Slade? So when he asked me out, of all people, no one even bothered to hide the knowing smirks. It won’t last.
Well screw them. Because it did. We’ve been together almost a year now. That’s all I need. I don’t need their fake friendships or their support. I have Jesse. My anchor.
I steal a glance up at him in the same way recently engaged women are constantly looking at their rings. All these months and the fact that he’s still mine gives me a jolt of giddy excitement. He gazes out into the night, dark hair falling just above his shockingly green eyes. He’s heartbreakingly gorgeous. I could picture him in another time, donning Greek armor and a sword to lead an army into battle. He’s perfect. And he’s all mine.
The stars are out and the night is filled with the sound of crickets and the soft whoosh of reeds.
“I caught a bunch of those once,” I say, looking toward the fireflies floating in and out of the tall grass, winking in and out of sight. “I put them in a jar and set them by my bed that night. I fell asleep watching them, thinking how beautiful they were. Then I woke up and they were all dead because I forgot to poke holes in the lid. I cried for days.”
Jesse laughs, flashing his perfectly white teeth. He nudges his shoulder into me. “Want me to catch some for you? I’ll make sure they don’t die.”
I bite my lip. “I don’t want to have to let you go.”
“You won’t. Not ever,” he says.
The rough fabric of his jeans presses against my bare thigh. His arm is wrapped protectively around me. My simple white dress has ridden up and I know I’m showing a scandalous amount of leg, but I’m in a dangerous state of mind tonight. It’s homecoming week and I know our senior year of high school is almost over. I know we could almost be over, no matter what he says.
Jesse is being recruited by almost all the top colleges for football, and even though he says he won’t go anywhere I don’t get in, I’m not sure I believe it.
“Hey,” he says, taking me by the wrist and flipping my palm over. He smirks down at my small hand. “You know I can palm read?”
The eye him skeptically. “Is that so?”
“It is,” he says, narrowing his eyes at my palm and tracing the lines with a fingertip, sending jolts of hot excitement through my body. He winces theatrically, tapping the place where two deep lines meet. “I was afraid of this.”
“What?” I say, leaning forward.
“This straight line here is you. The little lines branching off are the times you’ll stumble along the way. And this thick line here...that’s your soulmate. See how it curves straight into your line like that and then they join together?”
I nod, frowning in concern. “What does that mean?”
He leans back, letting my hand fall to my lap and making a show of looking regretful. “It means you’re going to get married some day.”
I snort. “And that’s a bad thing?”
“Sure is. No woman is ever going to tie me down. So I guess this whole thing is doomed.”
I slap him on the shoulder, sticking my lip out a little at him. “Don’t be mean.”
He laughs. “Hey, the palm never lies. That was the first thing I learned.”
I raise my hand threateningly, pulling it back to swat at him again. “Maybe you need a closer look at this palm!” I lunge for him, trying to slap at his face, but he catches me as I fall on top of him. We’re both laughing and breathless by the time we’re done, and I’m very aware of how much my dress has ridden up while I lay on top of him.
The moment catches up with both of us and the humor leaves our faces. He’s leaned back against the rear window and I’m straddling him, arms planted beside his head, my hair creating a curtain between us and the rest of the world. All I see is him, and in that moment I think I could look at his gorgeous face for the rest of my life.
“Would it be so bad to marry me?” I ask, feeling my heart pound in anticipation as I wait.
He reaches up, threading his fingers through my hair and pulling me down for a kiss.
23
Jesse
Present Day