My lips twist as I stare at the man who I believed hates me. “You have?”
“Of course I have. You’re my daughter. I care deeply about you and your future, which is why I got so crazy before you left home. I thought you were heading down the wrong path because it wasn’t one I laid out for you, but I’ve done a lot of praying and talking with my pastor since the day you left.” He bats away a tear from the corner of his eye. “I’ve come to see that what I was doing was wrong—that I shouldn’t try to control you. No one should. You should always be your own person and find your own happiness, even if I don’t like how you find it. I’m sorry, Anna. Can you ever forgive me?”
Tears roll down my cheeks and I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Aunt Dee told me that this may happen, but I never expected an actual apology from my father. He’s not the type of man who usually admits when he’s wrong, so I know this is very hard for him to do and he wouldn’t do it unless he means it.
I rush over to Father and he wraps his arms around me. “I forgive you.”
We stay wrapped up like that, crying together for a long time, and finally everything feels complete again.
Flying back to Detroit in first class, sitting next to Xavier, I’m on cloud nine. There’s no doubt we went through some hell to get here, but we made it—together.
It’s like we’ve been given a second chance—one in which both Xavier and I are honest with one another—no more secrets.
Quinn was right about one thing without trust, a relationship will never survive.
Xavier threads his fingers through mine as the plane lands on the runway. “Do you feel up to apartment hunting as soon as we get off the plane?”
I nod. “Of course. We can have Quinn drive us to your grandmother’s house so we can get your stuff first and get a hotel and then we can head out.”
I leans his head back against the headrest and sighs. “We need to borrow a car.”
I tilt my head. “Something wrong with the bike?”
He rolls his head against the seat and gazes down at me. “No. I just don’t want you on the back of it. I’ve got to keep you and my baby safe.”
I bite my bottom lip, and have to keep myself from jumping his bones. When he gets all protective like this, it’s sexy, but it’s even more attractive now because he’s worried about more than just me. I like that he’s fully vested in this pregnancy with me.
I lean and kiss his lips. “Okay, daddy.”
He gives me one of his best panty-soaking grins. “Keep it up, and I’ll have you calling me that when we’re alone and your legs are over my shoulders.”
I giggle. “I wouldn’t exactly call that a threat.”
He leans in and nips my earlobe and growls. “God, I want to fuck you so bad right now.” He takes my hand and lays it over the crotch of his jeans. There’s no mistaking the hard cock that’s standing up, waiting on my attention.
I bite my lower lip. “Maybe we should skip the apartment shopping and spend the rest of the day in bed.”
Heat from where his lips kiss the soft skin beneath my ear causes a tingle to rip through my body. “Sounds like a plan to me. I’ll take a day buried inside that sweet * of yours anytime.” I squirm in my seat trying to ease the ache between my legs and Xavier chuckles. “Patience, baby. Save it all for later and I promise I’ll give you the best toe-curling sex you’ve ever had.”
“Promise?” I whisper, loving it when he makes promises of pleasure.
“Yes.”
It feels like it takes forever to get off the plane, gather our bags, and then make it outside where Quinn is waiting next to her Honda for us. “There’s the champ!”
Xavier grins and it’s easy to see the pride on his face. Winning the belt has been a dream for him and it was an amazing experience to be by his side while it happened.
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe you’re engaged! I should totally start a match-making business. I called this from the start.” Quinn rambles on a mile a minute—he excitement clear as we approach. “You two looked great on television last night, by the way. Anna I especially liked when you smacked that Rex guy in the face. It looked real.”
I laugh as I hug my cousin. “I rather enjoyed that part myself. It’s good to see you, Quinn.”
“Me too,” Xavier interjects from behind us.
“I’ll bet,” Quinn adds. “The guy had it coming. He’s been a complete asshole to you.”
“Yes he has, but I think now that Xavier’s won the belt from him, I don’t see him getting back any time soon.”
“I agree,” Quinn says as she pops the trunk for Xavier to load our bags. “I think Phenomenal X will be the champ for a long time.”
“He does a pretty great champion.” I wrap my arms around Xavier’s waist after he closes the trunk.
“So when’s the wedding?” Quinn asks and then her eyes flit from me to Xavier and then back again. “You seem different. Is there anything other than the engagement I should know about?”
I glance up to Xavier as if to ask his permission to tell my cousin about the secret we’re keeping.