Page 25 of Single-Dad: The Mountain Man

“Step aside, Willow,” Gage says.

“For you to hurt him? Hurt me?”

“No. I want to make sure he’s serious. That he knows I’m prepared to give my life several times over to protect you and destroy whoever hurts you.” Emotion flickers across his face.

His words strike a chord.

“Gage,” I whisper. My brother has always been fiercely protective. Ever since we lost our parents, he’s made it his sole mission to keep me safe. It must be hard to give away that responsibility to another man, even if it’s his best friend.

“She’s my everything, Gage. From the moment I open my eyes, every minute of the day, I’m thinking about how to make her smile, to show her that she’s the most precious woman in the world, and to keep her safe. Willow, Dylan, and Charlotte are permanently lodged in my heart. They’re all I have.” Shane’s large hand swallows mine up.

I’m touched to the core and a lump forms in my throat.

“Then we’re done here,” Gage says, embracing me. He pulls away to jab Shane lightly on the shoulder before leaving us.

My eyes widened at Shane. “Did that just happen?”

“It sure did,” he says, sounding equally as shocked.

“Where are the kids?”

“Ms. Steele has them. They wanted to go to Sam’s Scoops.”

“Oh, I like the sound of that. We can pick them up and go to the mall.”

“Would this be our first official date?”

I grin. “Eating ice cream as we stroll around the mall with the kids? Now that does sound sweet.”

He chuckles. “I know something sweeter?”

His lips touch mine and his tongue draws me into a world that’s solely him, his warmth, his touch, his protection, his love. And as the kiss deepens, I come to know that this is our world. It’s filled with hope and happiness and a beautiful future.

When we part, I mouth,I love you.

The End

---