Page 48 of Twice in a Lifetime

My heart started racing, the desire for her that was always coursing through my veins pumping even faster. “You sure, baby? I don’t want you to feel rushed.”

“I love you,” she said sincerely. “This isn’t rushed. It’s time. Now, we better get downstairs fast. If we don’t get those waffles cooking, Ainsley’s likely to set the kitchen on fire.”

We got the waffles made without any risk of devastation, and gathered around the island, the kids tucked up on stools while Blythe and I stood across from them as they stuffed their faces.

My heart lodged in my throat as soon as Blythe started talking. “So, guys, there’s something Rhodes and I would like to talk to you about.”

“Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend?” Avett asked around a mouthful of waffle, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk storing up food for the winter. “Is that why you were huggin’ Momma in your bed?”

I looked to her for guidance, returning the small, almost secretive grin. “Yeah, buddy,” she answered, turning back to face the kids that had come to mean everything to me. “Actually, if you ever wake up and need to find me, you can find me in there. Rhodes and I share that room now.”

“’Cause he makes you happy?” I felt Avett’s question like a blow to the chest, and I felt Blythe’s answer the same.

“Exactly. Because he makes me happy. Just like you guys make me happy.”

I couldn’t keep quiet any longer, I needed them to know what they meant to me. All of them. “Your mom makes me happy too,” I told them. “But I really lucked out, because she comes with you, and you guys make me just as happy as your mom does.”

Adeline’s eyes glistened. Avett’s chest swelled up and his throat worked. And Ainsley grinned like I just told her she was actually born a princess.

“I love your mom very much. And I want you to know that I love all of you too. Just as much. And I want you guys to stay here with me forever. I want this to be your home.”

“We can stay here forever?” Ainsley bounced on her stool excitedly and squeaked, “Does that mean we can get horses?”

“Ains. You can’t just ask someone?—”

I cut Blythe off. “You want a horse, baby girl, I’ll get you a horse.” Blythe whipped her head in my direction, bugging her eyes out in shock. But I wasn’t taking it back. I was actually excited at the prospect of spoiling those kids rotten. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do or give to make them happy.

She’d simply have to learn to accept that. Because I had every intention of spoiling her rotten too.

We finished breakfast and were in the middle of rinsing dishes when Avett spoke. “Just so you know, we love you too,” he informed me. His words froze me in place.

Adeline came up beside him and nodded sagely. “We do. Even if you don’t buy us a horse.”

Hell, I’d get them ten fucking horses each.

Blythe let out a giggle and shook her head, grinning so brightly it lit up the whole house. “You are so screwed.”

I was. And I didn’t give a single damn.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Blythe

Nerves danced beneath my skin like a million ants crawling all over me. I spun around in front of the bathroom mirror, taking my outfit in from all angles. Like the seven others I’d tried on before, it didn’t feel right.

“Damn it,” I grumbled, reaching for the hem of the dress and yanking it up over my head, leaving me in only my panties and bra.

Rhodes came sauntering into the bathroom, dressed in his usual jeans, cotton tee, and motorcycle boots like it was just any other day. I caught his smirk in the mirror before spinning around and stomping back to the massive closet we now shared, flipping through hangers frantically, like I didn’t already know exactly what I had.

“What was wrong with that one?”

“It was too casual,” I muttered.

He stepped into the doorway of the closet. “Baby, it’s just dinner. It’s meant to be casual.”

I spun around and planted my hands on my hips, shooting him a look that never failed to send my kids running off to do whatever I’d ordered. “It’sfamilydinner,” I stressed.

His brow furrowed as he leaned his shoulder against the frame and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re actin’ like you don’t already know them. We practically grew up together, Blythe. You’re just as much family in their eyes as I am. Hell, probably more so, given what day it is.”

---