Page 36 of Dragon Daddy's Second Chance

“You look beautiful,” Susan said, tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you, Wren.”

Vivian clapped her hands. “I knew that was the one,” she said, then turned to Susan. “Now for the maid of honor, let’s see…oh, I know. Wait here.”

When they walked out of the shop a little while later, both completely enchanted with the owner, their dresses wrapped in plastic over their arms, Wren felt a rush of happiness. In only a few days, she would be married to the man of her dreams, and they’d be starting a new life together. Nothing was going to stand in their way this time, not even a dress.

Smiling at her own joke, she followed Susan through the village, thinking about trying on the dress again when she got back to the cabin. The smile vanished when she saw Belinda Watson hurrying over to her, a big fake smile on her face, and she groaned.

“Don’t look now, but here comes Blake’s mom,” she said. “Run while you can.”

“Not a chance,” Susan said, planting her feet. “I’m with you to the end.”

“Wren, I’m so glad I ran into you,” Belinda said, giving her air kisses. “I was sitting there in my cabin thinking about the wedding, and I wondered if you had a dress. I mean, with the wedding being so rushed and everything. Anyway, I have some things with me. You could look through them and borrow something if you like. After all, we’re going to be family.”

“Oh, that’s a sweet offer, but I’ve got it covered,” she said, holding up the dress. “There’s a really lovely little boutique in the village.”

Just then, Theo came running up, Blake trailing along behind him. “Mom, guess what?” he called, holding up a garment bag. “I got wedding clothes too.”

“Oh, sweetheart, that’s great,” she said, watching the look of shock appear on Belinda’s face. “Maybe you should take them back to the cabin so they won’t get dirty or wrinkled, I’m sure that Susan will be happy to take you.”

They were gone several minutes before Belinda finallysaid, “You have a child.” Her face scrunched up with displeasure. “No one said anything about a child.”

“His name is Theo,” Blake said, walking up and putting his arm around Wren, then shooting her an apologetic look. “I thought you were in your cabin.”

“I got restless, I wanted…” Belinda’s words died away. “Blake, could I speak to you alone for a moment?”

“No Mother, you can’t,” Blake said, shaking his head. “Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Wren. You’re not going to separate us again.”

Belinda looked over at her, then back at Blake, and let out a little snort. “I can’t believe you’re willing to take on another man’s brat,” she finally said. “Isn’t the fact that she has a child enough to tell you what a mistake this is?”

“He’s mine, Mother,” Blake said. “Theo is my son; he’s my brat, as you put it.”

Belinda stumbled back a step. “She’s lying,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s not yours. That’s impossible, it can’t be true.”

“Wren’s not lying. All you have to do is look at Theo and you can see it,” Blake said. “Face it, Mother, he’s my son, and I’m going to marry his mother like I should have six years ago.”

Belinda’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, then she turned and stomped off, muttering under her breath. “Well, that was fun,” Wren said with a sigh. “I love your mother more and more every time I see her.”

Blake laughed, “I’m sorry about that. I thought I had more time to tell her,” he said. “But you’re tough as nails, I don’t know what I was worrying about.”

“I kind of feel sorry for her,” Wren said. “She’s as spoiled as my sister, and they don’t take it well when they don’t get their way.”

“I just hope you don’t have to punch my mother like youdid Lisa,” Blake said, grinning at her. “Then again, maybe I would. I’d love to see you knock my mother on her butt.”

“Blake, I could never hit your mother,” she said, giving him a shove. “Don’t even joke about something like that.”

“Well, someone should,” he said. “She deserves it.”

CHAPTER 21

***BLAKE***

Blake climbed up the steps to the front door of his parent’s cabin and lifted his hand to knock, but the door was thrown open before he could. “Oh, Blake,” his father said. “I was just going to come look for you.”

“I was hoping to talk to you too,” he said, looking over his father’s shoulder. “Is she here?”

His father shook his head. “She took off dressed for a hike a few minutes ago. She’s been especially difficult the last few days,” he said, shaking his head and opening the door wider. “Come in. I think we should talk.”

“No thanks,” he said. “I just wanted to come by and tell you both to stay away from the wedding. Mother is not going to ruin this for me. I love Wren, and I’m going to marry her.”

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