Page 129 of Prince Charming

“Tag.” She breathed, feeling calmer for seeing him.

He smiled. “I grabbed the bags, darlin’. Ready to get going?”

“Oh, yes.Da, thank you. Tag, this is Galina. Galina, I told you all about my friend.”

Galina, a woman in her early sixties, all but blushed when Tag grinned his Prince Charming grin and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Oh, my.” Galina exclaimed in Russian. It broke some tension within Marianna, and she broke into ridiculous chuckles.

The reaction to Tag was completely understood. He often swept the breath out of her too with one of his smiles.

Before she knew it, he’d gone down to his haunches and was smiling at Pasha and Lily. “Hey there, I’m Luke, but everyone calls me Tag. Can you say Tag?”

Both of them hid behind her legs. Tag chuckled. “That’s alright, kiddos,” then he addressed Pasha, “wanna help me push the cart?”

Marianna translated and saw the first spark of interest in Pasha. His eyes widened looking at Tag who was now standing behind the luggage trolley.

“Oh, my.” Galina remarked again, starry-eyed.

If she wasn’t careful, she might have competition for Tag’s affection.

It was halfway out of the airport, Lily divulging every moment of the plane ride and what she’d eaten, that Marianna saw Pasha let go of Galina’s hand and sidle up to Tag’s jean clad leg. Tag slowed and let Pasha’s hands grab onto the back of the trolley, pushing with all his little might.

“Thanks, kiddo, I needed the help.” She was sure she saw her little man puff out his chest.

Once everyone was bundled into coats, the luggage stored away, and the kids strapped into the new car seats within Tag’s truck – his thoughtful idea – she stopped him before he could open the door for her. “I can’t thank you enough, Luke. What you’ve done for us… I can’t… I don’t have the words of gratitude.”

“Are you happy?” He questioned, touching her chin with two fingers. It spiked her heart into overdrive.

“Yes, so much.”

“Then that’s all the thanks I need.”

An emotion like nothing she’d felt before filled her chest, seeing genuine pleasure on his face.

He was happy because she was. For Tag, it was that simple.

She loved him.

Oh, how she loved this man.

“Luke.” The words almost tumbled out of her mouth right there in the parking lot until the moment was lost when Lily shrieked her name.

“Duty calls,” he dropped a quick kiss to her forehead. “Let’s get you home, Anna.”

Home, she thought.

Finally, she had a home.

Hopefully, it would include Tag too.

If that’s what he wanted.

THIRTY-TWO

“When life gets in the way. A wonderful, amazing life.” – Marianna

Pasha hated his bedroom.

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