Page 54 of Chasing I Do
“Fishing trip?” Gage hadn’t been fishing since—well, since his dad died. It was one of the things they did, just the two of them.
Each brother had their own special Dad and Son outing. It was Benjie’s way of giving each one of his kids focused attention. Josh and Dad used to go hiking. Rhett’s time had been spent playing guitar, Owen’s brewing beer, Clay’s was Seahawks games, Kyle’s watching NASCAR. And Gage’s had been fishing.
Just him and his dad and the stillness of the day.
“I love fishing.”
“You do?” Kylie asked, her face so expressive Gage had to give her another hug.
“I do.”
“He likes it, Mommy,” she yelled, as if Darcy were across the lawn and not right next to them. “Then, you can be my partner?”
“Anytime.”
Anytime, anywhere, and for anything.
There wasn’t much either one of the Kincaid ladies could ask him that he wouldn’t do. They both had him wrapped around their fingers. And they were securely wrapped around his heart.
“He’s my partner!” Kylie wiggled out of his arms and the second her feet hit the grass she started jumping up and down. “You don’t have to dress like a boy now.”
Gage lifted a brow in question and Darcy laughed. “It’s the Daddy Daughter Fishing Day at the river downtown. I threatened to dress like a boy to fit in with all of the other dads. But when Kylie asked me if you could take her, I said she needed to ask you.”
“You’re not my daddy, but you’re a boy and an uncle. So I figured that counted, and this way Mommy doesn’t have to pretend to like fishing.”
She shrugged. “It’s the worms that get me.”
Gage opened his mouth to say he’d bait every hook if that meant he got to take Kylie on her fishing trip, but nothing came out. Everything he wanted to say, to Kylie and her amazing mom, was stuck behind the lump that had lodged itself in his throat.
He never imagined that a little thing that could fit in his pocket could capture his heart so thoroughly. And it wasn’t because she was Kyle’s. Sure, in the beginning that was what had started his determination to be a part of her life.
But after getting to know her, watching her spin in circles on the grass, experiencing one of her hugs, Gage had fallen. Fallen hard for this tiny thing. He’d fallen for her mom too.
“I’m in,” was all he could manage, and when he looked up at Darcy, she was looking back, tears sparkling in her eyes. She was all in too, she’d told him as much the other night when she’d asked him to make love on her couch.
That’s exactly what it had been. Making love and making promises to each other. Promises he wanted to spend a lifetime keeping. He didn’t just want to sit around that dinner table tomorrow, he wanted to sit around it every night, and then again every morning.
He wanted to spend his Sundays watching his girls play in the garden, while he wrote them love letters. But his love wasn’t singular like his mom’s. His love was big and full, and strong enough for the both of them—and whoever else came along.
Gage’s heart stopped as the realization washed over him. This was real and honest and he felt giddy with joy.
“Ms. Kincaid,” a voice said from behind and Darcy took off her hat.
“Yes?”
Gage turned around to see a man in a suit and tie, with slick shoes and a slick attitude, and an envelope that had the power to destroy everything. But before he could intercept, the man asked, “Darcy Leigh Kincaid?”
“Yes,” she said again, getting ready to sign for a package like this was some check from a client or a shipment of wedding cards.
But there were no cards. Gage had received packages like this before, and had even sent a few over the years. He’d never meant for one to be delivered to Darcy.
“You’ve been served,” Slick said as soon as Darcy’s fingers closed around the envelope.
Her face went from curious to uncertainty. But Gage was certain of exactly what was in there. And who it was from.
“Served?” Darcy opened the envelope. “I don’t understand. By who?”
“I’m just a messenger. Have a good night.” Then Slick disappeared as if he hadn’t just handed them all a sentence.
