Page 14 of Domino
She’s just about to reply when a large, brawny man steps out onto the porch. He walks down the stairs and is heading toward us. He looks to stand a little over six feet tall and has light brown hair and darker brown eyes. He’s got wide, sloping shoulders, and a body of taut muscle that tells me he works out. A lot. His beard has flecks of gray in it, and his face is all chiseled angles and planes. He’s drop-dead gorgeous, and if I didn’t know he was Missy’s husband, I might be telling him to take me home right now.
I arch an eyebrow at Missy. “You really do have an amazing life.”
She laughs. “I get by.”
“Uh-huh. I’m sure you do.”
She takes his hand, and I can see the love in her eyes. This is a happy woman. I’m pretty sure I’ve never had that sort of look in my eye, not even when things were good with Ryan. And it’s a feeling I long for.
“Mark, this is Ashley. Ashley, Mark.”
I extend my hand, but he waves me off and pulls me into a tight bear hug. If I thought Missy was squeezing the air from my lungs, Mark might just break my ribs. It’s clear the man doesn’t know his own strength, but despite the lack of breath, I manage to laugh. He finally sets me back down, a warm, welcoming look on his face.
“Good to finally put a face to the name,” he says, then turns to Missy. “Do they just breed supermodels down there in Erwin?”
She and I both giggle and I feel my cheeks flushing with warmth. He squats down in front of Cole and ruffles his hair.
“And who are you, big man?”
Cole looks away shyly, but before he can duck behind my legs again, I put my hand on his shoulder, holding him in place.
“It’s okay, baby. Tell him your name,” I say.
“Cole,” he says.
“Well, it’s good to meet you, Cole. Your Aunt Missy and I are really happy to have you here. And I know Emma and Elton are going to love having you around,” Mark says.
“What do you say, Cole?” I prompt.
“Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Mark ruffles his hair again and with a laugh, stands up again. He takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze, and as I look into his eyes, I can’t help but see the earnestness.
“I’ve already fixed up the guest house for you and Cole. You two are welcome to stay here as long as you like. You’re family to Missy, so you’re family to me, too.”
The lump rises in my throat and I feel my eyes well with tears yet again. Missy pulls me into a tender embrace. We remain like that for a few moments before we finally separate. I honestly can’t recall the last time I ever felt so welcome. Not even in my own home with Ryan.
“I just want to thank you both. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for taking us in like this,” I say.
Missy waves me off. “I, for one, am just glad you finally got out of there. It was well past time for that to happen.”
A rueful smile crosses my face. It seems that everybody could see my situation more clearly than I could.
“Tell you what,” Mark says. “Let me get your things into the guest house, and I’ll let the kids get acquainted with one another. Missy, why don’t you take her into town and show her around. Catch up and all. I’ll have some dinner waiting for you when you get back.”
Missy gives him a quick kiss. “Have I told you lately how incredible you are?”
He shrugs. “I can never get tired of hearing that.”
“Thank you, Mark,” I say. “And I’m glad that Missy found such an amazing man to share her life with.”
He looks at Missy with the purest love I’ve ever seen before. “You ask me, I’d say I’m the lucky one.”
My heart melts as I watch them together, and I feel the wave of envy well up within me again.
***
