Page 76 of Ice, Love, & Other Penalties

“Your brother mentioned they don’t have enough staff to cover for me,” he mutters. “I want to show you that I’m not a violent thug, but I understand why you’d think that after today.”

And I think what happened earlier might’ve scared him more than me—or anyone in my family. I unbuckle my seat belt and slide onto his lap, cradling his rugged face in my hands. “Ty, I know you. How caring you are and how you would never hurt me—not even by accident.”

I meet his uncertain gaze. “Was I frazzled after the fight?” I nod. “Of course, but mostly because you were too angry and I was afraid of what you could do to him. You’re still Tyberius Brynes. The man who held my hand—virtually—while I finally faced my fears and found myself. You’re an amazing father and the man I love with all my heart.”

“I love you so fucking much, Indie,” he rasps, the rawness in his voice squeezing my chest.

Unable to resist the magnetic pull between us, I press my lips to his in a tender, reassuring kiss.

“Would it be too soon to ask you to marry me, darling?” His green eyes search mine hopefully.

“Probably,” I reply with an apologetic smile, affectionately stroking his scruffy jaw.

“How about moving in with us then?” He lifts my hand, brushing his lips over my knuckles in a featherlight caress that makes my pulse leap.

“I’d love that, as long as we can make that big house feel like ours,” I propose, joy blossoming in my heart at the thought of our lives intertwining.

We spend Saturday and Sunday morning arranging the primary room and moving some of my stuff so I can move in with Ty. When we pick up Myra, I show her everything that we’ve done and she smiles. “Finally. Are you going to be my mom too?”

I glance at Ty, because we agreed that until he talks to her about their real relationship I’m not going to step into any role.

“She knows already. That’s a surprise we had for you,” he states. “We talked last week with Dr. Lindt about it, didn’t we, pumpkin?”

“Yeah. He’s like Uncle Gabe and Aunt Ameline to Cora, my best friend. I’m so special that instead of being his niece I’m his daughter—he chose me.” Then she gives me a hopeful look. “Will you choose me?”

I open my arms and hug her. “As long as you choose me too, I will. Love you so much, Myra.”

“Can I call you mom?”

“I’d be honored,” I say, and I can’t help but cry.

Ty joins us in the family hug and I’m not sure how this will look in the future, but right now I’m happy to have them, to be with them—hopefully forever.

Epilogue

Indigo

Two months later . . .

The alarm’s harsh blare jolts me awake. I groan, burrowing deeper into Ty’s warm embrace. His muscular arms tighten around me, pulling my back flush against his bare, sculpted chest.

“Just five more minutes,” he mumbles, his voice a gravelly rasp from sleep that sends tingles skittering down my spine.

I can’t help but smile, reveling in the feeling of his hard body pressed against my softer curves. His legs tangle lazily with mine under the sheets, not an inch of space left between us. I breathe him in—that masculine scent I love, sandalwood and spices with a hint of something uniquely Ty.

It’s been two months since I moved in, and every day, I fall more and more in love with him. So many things have changed since I first stepped into this house. We stopped searching for a nanny. We share parental duties. However, those days when neither one of us can pick up Myra from school, my parents or siblings give us a hand.

Rolling over in his arms, I meet his sleepy green eyes, crinkled at the corners, as he flashes me that crooked grin that never fails to make my heart skip.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmurs, his fingers reaching out to tenderly tuck back a lock of my hair. They linger, tracing the sensitive shell of my ear in a featherlight caress that has my pulse kicking up a notch.

“Mmm . . . Good morning.” I lean in, brushing my lips against his. He responds immediately, capturing my mouth in a slow, deep kiss that steals my breath. My hands glide up his sculpted back, feeling the play of muscle under skin.

All too soon, he pulls back from the kiss with a regretful sigh, glancing ruefully at the clock.

“As much as I’d love to continue this, we need to get Myra ready for school,” he says apologetically.

I pout playfully up at him through my lashes. “Does she really have to go today?”

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