Page 101 of Married to the Frenemy

He pulls back as my legs hit the side of the bed. The playfulness in his expression mere moments ago is gone. Instead, there’s a look of peace and serenity.

“Do you know what I hate the most, though?”

“What’s that?” I ask shakily.

“I hate how much I love you. How much I want to stop taking it one day at a time and go all in on you.” He cups my cheeks. “On us.”

I swallow hard, the intensity in his stare unraveling me.

“So what’s the verdict?” he asks softly. “Do you find me intolerable again?”

I hoist myself onto my toes and skim my lips against his. “Incredibly so.”

“Good,” he whispers before pressing his mouth firmly against mine.

I melt into him, all the tension that’s plagued me since he left evaporating as I surrender to him. To us. To this love. And as he swipes his tongue against mine, I feel him surrender to it, too.

Even better, I feel him do the one thing I didn’t think he ever would.

I feel him forgive himself.

No more guilt. No more regret. No more blame. Instead, we allow ourselves to be the perfectly imperfect couple we’ve always been.

Who needs perfect when we have something real?

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

BECKHAM

The sound of wrapping paper being ripped and excited squeals surrounds me, creating a symphony of holiday cheer. I relax into the plush cushions of the couch in the living room, a contented smile crawling on my face as I take in the scene in front of me.

The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree in the corner cast a warm glow over the room, illuminating the handmade ornaments adorned with photos of Maggie. It’s a lot more personal than any tree I’ve put up in the past.

But everything’s different now with Haley and Maggie in my life, and I couldn’t be happier.

I love waking up with Haley in my arms. I love driving Maggie to school in the morning and listening to her chatter about the latest kindergarten gossip. I love coming home after a long day of work to my two best girls.

But most of all, I love walking through the vineyard with my family by my side, especially now that I’m the owner.

Despite rescinding my offer to buy Vivanza, Grady ended up pulling one over on everyone when he gave me the vineyard instead. I tried to refuse, but he wouldn’t hear it. Said I deserved it.

I still question whether it’s true, but I’m trying to be better about not punishing myself for things I did in the past. Trying to forgive myself.

“Do you think we may have gone a little overboard?” Haley asks under her breath as she surveys the growing pile of presents surrounding Maggie.

“No such thing.” I kiss the top of her head. “She deserves it. If it weren’t for her, I’d probably still have my head shoved up my ass.”

She laughs as she snuggles in closer, her red and green checkered pajama bottoms matching mine. Last year, if you told me I’d be wearing matching pajamas with my wife as her daughter opened presents in front of our Christmas tree, I would have laughed. Hell, most years, I spent Christmas morning in the fields or experimenting in my lab.

Not this year.

“It’s a good thing I have her then,” Haley remarks.

“We have her,” I correct, tilting her chin.

“We have her.” She repeats as my lips touch hers.

“Ugh. Crush business? Again?” Maggie exclaims with a slight lisp due to a missing tooth.

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