Page 130 of Nanny for the Firefighter

He could potentially get parole, but the case wasn’t looking good considering the evidence brought up against him for three years of stalking.

I was safe. I could live my life without looking over my shoulder constantly.

Happy endings to me had been reserved for the pages of a book or the end of a rom-com. But now…

I’m living happily ever after each day, and it can’t get any better.

“Get Momma, Mia! Let’s do it!”

I perk up in my chair, looking out over the beach to see Mia running up to me with her arms wide for a hug.

I lean forward, catching her in my arms and scooping her up into my lap. With the perfect little grin, Mia hugs me and then promptly takes my sun hat off because she hates it.

“You bum. I need that for the sun.”

I tease her, tickling under her arm, and then Mason is hurrying over to his chair beside mine.

His breath rushes in and out of him, but he leans forward, getting Mia’s attention.

“What do you think, hun? Should I give it to her now?”

“Yeah! Momma present!”

I cock my head, eyeing Mason. “Present? What are you up to, Daddy? I thought the trip was plenty.”

He just grins at me, shaking his head as one shoulder lifts in a shrug. As he digs in the beach bag for his shorts, he reaches out a hand for Mia.

“Come here, you. Give this to Momma.”

I help Mia down, and she walks over to Mason and takes what he pulls out. It’s too quick for me to see what it was, but Mia has her little hands wrapped around something that just fits between her two palms.

Furrowing my brow and so very confused, I hold out my hands so that Mia can give me whatever it is Mason’s brought with him. She doesn’t relinquish it, though, having me pick her up and put her in my lap instead.

“Okay, what is it, honey?” I smile down at her, my pulse quick as the anticipation builds.

“Momma present!”

Mia holds up her hands, right in my face, in fact, and then opens up her palms like an oyster shell.

She’s got a small velvet box, and my stomach drops clean through the earth.

“Oh my God, Mason. Did you…”

I can’t finish the words, and Mason just grins.

“Open it up.”

Taking the box from Mia, I hold it in between us. My fingers tremble as I open the lid, which clicks into place when I’ve lifted it far enough.

Inside, nestled in more of the beautiful black velvet, is a ring. The diamond in the center is at least a few carats and the gorgeous cushion cut is surrounded by twisting strands of gold in both rose and white colors.

I gasp, looking up at Mason as my eyes flood with tears.

“Are…are you serious? This is so much!” I look back down at the ring. “This thing must have cost a fortune!”

Mason laughs, his eyes going glassy, and then he’s on his knee in the sand in front of me, circling his arms around Mia.

“We are very serious. We want you to be the permanent momma of the house. And the cost is nothing. I wanted something as special as you. It’s our families becoming one, Bridget. I love you, and I want the entire universe to know.”

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