Page 25 of Dating the Daddy

“And,” she adds, stepping closer, her voice infused with the confident spark I’ve come to love, “Because I want everyone to know all about my most successful match yet: the one between you and me.”

I’m struck dumb, standing in front of her like an idiot, mouth slightly agape as my brain scrambles to recalibrate, grappling with a myriad of emotions as she closes the space between us. For once in my goddamn life, words are failing me.

Her words flip my world on its axis, spinning everything I’d built up to say into a jumble of emotions. But one thing’s clearer than ever to me. Elysa knows her mind and her heart, and she’slooking at me with the kind of certainty I’d only dreamed could be directed my way.

She reaches up, her hand touching my cheek, grounding me in a way I desperately need. “I love you, Aidan,” she says simply, the words laced with conviction and warmth that wrap around me like a balm. “I’m not afraid. Not of this or the town gossip. I’m done hiding.”

It’s like a goddamn fire ignites in me. Everything clicks into place deep in my soul. The mounting panic and the fear of losing her completely evaporate. “Fucking hell.” My voice catches, sounding more vulnerable than I ever imagined. “I’m so goddamn proud of you. I can’t believe you would fall in love with a grumpy asshole like me.”

“Head over heels, Daddy.” She smiles up at me. The expression on her gorgeous face unravels every knot in my chest, leaving me defenseless and splayed wide open before her. “And I’m planning to fight this fight with you.”

Something hard and determined snaps into place, fueled by her words and the promise they hold. I find myself pulling her to me, my hands cradling her face, rough and unsteady as I lean down to capture her lips in a kiss that's an echo of everything fierce and unapologetic that I’m feeling.

When we finally come up for air, I realize there’s one thing left to do. I step back and drop to one knee. Right here, right now, because waiting any longer feels foolish when my entire world is standing in front of me, looking at me like I’m her gravity.

Elysa’s eyes widen, surprise flickering across her face. There’s a vulnerability in her expression mirroring my own, but beneath it all is trust.

I flick open the box, the diamond catching the light and sending shards of brilliance across the room. “Elysa,” I start, my voice rough, barely holding back the swell of emotions threatening to overflow. “I’m a hard ass, and I know I’m not easy to love…”

“Aidan—” she starts softly, eyes already misting, but I press on, needing to say these words.

“But you’ve dragged me into the light, tamed this grumpy bastard in ways I never thought possible.” I shake my head, almost in disbelief at how right this all feels. “I can’t fucking picture my life without you, and I don’t want to face another day without knowing you’ll be by my side forever.”

“Oh my.” Her breath hitches, eyes shocking in their clarity and warmth as she takes in my trembling, semi-scrambled proposal.

I take another breath, steadying myself. “Will you marry me, Elysa? Will you be my baby girl forever, and protect the residents of Silver Spoon Falls from my grumpiness?”

A beat passes. Then another. For a moment, I swear the world has stopped, dead in its orbit, as I kneel before the most incredible woman I’ve ever known.

Then suddenly, she’s crashing into me, arms looping around my shoulders, pulling me in with a force that almost topples me over. Her laughter breaks through the building emotion, a happy squealing sound. My heart swells in my chest as she buries her face in my neck.

“Yes!” she all but cries, her voice cracking with the force of her emotions. “I can’t wait to be your wife and your baby girl, but to hell with the town residents. They’ll have to deal with the two of us.”

I pull back just enough to look at her face, wanting to memorize this moment. She’s my match in every way, and I couldn’t love her more.

With a slightly shaking hand, I slide the ring onto her finger, and the fit is perfect, like it was meant to be there all along, resting against her skin, a testament to all that lies ahead.

“I can’t wait to walk this crazy path with you, even when it gets tough,” she tells me, her voice resolute but soft, like a whisper intended just for me.

“I know you’re strong enough to call me out on my bullshit,” I reply, a teasing smirk playing on my lips, though my tone is entirely sincere. “I’m not perfect, but damned if I’m not going to try for you.”

“You are perfect.” She wraps her soft arms around my waist, and everything in my world is instantly perfect. “For me.”

CHAPTER 9

ELYSA

"On your knees, baby girl."Aidan runs his hand down my outer thigh. "Ass in the air."

I shiver at the thread of steel in his voice, eagerly rolling to my knees to obey his command. I tilt forward, lifting my ass high in the air for him, and then glance back over my shoulder, blinking innocently. "Like this, Daddy?"

He grunts, his eyes already locked on my dripping sex. Lust blazing from his expression. "Yeah, just like that."

I bite my lip, fighting a moan. He's so damn sexy. And so dang mine. God, I can't believe he put a ring on my finger today.

His hand comes down on my right cheek in a sharp smack as his other hand slips between my legs. I cry out in bliss, rocking back against him for more.

"That's for giving me a heart attack today," he growls softly. "This is for the first column." He spanks me again, lining up at my entrance. “This one is for teasing me over text days ago and then leaving me hanging.” His hand comes down on my ass again.

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