Page 105 of Everlasting Love

38

VIOLET

I startle awakeat the sound of a slamming door and little footsteps running up the stairs. Oh my God, Mom’s home with Jas and we’re sprawled out on the bed stark naked. Thank goodness I have the bed covers half tossed over me but I do not want my daughter to see this. I quickly jump to my feet, my heart pounding, and rush to the door, flicking the lock just before the doorknob rattles.

“Mommy!”

Shane shoots up in bed, wincing. Shit! We probably shouldn’t have gotten so carried away before but I’d missed him so much and I’m so relieved he’s going to be okay.

Jas bangs her little fists against the wood. “Mommy, are you in there?”

“Yeah, JJ. I’ll be out in a minute. Meet me in the kitchen for a snack?” I quickly scoop up my clothes and shove my feet into my panties, then pull up my jeans. God, I feel like a teenager who’s been caught making out in the backseat of a car by her boyfriend’s mom.

“I want to see Daddy,” she calls through the door, and I can hear the pout in her voice. Shane rolls over, until he’s sitting on the edge of the bed and I pass him his boxers.

“He’ll be out in a minute. He was napping because he’s tired.”

It’s quiet for a long while as I put my bra and T-shirt on. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

“That’s okay, Angel. We’ll be down real quick because we missed you,” Shane calls as he zips his jeans. I kiss his lips as I push my arms into my sweater.

“Okay.” I hear her feet on the stairs and exhale a long breath.

Shane pulls me against his still-bare chest. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep track of the time.” He pecks my lips. “I should have set an alarm or something.”

I chuckle. “We were”—I trace my hand down his pecs, over his abs, and to his cock—“busy.” Winking, I push away from him. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

Closing the bedroom door behind me, I sag back against the wood with a grin that must be the size of the Mississippi. I can’t believe he asked me to marry him and he wants to adopt Jas. I squeal internally and push away from the door to float downstairs and into the kitchen. The worry in his soulful brown eyes while he waited for my answer was almost comical. As if I would have ever said no.

Jas spots me the instant I step through the opening like she was watching and waiting to pounce. “Mommy!” She leaps into my arms and wraps her little legs around my waist and her arms around my neck, kissing me and making me laugh. I wrap my arms tightly around my daughter and soak up her joy. She’s going to be so happy when I tell her that Shane and I are getting married and that we’ll be a family. She’ll finally have the family she deserves … as will I.

I bounce her in my arms. “How was your day?”

“Long and boring. I just wanted to come home and see you and Daddy.” Her little hands cup each of my cheeks. “I missed you.”

I kiss the tip of her nose. “We missed you, too.”

Mom steps into the kitchen and embraces me. “You look happy to be home.”

“I feel as though I’m floating,” I tell her as I return her hug.

Her eyes widen as do her lips. “Any particular reason?”

I pull Jas into our embrace as I tell them both the news because I’m too excited to wait for him to come downstairs. “Shane asked me to marry him, and I saidyes!” I’ll keep the adoption part quiet for now. That’s something Shane should ask Jas first.

“Oh my gosh, congratulations, I’m so happy for you all.” Mom’s eyes sparkle with joy, and I know she’s genuinely happy for me. She loves Shane so much.

Jas squeals in delight and the three of us jump around the kitchen like we’ve won the lottery, but this is so much better. “What’s going on in here?” Shane asks as he walks into the kitchen on his crutches. “Can I join in?”

“Daddy!” Jas reaches across for Shane and he moves closer, balancing on his crutches, he holds out his hands to take her. She wraps her arms and legs around him. “You’re gonna marry Mommy! This is the best day ever.”

Shane chuckles and kisses her cheek. “You don’t mind? It means I’ll always live with you guys.”

Jas shakes her head adamantly. “That’s the best part ever. I never want you to leave us, and I never want to leave you!” She presses her cheek to Shane’s and as happy as I am about marrying the man I love, it hurts that Jasmine has that memory of leaving her father. She never asks about him anymore because Shane’s filled that need for her but it still makes me sad that she doesn’t have that relationship with her biological father.

“Well, that works out perfectly because I never want to leave you or your mom.” He rubs his nose against hers with a grin as big as I’ve ever seen.

Lloyd wanders into the fray, chuckling at us as he kisses Mom on the cheek. “Quite the love fest happening here this afternoon.” He turns to Shane and me. “Great to have you guys home where you belong.”

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