Page 91 of More Than a Helping Hand

I squeeze her hand because I know she’s wondering if Bailey has a half-sister somewhere. “Tell her the other part.”

“A few days after that, the woman went back to my friend and asked for help finding some other guy. She said the paternity test showed that Kyle wasn’t the father.” He tips his hat. “Thought y’all would want to hear that news.”

“Thank you.” Primrose spins to face me. “I wanted her to know, but I couldn’t risk her finding out about Bailey. I didn’t want Kyle hassling me.”

“I was very clear that he could only let her know if it didn’t involve Bailey. And Kyle ended up telling her himself, which is a bit poetic if you ask me.” I brush her cheek as she smiles.

“Fitting.”

“There is one other thing I asked Garrett to help me with.”

Her brow knits. “What?”

“I don’t want you to have big regrets, Prim. If something makes you happy, I want it in your life.”

Realization washes over her face. “You messaged Mary and Dani?”

I pull her hand to my lips. “They’re inside.”

She takes off, dragging me with her. “I don’t know what to say.”

Laughing, I follow as she steps inside and scans the large room. Two women run toward us, their husbands striding behind them.

Primrose hesitates, and I nudge her forward. “Running usually means someone is happy to see you.”

She gives me a look, then steps forward and opens her arms. Her friends nearly tackle her.

If the hugs and squeals are any indication, I think this all worked out okay.

* * *

New Year’s Day,I’m up before Primrose, making breakfast for the six of us. After the party, we gathered in the living room and chatted until the wee hours of the morning.

And I’m making breakfast, but we won’t be eating until lunchtime.

She wraps her arms around me from behind. “There aren’t words to tell you how thankful I am. We picked up like no time had passed, and I’m so happy to have my friends back. And they adore you, by the way. But that’s no surprise. And Mom invited us all over later. I know my friends are excited to see Bailey.”

“Good. I wanted to surprise you before Christmas, but I didn’t hear back from Mary until just after. Then it was like dominos. They canceled plans to be here for New Year’s. Because they missed you.” I tug her next to me and kiss the top of her head. “I want to marry you, Prim. And I want your friends and family there as well. You pick a day, and I’ll be there.”

“Soon. Because something else magical about that weekend at the coast was sleeping snuggled against you. And I’m eager to do that all the time. I don’t want a big to-do, just a simple ceremony. Is that okay with you?”

“I want to hear the preacher say ‘You may kiss the bride’ and then I’m going to spend several days doing that and more.” I trace her curves with my gaze. “I want you, Prim.”

She inches up on her toes and gives me a peck. “I love you, Anderson Clarence Lane.”

And now I know how the prince feels in all those happily-ever-after stories. Hearing those words from her is like a fairy tale come true.

EPILOGUE

DALLAS

Anderson’s idea of a bachelor party is having all the guys meet for dinner, then going back to the game room to play poker. And since I don’t have anyone who requires hugs and kisses before I go anywhere, I get to the restaurant first to secure a table.

Hungry and perpetually cranky, I wait for the hostess to speak to me. Hopefully the guys aren’t too far behind.

She finally notices me. “How many?”

“There will be nine of us.” Driving into San Antonio wasn’t my idea. There’s a perfectly good barbecue place ten minutes from the ranch, but Anderson wanted to eat at this place.

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