Page 76 of The Sweet Part
We kiss. A long, lingering kiss that promises more. I take his hand and lead him toward the stairs.
“It feels like forever since we’ve had alone time,” I say. “Translation: naked time.”
“Naked works.”
He sweeps me off my feet and carries me upstairs. What a romantic!
I stroke the hair at the nape of his neck. “I still can’t believe we’re engaged.”
“Do you want a long engagement?”
“That’s not necessary. When it’s right, it’s right. I’m glad we both want something small.”
He sets me down at the top of the stairs and gets serious. “May, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to officially adopt Sophie and give her my name. Shaw.”
Tears leak out. “That would be wonderful.”
“Do you think she’d like that?”
“Are you kidding? You’re her dream daddy. She’d love that.”
We smile at each other. I turn, about to open the door to my third-floor apartment when he says, “One more question.”
“What happened to naked time?”
He takes both my hands in his and kisses them each in turn. That’s right, this man takes his time. “I’ll make it worth the wait. How do you feel about having a baby with me?”
Butterflies dance in my stomach. I’m surprised but happy. “I always hoped to have three kids.”
“I’d like that with you, May. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
He nips my lower lip. “After the wedding. I’m not that kind of guy.”
I laugh and kiss him; then he sweeps me off my feet and carries me upstairs once more. I could get used to this.
Epilogue
Springtime…
Mason
It’s our first episode ofHot Findsfor the new season, and I’m thrilled to have my two favorite girls on set with me. Our commercial with Sophie in the Cadillac Coupe de Ville did so well we decided to feature the car and Sophie with us in the first episode. May’s okay with Sophie being on the show because she trusts me, but that’ll be the end of Sophie’s show business career until she’s eighteen.
“Ready, Sophie?” I ask.
She nods enthusiastically. She’s dressed in gray coveralls with her name embroidered on the front and aHot Findscap just like me and Dad. She is a Shaw, after all. After a small wedding at the inn last month, I legally adopted Sophie.
I direct her to stand next to me. A few moments later, the cameras roll, and I introduce the episode.
“Welcome back toHot Finds. This is a special episode for me because my daughter Sophie’s here. She’s a chip off the old block.”
“Daddy! You’re not a block, but you are old.” Heat creeps up my neck. That wasnotin the script.
My dad snickers, and the crew holds back laughter. I knew it’d be a risk having Sophie on camera with the way she says exactly what she thinks at all times, but Aunt Claire, our producer, assured me it makes good television.
I turn to May, who’s grinning at my embarrassment. “May, come on out here. My beautiful wife, May.” Now I’m off script too, ’cause that’s the way we roll in this family.
