Page 695 of Hell Hath No Fury
“Past my prime?” I stepped away from Foster, bristling with rage. “I hate to shock you out of the nineteenth century, Mr. Darwin, but women are having babies in their thirties with a lot more ease than they were a hundred years ago. Children aren’t out of the question. What is out of the question is your participation in our relationship. Your son is a man. A father. It’s time you saw that.”
Foster tugged me back into his side. “Ember’s right. This is our decision. And I have no reservations about it. I love her. Georgie loves her. There is nothing you can say to change it.”
“I’ll cut you off.”
The words sliced through the air, cold and harsh.
“Do it,” Foster answered without hesitation. “I’m a successful man in my own right. I don’t need your money. I don’t need your blessing. It would be nice, but it’s not a requirement.” He looked at his mother. “I would think as my parents, you’d just be happy that I’m happy.”
Madeline’s expression softened, but Edward barked out a hard guffaw.
“We’re not sticking around to listen to this ridiculous sentimental nonsense. When you come to your senses, you’ll know where to find us.” He turned and marched out of the room.
Foster’s mom wavered, tears filling her eyes.
“Mom?”
She grimaced and then hurried to follow her husband.
Silence fell between us. I squeezed his hand, hating the forlorn look on his face. However, as soon as he turned to me, the melancholy melted away. “You okay?”
“Are we together?”
I nodded, torn between joy and concern.
Foster grinned. “Then I’m more than okay.”
I hugged him, loving the feel of his strong arms so tight around me. “I think your mom will come around.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He turned, his lips brushing my ear. “I know I don’t deserve it yet … but I can’t wait for the day you tell me you love me too.”
My pulse pounded in my ears as I eased away from him.
The smart, sensible part of me knew I should hold back.
But I’d never been the kind of woman who lied to herself or others. “I love you,” I assured him. “I love you so much.”
His answer was to kiss me with a fierce wildness that made me tremble from head to toe. “We need to find a bed. Now,” he growled, guiding me toward the exit.
“Amen to that,” I agreed, and then we were running and laughing like two teenagers, out of the building toward his car in the parking lot, desperate to finally really be together.
EPILOGUE
Foster
Fourteen months later
Because she was already a swimmer, the doc said it was okay for Ember to keep swimming during her pregnancy. Still, Foster sat on a lounger right next to the pool as G and Ember swam.
“They’re fine,” his mom reassured him from the adjacent lounger. “She’s fine.”
“I know.” He nodded, not taking his eyes off them.
His mom laughed under her breath.
So he was being overprotective. He knew that. Wasn’t going to stop him.
Foster’s daughter and wife, and the little boy growing in her belly, were his entire world.
