Page 84 of Off Limits Daddy

I was putting a series of cold cuts and charcuterie on a dish when Lindsay came to stand next to me.

“It's good to see you with my Unkadunk.”

I smiled. "It's good to be seen with him."

Lindsey glanced over toward Duncan. "I'm really glad that he found you. Duncan has so much love to give, but he'd never been able to find the right woman to give it to. I know that he sees you as The One because he's never looked at any woman the way he looks at you."

My heart filled with happiness. "I'm a lucky woman."

Lindsey nodded. "I hope you realize just how lucky you are. I hope you won't take this the wrong way, Veronica, but if you hurt Dunk, we’re going to have a problem."

I didn't take offense. "If I hurt your Uncle Dunk, I will deserve to have a problem.” I hoped she could see the sincerity in my expression. “I'll admit, Lindsay, that I wasn't looking for love. In fact, I was trying to avoid it. But I recognize the wonderful man that Duncan is. And I hope that I make him happy."

She gave me a smile. "Then I think we’re going to get along just fine.”

When the festivities were over, I drove Duncan and Aiden back to Duncan's brownstone. Since the incident, I’d been staying there with them. Duncan and I hadn’t talked about next steps in our relationship, such as living together. I imagined he needed time to make sure I wasn’t the ice bitch he’d met originally. I decided I’d stay until he told me to leave, which, if I played my cards right, he’d never do.

Aiden was a bit wired from all the excitement, but the minute we got him into bed, he conked out.

"I think he's going to be okay," Duncan said as we stood in Aiden’s doorway for a moment and watched the sweet boy sleep.

"Thanks to a wonderful father like you."

Duncan’s smile was sweet as he took my hand and kissed it. “How about we go downstairs and have some tea and unwind?”

I missed wine, but tea was a nice alternative since I was pregnant. "That sounds lovely."

When we got downstairs, I sent him off to the living room to prepare the tea. I returned to the living room with the cups of herbal tea.

"You know I'm not a complete invalid," he said as I set the tray on the coffee table.

"I don't remember saying that you were."

"I'm just saying you don't need to wait on me hand and foot."

I sat on the couch next to him and took his hand. "Are you saying this because you’re frustrated that you’re not fully recovered yet or because you’re worried that I’ll get bored by all this domesticity? Because taking care of you isn’t a sacrifice, Duncan. I’m not going to change my mind about us. You're going to have to face it, Duncan Ashworth. You're stuck with me."

He smiled and tugged me over until I was sitting on his lap. "How do you feel about putting your money where your mouth is?"

I arched a brow. "Is that some sort of innuendo about my mouth?"

I felt his dick pulse under me where I sat on his lap.

"It wasn’t, but I could." His pale blue eyes stared into mine, and I swore I saw the same love shining back at me that I'd seen Oliver looking at Lindsay with. "I like being stuck with you, Veronica. And it seems to me that the best way for us to be stuck together would be for you to move in here permanently."

Happiness fluttered through my belly. "I think I could get on board with that."

He smiled that magnificent, beautiful smile of his. “Did you miss that today is Valentine’s Day?”

I shook my head. “No. It was romantic that Oliver and Lindsay chose it as their wedding day.”

He nodded. “I can be romantic.”

“Don’t I know it. You’re the most loving, romantic man I’ve ever met.”

“Good to hear because I have something for you. I’m a little worried it’s too much, too soon, but…” He reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a lovely diamond ring. “I want to ask you to make us permanent. Marry me. Adopt Aiden with me. Let's make a family."

For so long, I'd believed that I never wanted to hear those words. But as Duncan said them, I felt like I’d been waiting forever to hear them. It was like my birthday, Christmas, and winning the lottery combined times one hundred.

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