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  I felt my cheeks heat in embarrassment and glanced at my mom. She grimaced, knowing exactly how embarrassing this was for me.

  And when I looked at Max to apologize, I could see he was already staring at me, this longing, loving look on his face.

  “Sir, I’m the luckiest man on the planet that I have your daughter in my life. And believe me, there’s no way I’m ever going to ruin that.”

  * * *

  Max

  Later that evening

  I laid a blanket out and we stared up at the stars, my arm wrapped around Zara. I’d wanted to take her back to my place, lay her out on my bed, and feast on her. But the weather was beautiful, and we still had the rest of the night to do all the filthy things I envisioned.

  She snuggled in closer to me and I smiled, smelling her scent that was flowers and honey, like summer. It was an aroma that always had me harder than fucking rock. People walked their dogs on the path to our right; others rode their bikes to our left.

  “The sky’s especially clear tonight,” I murmured absentmindedly, thinking about her parents coming into the bakery, meeting them for the first time, and how I was glad we’d completed that step of our relationship.

  “It really is,” she said softly, her hand on my stomach, her head resting on my chest.

  I had my other arm underneath my head, propping it up, my legs crossed at my ankles, and my girl lying right next to me. Everything was pretty damn perfect in that moment.

  She cleared her throat and I felt the air shift a little bit.

  “I know you said it wasn’t a big deal, but I’m sorry again for my parents just dropping in like that. When they have something set in their minds, it’s almost impossible to deviate from it.”

  I ran the tips of my fingers over her arm, felt the goose bumps form along her skin.

  I pushed myself up, which caused her to sit up as well. She had her hair in a loose bun, tendrils falling out and moving along her cheeks. I lifted my hand and tucked the strands behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her cheek.

  “God, you’re so beautiful.” I meant to say that to myself, but the words just spilled out of me.

  I watched the blush darken her cheeks and couldn’t stop myself from leaning forward and capturing her mouth with mine.

  “I’m being honest,” I said after I pulled away. “I loved meeting your parents. I love that they just dropped in because they wanted to make sure I was worthy of dating their daughter. I look forward to meeting the rest of your family.”

  She smiled sweetly. I ran the pad of my thumb over her bottom lip, pulling the flesh down and letting it pop into place. I was getting myself worked up.

  “Just wait until you meet the rest. You might change your tune.” She chuckled softly, and the sound had my dick jerking.

  Fuck, I was getting rock-hard right here in the damn park.

  “Your family could be batshit crazy and I’d still say it would be fucking perfect, because you’d be in my life, Zara.”

  She was panting, her pupils dilated, her arousal clear. Good, she was getting worked up just like me.

  “How about we leave the park, head back to my place, spend the rest of the night in bed, and let me lick you from head to toe?”

  She sucked in a breath but then slowly grinned. “Lead the way.”

  That was my girl. When it came to Zara, I knew all bets were off.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Max

  One year later

  “You want anything else?” Zara yelled out from the kitchen. I looked over the couch and saw her getting us a bowl of popcorn and some beers for our in-house movie date.

  I grinned when she bent over and showed me that sweet ass of hers. “Just your gorgeous ass sitting next to me,” I replied. I heard her laugh and grinned. I knew she liked hearing me say these things just as much as I liked saying them.

  When Zara finally came back into the living room, I didn’t hesitate to wrap my hand around her waist and pull her onto my lap. She made the sweetest little sound when her ass landed right on top of my dick. It didn’t help the fact I was semi-hard.

  I pulled her back toward me, wanting to keep her close.

  I’d never let her go.

  I was nervous, so fucking nervous, because tonight was the night. I was going to propose. It was a long time coming, something that had been on my mind since the moment I’d first laid eyes on my girl.

  We sat there for long seconds, a comfortable silence surrounding us. That’s how I’d known she was the one for me—aside from instant lust, that attraction that was unlike anything I’d ever felt. I’d known she was mine, because I was comfortable with her. I didn’t even know her back then, but I was content just looking at her, just hearing her talk.

  I shifted so she was sitting beside me now, although truthfully, I wanted her on my lap, my arms around her, and just holding her the entire night. But that might make proposing a little tricky.

  I reached for her hand and took it in mine, rubbing my thumb along her skin. “Hey,” I said softly and waited until she looked at me. “I love you.”

  She gave me the sweetest fucking smile. “I love you too.”

  For long seconds, I just held her, stroking my hand along her arm, feeling the goose bumps form along her body. I was picturing how I’d do this, if I should have done something fancy, made this extra special with a night in the city. But as I stared at her, I realized I knew her better than that. She was like me... no nonsense, no frills. We were happy together in this easy, quiet lifestyle, and I knew she’d appreciate that more than any three-hundred-dollar dinner and a night at a ritzy hotel.

  She shifted even more so I could look into her face. I kept my hand on hers, keeping her close to me, wanting her that way always. And then I cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer so her head was resting on my chest, right over my heart. We stayed like that for a moment. “You feel that?” I whispered.

  “Your heart beating?”

  “Yeah,” I said just as softly. “It beats for you. Only you, Zara.”

  She rose up and gave me a kiss, one that could have turned heated if I hadn’t pulled back. And as I stared into her eyes, I knew now was the time. The perfect time.

  “I could say a lot of sappy shit, Zara, but you and I know we like it said how it is.”

  She looked serious, a little worried too.

  “Okay,” she said hesitantly.

  I took a deep breath but didn’t make her wait, didn’t prolong this. “Marry me.” Those two words came out a little too fast. So I told myself to calm down, took her hand, and brought her knuckles to my mouth, kissing them lightly. “I’ve wanted to do this for a year, baby, but gave you time, let you see how devoted I am to you.” Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t say anything. I cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes. “You’ve already made me the happiest man in the world, and not even a piece of paper saying we are legally married would change that, but Zara, I want that desperately. I want the world to know you’re mine.”

  She started tearing up then, and I instantly became worried.

  “Baby, please tell me those are happy tears?”

  She smiled. “They are. They so are.”

  “I wanted to propose the moment I saw you, if I’m being honest, but coming off as a creep probably wouldn’t have earned me any brownie points.”

  She laughed softly.

  Before I could say anything else, she was straddling me. She kissed me and I moaned.

  “So is that a yes?”

  “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you,” she said against my mouth.

  I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer so she was lying on my chest, unable to help the smile that covered my face. This was what I wanted, just to stay like this and have my arms wrapped around my woman.

  I closed my eyes and inhaled, smelling the floral sweetness of her hair, feeling my arousal grow, and wanting nothing more than to claim her right here and now. But then again, even after a ye
ar, I felt like some horny teenager whenever she was near.

  But instead of going all barbaric on her fine ass, parting those luscious thighs and devouring every inch of Zara, I kissed the top of her head.

  “I love you,” I murmured just as the movie started to play.

  “I love you, too.”

  God, I’d never get tired of hearing those three words.

  * * *

  Zara

  Six months later

  Max was the love of my life. I knew that when I first saw him. He’d say the same thing about me. And I guess that’s why we were perfect for each other, made for one another.

  My whole life, I’d worried about what others thought, and it took a long time to love me, to accept that I didn’t have to be perfect. I could be perfectly imperfect and that was okay. I’d find someone who loved me for me, even if I didn’t get my eyebrows waxed frequently enough.

  And I’d found that person. I’d found the one man who made me feel like I could be myself.

  I closed my eyes, willing myself to calm down, and breathed out slowly. This was the day. This was the moment I’d always envisioned, pictured for myself as a little girl.

  Here I was, about to marry the man I loved.

  When he’d proposed to me, it seemed like it had taken my entire life to get to this one moment.

  And we were finally here. Together.

  As I listened to the officiant, all I could do was stare into Max’s eyes and get lost in how happy I was.

  When it was time for us to repeat the vows and exchange rings, I felt my heart slam hard against my ribs.

  “I do,” I said softly, my smile just for him. All for him.

  Max took my hand and slipped the ring on, and I glanced down to look at it for a second, marveling that we’d finally gotten to this point in our lives.

  “I knew I loved you from the moment I saw you, Zara.” He stared into my eyes, and I got lost in the dark depths.

  He brought my hands to his mouth, kissed my knuckles gently, and I felt those familiar butterflies moving in my belly.

  “I knew you were something special, that you’d be mine.” He whispered those words, and I told myself not to cry.

  “I love you,” I whispered back.

  “I love you too, baby.” He lifted his hand and brushed a tear away, one I hadn’t known had fallen. “There’ll never be another woman for me. Never.”

  I exhaled slowly, everyone else faded, and in this moment, it was only Max and me standing in this room, speaking from our hearts, our souls being bared for each other.

  He pulled me into his body, holding me tight.

  “I do.” He finally said the words, and I was then aware of the light laughter that filtered around us. We’d been so into our own worlds that we’d clearly gone off the “script.” But that’s what being in love was about, right?

  “You may now kiss the bride.”

  And then he did just that, kissed me until I couldn’t even think straight, stole the breath from my lungs, and made me weak in the knees.

  He kissed me like I was his.

  And I was. Forever.

  Epilogue One

  Zara

  Two years later

  My back ached, my whole body was swollen, and I was pretty sure I didn’t have ankles anymore, as my calves shot straight down to my feet.

  The joys of pregnancy.

  But I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.

  “So, what do you think, baby?” Max turned around and looked at me, a massive grin on his face, but hesitance and nervousness made up his expression.

  I looked around the vast room, elation filling me. I was so happy for him. “It’s incredible. It’s going to look fantastic once it’s all renovated.”

  He came up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me in close. But my massive nine-months-pregnant belly was in the way, not allowing us to get in a proper hug.

  We both chuckled, but then I groaned as a Braxton Hicks contraction decided to make yet another appearance.

  “You okay?” There was worry in his voice. He started to rub my lower back. “Any day now, Zara baby.”

  Any day was right.

  I was thirty-nine weeks pregnant. The baby was measuring on the bigger side, so to say I was carrying extra weight was an understatement. Although I loved being pregnant, feeling our little boy moving around inside me, it seemed there’d been issue after issue, pain after pain.

  But I would’ve gone through it ten times over just to know I’d be holding him soon. We couldn’t wait until he was finally here, until we could hold him, love on him.

  “I’m okay,” I said after it passed, smiling so Max’s worry would lessen.

  Max pulled back, and we looked at the newest bakery that was currently in renovations. In the last two years, he opened up three shops in the city, with a couple more in the works.

  This latest opening was his favorite; I could tell. It was double the size of all the rest, with natural wood exposed beams, a modern look, and then there was the kitchen I was pretty sure gave Max a massive erection as soon as he’d seen it.

  We headed back into the kitchen, and I listened to him name off all the state-of-the-art appliances, how everything worked, and all the things he could bake in there. But all I could focus on was the tightening in my back, the pain that was creeping around to my belly.

  I braced a hand on the stainless steel table beside me and breathed out slowly. I was used to the Braxton Hicks contractions, but this was different.

  The discomfort passed, and I was about to brush it off as just one of the many pregnancy symptoms I’d had, but then I felt my eyes widen as the sensation of water soaking my underwear became evident.

  I looked down, expecting to see my pants soaking wet. I felt trickle after trickle of water, and then I snapped my head up to look at Max, who continued to walk around talking about all the things he planned for the bakery.

  “Max....” The discomfort was back as I breathed out his name.

  He turned to face me, and at the look on my face, he glanced down, staring at my pants. I felt panic rise up in me. I saw his eyes widen as well before he snapped his gaze back to my face.

  “Zara. Baby. Did you just pee yourself?”

  If I wasn’t in such discomfort, I might’ve laughed at that. But all I did was shake my head slowly. “I think it’s time,” I said and felt my heart race with anxiety, but anticipation filled me.

  He grabbed his phone off the table, tucking it into his pants pocket, and then started searching for his keys. He was talking about if he needed to call anyone, if the overnight hospital bag was still in the car, and here I was, off to the side just watching him, having contractions but unable to stop the little smile on my face.

  He was going to be such a good father. But then he was out of the kitchen, and I knitted my brows when I heard the front door open and close. Had he seriously just forgotten I was in here? I chuckled softly and was about to make my way toward the front, because surely he’d eventually realize I wasn’t in the car with him.

  Then I heard the front door open and close again and the sound of footsteps running toward me. He pushed open the kitchen door and stared at me with wide eyes. “Oh shit, baby. I nearly forgot about you.”

  I started laughing. He wrapped his arm around my waist and supported my weight as we walked out the front door.

  And as I looked up at him, I knew I couldn’t wait to start this new chapter in my life. A little piece of us was about to come into the world, and how exciting was that?

  * * *

  Max

  I was in love.

  Again.

  I stared down at Finn, his tiny body cradled in my arms, the soft sound of him breathing enough to lull me to sleep. He had a light feathering of blond hair atop his head, and I knew that although this was going to be the hardest thing I ever did in my life—being a father—I’d never looked forward to anything more.

  I glanced up at Zara an
d saw her sleeping as well, her hair fanned out over the white pillowcase, her beauty even more pronounced now that she was a mother. She’d been so strong, so controlled and calm during the whole thing. God, I was proud of her.

  I’d stood off to the side watching as our son was born, my heart in my throat, the very real idea that I might pass out filling me. Damn, I’d been so nervous and excited.

  And when Finn finally made his appearance after nearly twenty-four hours of Zara being in labor, I realized once again that she was my rock.

  Zara. My wife, the love of my life.

  She slowly opened her eyes, her long lashes fluttering, and then she was staring at me. The slow, sleepy smile she gave me had my heart beating even harder. God, I loved that woman so much.

  “He’s perfect,” she said softly as she stared at Finn.

  I looked down at him and nodded, lifting my hand and running my fingers gently over his blond, silky hair. He was so soft and warm underneath my fingertips.

  “He really is,” I whispered, and he made a little sound as he slept. I glanced up and looked at Zara, grinning, knowing I looked like one happy man. She smiled as well, and I could see in her eyes that she was just as much in love with him as I was. “Let’s have a handful more,” I said, and she started laughing softly.

  “A handful more, huh?”

  I nodded and grinned wider.

  “He might be a little hellion.”

  I laughed. “I don’t even care if he makes all my hair turn gray overnight.” When I looked at her once more, she was staring at Finn. I could see in her eyes that she wouldn’t mind having a couple more babies. Because when something was so beautiful and perfect, how could you not want more?

  I could be surrounded by an infinite amount of Zara and Finns and I’d be in absolute heaven. Because until I met Zara, I never knew what truly being in love and happy was like. And now that Finn was in our lives, we were finally complete.