He opened the box and choked up at the sight of a gorgeous memory blanket. He looked at Leah in disbelief as he took it out of the box and held it up. Rosie ran away giggling, and Junie ran after her. Tank couldn’t believe his eyes. Across the top of the blanket were the words WE LOVE YOU, PAPA TANK, and beneath that, Leah had made a tree with leaves from his family’s memorabilia, including one of his shirts Ashley used to sleep in, part of the skirt from Rosie’s Halloween costume, and the heart from the sweatshirt Junie had worn on Halloween. The tree trunk was decorated with a quilted heart with BENSON + LEAH FOREVER inside, pancakes with PINCAKES written across them, earrings with EARHOLES embroidered beneath them, and the words BOOBY WINGS along the edge. His heart bubbled over at pictures the girls had drawn for him that she’d had made into fabric and fabric photographs of the four of them. She’d embroidered their names and the names of each of his family members on leaves, including River. Along the bottom of the blanket were THE DARK KNIGHTS AT BAYSIDE, a motorcycle, and LOVE, LOYALTY, AND RESPECT FOR ALL.
He looked at the woman who had brought him back to the world of the living and had a hard time speaking past the lump in his throat. “Lee, this is amazing. When did you have time to do this without me seeing it?”
“If I told you that, I’d never be able to surprise you again. I plan to make a lot more of them for the family and friends, so it’s good to know my stealth sewing skills aren’t lacking.”
He pulled her into a kiss. “I love you so damn much. This is the best present I’ve ever been given.”
“I think you might want to reserve judgment on that until you open the other gift in the box.”
He moved the blanket and peered into the empty box. “There’s nothing in there.”
Rosie looked up from where she was hunched over a coloring book. “This pen bwoken.”
Leah’s eyes widened, and laughter burst from her lungs. “Rosie, that’s Tank’s gift! Can you give it to him, please?”
“You got me a broken pen?”
Leah wrinkled her nose. “Not exactly.”
Rosie ran over and tossed it in his lap. “Bwoken!” She ran off to play with Junie.
Tank turned over the plastic thing Rosie had given him, and his jaw dropped at the word PREGNANT in the little clear window. “Preg…We’re…A baby?”
Leah was nodding, grinning from ear to ear.
“Baby! We’re having a baby!” He hauled her into his lap and kissed her. “A baby. How?”
She giggled, whispering, “Remember the shower the morning after Junie was sick, when you said you’d be careful and then we got carried away?”
His body flamed with the memory of that incredible morning. “Best shower ever.” He pressed his lips to hers and put his hand over her belly. “Should I say I’m sorry?”
“No, Benson. Just say you’ll marry me before I get a big belly.”
“Darlin’, I’d marry you today if I could. I’m so fucking happy.” He lowered his lips to hers, whispering, “We’re having a baby.”
Rosie yelled, “It snowin’!”
“Wiver was wight!” Junie cheered, and the girls ran around the room, yelling, “Wiver was wight! Wiver was wight!”
“I told you River would always be with us no matter where we lived.” Leah wound her arms around him and said, “What do you think, Mr. Wicked? Can you handle sleepless nights and messy diapers on top of this craziness?”
He pushed his hands into her hair and kissed her. “Haven’t you learned yet? There’s nothing Papa Tank can’t handle.”
Ready for Dwayne Wicked?
He’s the ultimate player. She wants him to teach her the game in hopes of scoring his cousin. Practices heat up as roommates become teammates and rules are broken. Let the wicked fun begin…
Buy CRAZY, WICKED LOVE
Have you met the Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor?
The Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor novels are waiting for you at all book retailers, starting with TRU BLUE.
There’s nothing Truman Gritt won’t do to protect his family—including spending years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. When he’s finally released, the life he knew is turned upside down by his mother’s overdose, and Truman steps in to raise the children she’s left behind. Truman’s hard, he’s secretive, and he’s trying to save a brother who’s even more broken than he is. He’s never needed help in his life, and when beautiful Gemma Wright tries to step in, he’s less than accepting. But Gemma has a way of slithering into people’s lives, and eventually she pierces through his ironclad heart. When Truman’s dark past collides with his future, his loyalties will be tested, and he’ll be faced with his toughest decision yet.
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Fall in love on the sandy shores of Cape Cod Bay
Follow Chloe’s sister, Serena, and each of their friends to their happily ever afters in the Bayside Summers series, starting with Bayside Desires.
Desiree Cleary is tricked into spending the summer with her badass half sister and a misbehaving dog. What could go wrong? Did I mention the sparks flying every time she sees her hunky, pushy neighbor, Rick Savage? Yeah, there’s that…
Buy BAYSIDE DESIRES
Fall in love with the Steeles on Silver Island
Settle in on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, midnight rendezvous, and the sexy, sharp-witted Steeles.
Enjoy a heart-meltingly beautiful and toe-curlingly sexy romance in Tempted by Love, an emotionally riveting story about a man who has lost it all and carries a torturous secret, a divorced single mother who has everything to lose, and the little girl who helps them heal.
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Love Melissa’s Writing?
Discover more of the magic behind New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. The Wickeds are just one of the many family series in the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection, featuring fiercely loyal heroes, sassy, sexy heroines, and stories that go above and beyond your expectations! See the collection here:
www.MelissaFoster.com/love-bloom-series
Free first-in-series ebooks, downloadable series checklists, reading orders, and more can be found on Melissa’s Reader Goodies page:
www.MelissaFoster.com/Reader-Goodies
More Books By Melissa Foster
Love in Bloom Romance Collection
LOVE IN BLOOM SERIES order
Love in Bloom books may be read as stand alones. For more enjoyment, read them in series order. Characters from each series carry forward to the next.
SNOW SISTERS
Sisters in Love
Sisters in Bloom
Sisters in White
THE BRADENS (Weston, CO)
Lovers at Heart, Reimagined