“You should use Mark.”
“I planned on it.” There was the father I remembered, the one always trying to help me with what he was good at.
“I know you’re an adult, and you can handle things. But with graduation, I guess finals coming up, and the baby…let me help.”
“Dad.”
“Please. Let me help.”
“This is my first time buying a house, too. I’m using some of my savings for the down payment,” Tanner put in. “I’d like help in making sure we’re doing it right if you’re offering.”
I looked at Tanner and fell that much more in love with him. My father was trying, and Tanner was letting him in.
My dad smiled for the first time in so long, I realized I’d missed it. “Okay. Anything you want. I’m here. And, Tanner? I never once thought that you were trying to take advantage of my daughter. At least, with the house.” He blushed. “I might have thought a couple of things at first because I was an asshole—and probably still am.”
Tanner snorted. “You wouldn’t be the first person to think that.”
Dad’s lips quirked into a smile. “That I’m an asshole? Or that you’re taking advantage of my baby?”
“Dad.”
“I was thinking taking advantage, but the asshole thing…you never know.” Tanner just laughed, and my dad joined in.
“Let me help with the paperwork and make sure you’re doing it right because this is your first time. And then maybe I will feel like I’m actually doing something.”
I started crying then, and both men looked as if they were out of their depths. I sighed, stood, and hugged my dad hard.
“Thank you. I will call you to help with the paperwork. I promise.”
“Good. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Dad left after shaking Tanner’s hand, and I felt as if I had just been hit by a two-by-four.
“My parents are getting a divorce.”
“Is it wrong that I’m glad your mother wasn’t here?” Tanner asked dryly.
I turned to look at him and snorted. “No, I’m kind of with you there. I know we’re closing on the house near the end of the summer, and we have a bunch of things to go over, but I think my dad is making sure we don’t get screwed in the paperwork. That’s probably a good thing.”
“Considering the man knows how to make money, I’m sure he knows how to spend it wisely, too. At least, I hope so.”
“So you’re okay with it?”
“Of course, I’m okay with it. We’re jumping into this headfirst over and over again without being able to look backward and realize what we’re doing. I’m fine with it.” He cupped my face and kissed me again. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Natalie. I’m not talking about the house. Or the money. I just don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I love you,” I blurted, surprising myself. I hadn’t thought I’d be the one to say it first, but I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted him to know. I was tired of holding back because I was afraid he might leave. He wasn’t going to leave. So, I just needed to open myself and do it.
His eyes widened for an instant, and I was so afraid he would break me. Instead, he smiled. “I love you, too. Damn it, I should have said it a long time before this.”
“I guess we both should have. That means you’re here for the baby and me.”
“I fell for you long before I kissed you, long before the baby.”
“Really?” Warmth slid over the ice within me, and I felt like I was breaking a bit, but in the best way possible.
“I fell for you the moment I saw you. The moment I knew you couldn’t be mine. And then we went off in different directions, trying to live the lives we thought we needed to lead. And yet, we found each other no matter what. You’re mine, Natalie. I know we started this relationship backwards, but we’re finding our way forwards. I love you with every ounce of my being. To the depths of my soul. You might be marrying a former stripper, and an Air Force brat, but I’m marrying a princess.”
I snorted. “You may be a former stripper, but I’m not a princess. I’ve never been.”
“You’re mine. Does that count?”
Tears flowed again, and I leaned forward and kissed him, needing him.
“We really should’ve just said this before,” I whispered, and he laughed.
“You know people keep telling me that just saying what you’re feeling and what you’re thinking opens things and makes it easier. But that is so much easier said than done. What if you had said no? What if you had walked away?”
Tears fell again, and I rose to wipe a single tear from his cheek. “I wouldn’t have walked away. I was so afraid you would.”
“Next time, we talk to each other.”
I laughed. “Next time, we don’t do things in the wrong order.”
He laughed again and then leaned forward to take my lips. I was lost. This time, in the best way possible.
Twenty
Tanner
My arm lay protectively over Natalie’s stomach, the two of us lying naked in her bed as the sun rose. I was exhausted, not having slept the night before. To say that things were busy would be an understatement. While I wasn’t working long nights anymore, finals were kicking our asses, but we were almost finished. We were also in the process of packing—mostly her house since their lease was up soon. We had other boxes of baby things at my place since I had more room, but we were all set for the small house that we would be closing on in a few weeks.
I still couldn’t believe that we were doing this. That she loved and trusted me enough to let me be part of her life.
I had always looked at Natalie as someone I knew I would care about, despite the fact we were two different people. She didn’t see that. She saw only me—sometimes even before I did.
I didn’t like to think long and hard about who I was or where I came from or wax philosophical about who I could be.
However, Natalie made me do that.
I’d thought my life would be something entirely different. That we would walk away from each other after teasing one another for a few moments, and she would forget all about me. She would marry a rich husband, have cute little babies, and be happy.
I hadn’t realized that her apparent happiness had only been a façade at times. That while her pain and past might be completely different than mine, we shared an edge.
Now, she was mine.
And I would be damned if I let her go.
I might still feel as if I wanted to run sometimes and act like an idiot who couldn’t ever be good enough for her, but I was trying to be better.
Natalie moaned and snuggled closer. I swallowed hard, my dick pressing against her backside.
“Good morning to you,” she mumbled, her voice soft and sweet.
I snorted. “Ignore him. You’re exhausted.”
“It’s really hard to ignore the steel pole pressing into my butt. But sure, I can try if you’d like.”
“I love when you talk dirty to me.”
“If that is talking dirty, I need to get better and practice more.”