Falling For A Redneck (19 page)

Marissa caught her breath. Did she dare trust?
Gazing into his eyes, eyes that shone with a love she’d never seen in anyone else’s, she took a risk.

“Yes. I will marry you.
And,” she said with a saucy grin, “I promise not to beat you … unless you deserve it.”

Dirk laughed and
swooped her up in his arms, swinging her around in joyous abandon.

Then he made love to her
, slowly and sensually. And then once more just for the hell of it.

They
were married a month later, in his mother’s jungle of a garden. Avery served as best man and Mason as the ring bearer. The bride wore an off-white summer dress that, by the end of the evening, had several sticky hand marks, and wonder of all wonders, she didn’t even Spray ‘n Wash them.

Almost a year later
…

Just after dawn and yet she was awake. But she didn’t mind too much. Marissa snuggled closer to her husband, a warm, solid presence in their bed.

Almost a year
had passed since they’d married, and it still felt as if every day was a honeymoon—and a blessing. Things had changed quite a bit in that time, all for the better. Marissa had quit her job at the town clerk’s office—she’d hated it and everyone there anyway—and taken over the administration of Dirk’s garage, which, under her capable hands, now turned quite a nice profit.

As a compromise
, they’d both sold their homes and moved into a bigger family abode with plenty of garden space for her and tons of yard space for the boys, who grew quicker than any weeds she’d ever known. Their new yard also had a big tree that Dirk had already built a tree house in—the boys’ secret hideaway. No girls allowed, except for Marissa, of course.

Happy didn’t even begin to explain her state of mind. The ice princess
was a thing of the past—that is, until a client tried to shirk paying the bill. Then the ice princess gave the customer a glacial stare that quickly had him or her pulling out a wallet and settling their debt.

The best part about married life
, though, had to be waking up beside her lusty husband. Marissa wiggled her bottom against Dirk, and he responded by grabbing her and snuggling her close.

“Someone’s happy to see me,” she whispered so they didn’t wake the boys.

Dirk didn’t answer. Instead, she felt his lips on the back of her neck, nibbling on the sensitive spot he’d discovered there on their honeymoon. Marissa sighed and pushed back against the hardness that rubbed her backside. His calloused hand slid between her thighs, rubbing her clit until she moaned and arched against him. At this invitation, he guided himself inside her. Wet and waiting, she clenched around him, their morning lovemaking better than any cup of coffee.

Almost at the peak, she heard bells and faltered. What the hell
? The sound didn’t repeat, and Marissa found her rhythm again, rocking back against him as he lifted her leg up to plunge even more deeply inside. Their climaxes hit almost at the same time, a pulsing heat that left her body flushed and her face smiling. She nestled deeper into his arms, loving the closeness.

A sound pierced
the quiet morning air, a mewling cry that grew louder and louder. Giving each other puzzled looks, she and Dirk pulled on matching robes—the boys’ idea last Christmas—and padded down the stairs to the entrance hall and front door. The crying sound appeared louder, echoing all around them. Marissa found her heart racing unaccountably, and without waiting for Dirk, she pulled open the door and looked down.

Oh my
God.
Lying on the front step, swaddled in a big bundle of blankets, was a scrunched-up red face.

For some reason
, Marissa held her breath as she picked up the tiny bundle, which immediately stopped its screaming. Blue eyes peered into hers, and Marissa felt the world around her shift.

“There’s a note,” she heard Dirk say from behind her. But Marissa ignored him and carried the baby inside, l
aying the bundle on the couch before unwrapping the blankets. The babe still stared at her with curiosity, a chubby fist flailing at Marissa as she inspected the foundling.

As she counted toes and fingers, she heard the sound of ripping paper.

“I don’t fucking believe this,” she heard Dirk exclaim.

H
ope fluttered in her breast as she waited for him to relay the contents.

Dirk cleared his throat. “Sorry I missed the wedding. Hope the boys are well. This is Julia
; consider her a late wedding gift. Please love her like you love the boys. All the best. Clara.”

Marissa
’s tears fell unchecked as she finally lifted the baby and hugged her to her chest.
Oh, please don’t let this be a dream
.

“She included something else,” said Dirk
, holding up a piece of paper behind the baby’s head.

Marissa looked at the piece of paper and said a silent
thank you
to Clara, for the document was a birth certificate. Julia Mary White, born on January seventeenth to mother Marissa Agnes Masters White and Diedrik Frederick White. Clara had made sure they wouldn’t get caught up in red tape trying to adopt. Marissa knew they’d still need to speak to a lawyer, but the fact remained Marissa had a daughter, and she’d move Heaven and earth to keep her.

“I take it you’re all right with this?” Dirk asked Marissa, wrapping his solid arms around his wife and their new baby girl.

Tears in her eyes, throat too tight, Marissa could only nod.
How can I not be all right?
she thought as the boys wandered into the room rubbing sleepy eyes. For once, Avery didn’t ask too many questions. He and Mason just joined the family hug.

In this room is gathered my fantasy
.
A family of my own and all the love I’ll ever need. And to think it was because I fell for a redneck.
The best kind of man an ice princess could ever ask for. The only one who knew how to melt her heart and make her whole.

The End

Author’s Note:
I hope you enjoyed this story. If you did, I’d love it if you took a moment and left a review.  To know when my next story will be available, please join my
mailing list
or for a full list of my books visit my
website, EveLanglais.com

Thank you for reading.
~ Eve

Come see me at Romancing the Capital
in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 17
th
&18
th
, 2015 (
Website Link
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