A Man Not Her Own Page 21
Ten minutes out of town, they were climbing the steep bluff and pulling alongside Lindsey’s new car. Sarah’s heart lurched when the car looked empty. Mitch cut the engine and jumped off the bike. He stalked over to the car and pounded on the window.
Two heads popped up and peeked out.
Sarah followed closely and almost laughed at the smug look on Josh’s face. A look full of satisfaction and no trace of remorse. She wanted to hug her son, right after she throttled him.
Mitch pounded on the window again. “Open up, Lindsey. I want to talk to you.”
The two kids untangled themselves from sleeping bags—Lindsey in the front seat, Josh in the back. It appeared they’d prepared for a long wait.
Lindsey unlocked the doors and both she and Josh climbed out of the car. Josh laughed and threw his arms around Sarah’s middle. “It worked, it worked! It took you a long time though.” He yawned hugely. “Have y’all made up? Can we go home now?”
“You’re in big trouble, young man,” Sarah said, gripping her son’s bony shoulders.
His smile faded and he looked crestfallen. “You mean you haven’t made up? But Lindsey thought—”
“Never mind, JC,” Lindsey said. “I told you it might not work out.”
“Why in the world did you pull a stunt like this?” Mitch asked, frowning hard enough to put permanent creases in his forehead.
Lindsey took a deep breath and lifted her chin. She didn’t look the least bit sorry for what she’d done. “I was trying to get you and Sarah to talk to each other again. You’ve both been moping around like you’ve lost your best friend in the whole world. Except you didn’t lose a best friend. You lost what you had together. Something real and special. Only a fool couldn’t figure out you were in love with each other.”
The look on Mitch’s face made Sarah’s heart beat faster. Would he change his mind about them? Could he?
“Sweetie,” Sarah said. “I told you your dad would have to figure this out for himself.”
Mitch’s head shot up. “You did?”
She nodded and turned back to Lindsey. In for a penny, in for a pound. “He believes he’s not the right man for me, even though I told him he is, he won’t budge. I can’t make him change his mind and neither can you.”
Lindsey sighed. “I know, but the way he was going, he’d never admit it or cave in or anything. Besides, I thought if you two got together, then maybe I’d finally have my chance.”
“Chance for what?” Mitch said in a quiet voice.
Lindsey shrugged and dashed tears from her eyes. “To be part of a real family. I know I have Grandma and the uncles and Aunt Judith, but it’s not the same. I want one family living in one house. A mother, a father, a brother. And you and Sarah are... Never mind. It’s pointless. This didn’t work out. I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.”
Josh pushed forward. “I want us to be a family, too. Mom was so happy when you guys were hanging out together. Then something happened and whamo! You’re not talking. Don’t you like each other anymore?”
Lindsey put her hand on Josh’s shoulder. “Never mind, JC. We blew it. We knew we were taking a risk. But sometimes things are so big and important that the risks are worth it.”
“What are you talking about?” Mitch asked.
Lindsey sighed again. “Love and family, Mitch. Love and family. They’re the most important things in the world. And I was willing to risk getting into big trouble, because I want it so bad. You take your family for granted. I’ve never had a family before. I’d like the chance, that’s all.”
Josh tugged on Mitch’s sleeve. “Mr. Mitch? You’re not going to send Lindsey away, are you?”
Mitch looked shell-shocked. “Of course not. Why would you ask such a thing?”
Lindsey grabbed Josh’s arm. “JC, don’t—”
Josh tugged free. “Lindsey’s afraid you don’t really want her. I told her you’re her father and you can’t get rid of her. Tell her, Mr. Mitch.”
“Oh, geez.” Lindsey turned away, kicking dirt and pebbles with the toe of her tennis shoe.
Mitch stared at Sarah, a question in his brown eyes. Sarah nodded toward Lindsey, silently urging him to talk to her.
“Come on, Josh,” she said. “I need to tell you something.”
“But Mom—”
“Come on.” She grabbed his hand and hauled him around to the front of the car. Far enough away to give father and daughter privacy, but close enough to keep an eye on things.
“Mom, this is important!” Josh said.
“I know, shh.”
Mitch stepped closer to his daughter. He couldn’t believe what Josh had revealed. “You think I want to get rid of you?”
Lindsey shrugged. “I know you weren’t too thrilled to find out about me.”
Ouch. Mitch’s chest constricted at the painful truth, but it wasn’t the truth any longer. “I admit I was surprised—”
“And not happy. I could tell you wished I hadn’t shown up.”
The sadness in Lindsey’s voice stabbed Mitch deep in the gut. He thought they’d been getting along better lately. Obviously not. He’d been doing it all wrong. He took his daughter by the shoulders and turned her to face him. She tried to wriggle free, but he wouldn’t let her. She kept her head down, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Look at me, Lindsey.”
She shook her head and sniffed.
Oh God, she was crying. Mitch pulled her into his arms and she held herself stiffly for one long moment, before finally wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head in his chest, sobbing her heart out.
The bands around Mitch’s chest constricted and his heart hurt so much, he thought he’d die. He patted Lindsey’s back and kissed the top of her head.
“I don’t want to get rid of you, kiddo. We’re stuck with each other. Forever. I may not be the best father in the world, but I’m trying. And you’re my daughter. I love you. Don’t ever think that I don’t.”
Lindsey raised her head, her eyes tear-drenched and full of wonder. “You love me? Really?”
Mitch wanted to shake her. “Yes, damn it. We’re Defalcos. We’re family.”
Lindsey wiped the tears from her cheeks. “That’s what JC said. I didn’t believe him.”
“Believe it, because it’s true.”
Lindsey hugged him and he’d never felt anything so good, so wonderful, in all his life. She smiled up at him. “I love you, too, Mitch.”
“I’m glad, kiddo.” He looked around and spotted Sarah and Josh standing at the front of Lindsey’s car. Now that he and Lindsey had straightened things out, Mitch felt an urgent need to make it right with Sarah. Because now he knew that if he could be a loving father to Lindsey, he could damn sure be a loving husband to Sarah.
“You can come back over here,” he called to them.
Sarah quickly returned to stand near Mitch, but Josh held back. “Are we still in trouble?” he asked.
Lindsey frowned. “I don’t know, are we?”
The wind whipped through the tree branches above their heads and frogs croaked down by the lake’s edge. The moon chased the clouds in the dark sky, oblivious to the little drama playing out on the bluff.
Sarah wiped a strand of hair from her face and looked at Mitch. He was staring at her and suddenly, she knew. He winked that bad-boy wink and a thrill shot down her body all the way to her toes. She smiled and he smiled back.
“You’re not in trouble,” Mitch finally said.
“We’re not?” Josh asked, stepping closer.
“We’re not?” Lindsey’s brown Defalco eyes glimmered in the moonlight.
Mitch kept his gaze glued on Sarah. “No, you’re not.”
“You mean we didn’t blow it?” Lindsey asked.
Mitch shook his head. “Nope.”
“You mean our plan worked?” Josh ran to stand near Lindsey, a grin splitting his freckled face.
Mitch moved closer to Sarah. “You tell them, Sarah. Did it work?�
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Sarah would remember this moment for as long as she lived. Mitch’s expression told her everything she’d dreamed about was coming true. She swallowed a lump in her throat. “Yes, it worked.”
Lindsey breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Oh my God! We did it, JC. We really did it.”
“Yippee!” Josh jumped up and down.
Sarah stood still, afraid to move, and stared at the man she loved with all her heart and soul. He was looking at her with a love so deep and profound it took her breath away.
Both kids started dancing and laughing, high-fiving and hugging each other.
“Hold on a minute,” Mitch said. “There are a few conditions that must be met, before you start celebrating.”
Lindsey and Josh stopped in their tracks and turned to face him. “Conditions?”
Sarah didn’t trust the look on Mitch’s face. “What conditions?” she asked.
He draped his arm around Sarah’s shoulders, pulling her against his side. “I’ll get to you in a minute, Sarah Smiles. Let’s deal with the kids first.”
Sarah nodded. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Surely, she’d wake up and discover it was some kind of crazy dream. Yet the warmth in Mitch’s eyes and the heat from his touch were real. Very real.
“What conditions, Mitch?” Lindsey asked.
Mitch rubbed Sarah’s arm, scattering tingles of pleasure up and down her spine. “First, you two have to promise never to pull a stunt like this again. Do I make myself clear?”
Both kids looked down at their feet. “Yes, sir.”
“Second, and this one’s for Lindsey—” He let go of Sarah and walked over to his daughter, put his finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. The girl worried her bottom lip, and vulnerability still lurked in her eyes, even though Mitch had told her he loved her.
“What is it?” Lindsey asked.
“Do you think you could start calling me ‘Dad’ sometime in the near future?”
Lindsey didn’t say anything for a moment. Her eyes clouded up and filled with tears.
“Hey, kiddo, no more crying,” Mitch said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I’m not asking you to do it right now. Just think about it, will you? For some damn reason, you calling me Mitch is driving me crazy.”
Lindsey laughed and cried at the same time. “Okay.” She threw her arms around Mitch’s neck and hugged him tight. Sarah caught his gaze over his daughter’s head as he hugged her back. She wanted to cry, too. Mitch had just been given a precious gift.
“Hey, what about me?” Josh asked. “If we’re going to be a family and all, can I call you ‘Dad’, too?”
Lindsey stepped out of Mitch’s embrace, keeping an arm around his middle. She looked up at him and smiled through her tears. “What do you say... Dad?”
Mitch held out his other arm. “Come on, buddy. I’d be honored for you to call me ‘Dad’.”
Josh made a detour and grabbed Sarah’s hand, hauling her over to join the Defalcos, father and daughter. “Group hug!” he yelled as he launched himself at Mitch.
After several glorious minutes of hugging, Mitch pulled back. “There’s one more condition.”
“What’s that?” Lindsey asked.
“Yeah, what more do you want us to do?” Josh said, frowning up at him.
Mitch tugged Sarah into his arms and held her close. “I’d like you two to get in the car and drive home. I have something I need to ask Sarah.”
Two faces nearly busted with smiles a mile wide.
“I think we can manage that, don’t you, JC?”
“I sure do. Beat you to the car!” Josh dashed away.
“Hey, no fair. You got a head start.” Lindsey laughed and gave Mitch and Sarah one final hug. “Don’t flub it up this time.” She kissed his cheek then headed for the car.
The kids waved as Lindsey backed out of the clearing and drove toward town. Mitch and Sarah watched them until they couldn’t see the taillights any longer.
“They’re gone,” Sarah said quietly.
“Yeah, now I can finally kiss you like I’ve been dying to do all night long.”
Mitch bent his head and kissed Sarah, gently, tenderly, smoothing her hair, loving the feel of her pressed against him. God, how he loved this woman. How had he thought he could ignore it? He loved her so much, but he hadn’t told her.
One more kiss and he pulled back. “I love you, Sarah Smiles. I promised those kids a lot, taking for granted that you love me, too. But now I’m asking. Will you marry me?”
Sarah wiggled closer and kissed him hard on the mouth. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you, Mitch Defalco, and want to be with you forever and ever.”
Another lingering kiss and Mitch knew he was the luckiest man in the world. Sweet, sweet Sarah was going to be his wife. He broke the kiss and searched her face. “And will you be a mother to Lindsey, too?”
She smiled. “Yes, a mother to Lindsey, too.”
Mitch leaned his head against her forehead. “We’ll make an awesome family, you and me and the kids. And maybe one day, we can have a little Defalco of our very own.”
Sarah’s smile widened and a tear slid down her cheek. “Oh, Mitch. I’d love to have a little Defalco. The sooner, the better.”
He took her hand in his, kissed her knuckles and led her to his motorcycle. “Let’s go home, sweetheart.”
Sarah walked a little faster, then skipped ahead, hopped on the bike and settled herself in the driver’s seat. She put on her helmet and handed Mitch his.
He took it, but didn’t move. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Sarah grinned a wicked grin. “Getting ready to take the ride of my life. You coming, or what?”
Mitch strapped on his helmet and climbed on behind her. “I’m ready for that ride,” he whispered in her ear. “Take us home, Sarah Smiles. Take us home.”
A word about the author…
Anne Marie is a Texas girl, born and raised. Romance is her passion. She loves to read and write about men and women falling in love, overcoming life’s obstacles, and living happily ever after. She writes spicy contemporary novels, usually involving a cowboy or two, as well as Regency historicals. Anne Marie lives just outside of Houston with her husband, who is her best friend and her own special hero. They have two grown children and two mischievous cats. Besides reading and writing, Anne Marie enjoys puttering around in her flowerbeds, going to garage sales, collecting antiques, and watching old movies.
Visit her at www.annemarienovark.com
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