The Surrogate Husband Read online

  She shook her head and pointed to his white board. “So that’s your Lucy list?”

  Smiling, he shrugged. “It’s how I work things out. What do you think?”

  The tears started again. “On the cons side, not so much. For example, I’m here speaking to you, so you can cross that one off. And I’ll try not to engage in too many dangerous pursuits since that obviously makes you nervous.”

  “Thank you. But why the tears?”

  The question only increased the waterworks. She pointed to the pros column, all the way at the bottom. “Because you underlined…” The word lodged in her throat. It was the one thing her father would never give her, that she’d always strived for.

  Dex held her tightly. “I underlined brave. Because you’re the bravest woman I know. You’re a hero to your family. And to me.”

  His words touched her more deeply than anything had in…forever. “Oh God, this must be driving you crazy.” Through her tears, she scooped up a teetering pile of papers and started stacking them together, trying to put his orderly world back together again. But her hands were shaking so badly, she gave up with a sob and set them back down again. She swept her arms through the air. “What is all this, Dex?”

  “I’m a mess without you?” He ran his hands through his uncharacteristically rumpled hair and smiled down at her. “I guess this should show you that I’m not your father. Love can be messy and chaotic and completely disorderly. After I lost Caroline, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to take that leap of faith again. But I don’t want to lose you, Lucy. Even if this relationship throws my life into a tailspin, I’ll take it. Because I love you.” He tossed her tax return across the room. Papers flew everywhere.

  She always thought that hearing those words—even said in that voice—from a man would send her running for the hills. But there she was, melting in his arms instead. Taking it slow was the prudent thing for her to do, but damn if her heart got that memo.

  Smoothing his hair off his face, she kissed his stubble-covered cheek. “I love you, too, Dex. I’m so sorry I compared you to my father. You’re a thousand times the man he is. I know that now. I think I knew that all along, but I’m ready to admit it—to myself and to you.”

  Dex covered her mouth with his and kissed her senseless, as if this was the first and last time, all rolled into one explosive moment. He thought she was brave. Underlined three times.

  Yeah, he was totally her man.

  Epilogue

  Three months later

  “Time to get up.”

  Lucy grumbled and burrowed deeper into the covers. She loved the smell of Dex’s bed.

  “Come on.” He peeled back the sheets then sat on the edge of the mattress.

  Opening her eyes, she found him staring down at her, a newspaper tucked under one arm. He wore shorts and a T-shirt that said “CPAs do it by the book.”

  She was still getting used to the fact he got up at the crack of dawn even on the weekend, but his status as an early riser didn’t really bother her because he always made it worth her while. Now that she was spending most weekends at his house, he cooked her breakfast on Sundays and made love to her every chance he got.

  Like last night. Delicious memories washed over her as she recalled the back massage he’d treated her to and everything that came after. She rubbed his thigh. “Come back to bed and let me show you what Sunday mornings are for.”

  He brought her hand to his lips. “I’d like nothing more than to make love to you right now, but we have to be at Bev’s place in an hour.”

  Lucy stretched. “Right. Her housewarming brunch.” Despite the family’s deception, Bev had followed through on her plan to move to Florida during the winter and spring, to be closer to all of them. “I think I’m supposed to bring a dish so we’ll have to stop by the supermarket on the way. Too bad we didn’t bring any of the food home from your parents’ place last night.”

  He frowned at her. “I won’t bring some store-bought contribution. I made traditional Armenian rice pilaf for us to take.”

  Sure, she liked cooking, but for now she had a man who enjoyed sharing the responsibilities. She lay back down and grinned at him. “You spoil me something awful. Would you please keep it up?”

  “I didn’t realize that my cooking constituted spoiling you.” He skimmed his gaze over her nude body. “But I can think of plenty of other ways.”

  White-hot awareness roused her. She sneaked her hands under the leg of his shorts, higher on his granite-hard thighs. “Let me spoil you.”

  Groaning, he shook his head. “I’m trying to be punctual, but you’re making it awfully hard.”

  She directed her gaze to his groin. “Am I?” Yes, she noticed a growing bulge.

  It didn’t take much convincing to get him back under the covers with her. She kissed her way under his shirt, breathing in the fresh scent of soap and his aftershave. When she started to open the button at the top of his fly, he covered her hand with his.

  “I want to take care of you.” He grasped her arms and eased her onto her back.

  The man had serious powers. Just a few words and she was putty in his hands. He kissed and licked and touched her everywhere, from her forehead down to her feet. Every nerve-ending in her body hummed with desire.

  He used his fingers and his mouth to bring her to the height of ecstasy once, then again. And she did the same for him. So what that they didn’t take their time like they usually did? At least they always made each other feel good and loved and safe.

  It only took them fifteen minutes to arrive at her aunt’s apartment, just a few minutes late.

  Lucy gave her a hug, then waited as she greeted Dex.

  “When are you two going to make it official?” Aunt Bev asked him.

  A couple months ago, her question would have driven Lucy up a wall, but not anymore. Not that they had any plans to get engaged or anything, but she was growing more content with Dex every day.

  Logan came bounding toward her, and she scooped him into her arms, then covered him with kisses. He wriggled and laughed until she let him go.

  Dex ruffled Logan’s hair. “Did you talk your mom and dad into getting you a baby sister, yet?”

  He squealed, then he ran off toward his parents.

  “Elena’s going to murder you for that,” Lucy told him. She crossed the pastel-colored room Aunt Bev had decorated with bold floral patterns to the wide balcony. Taking in the view of Biscayne Bay, she greeted her sister and her mom.

  “Niki broke up with her boyfriend,” her mom said before Lucy even had a chance to say hello to the rest of the family. “Sure you don’t have a younger brother for her, Dex?”

  Niki dragged a chip through what appeared to be Elena’s famous onion dip. “Remind me to never get involved with any guys who are on the rebound.”

  “Deal.” Lucy sat in a padded patio chair.

  Dex came up behind her and massaged her shoulders. “You deserve better, Niki.”

  Lucy briefly squeezed Dex’s hand, confident that she did have the best.

  Her sister sighed. “I miss him, but I know it’s for the best. Sure you don’t have any single male relatives for me, Dex?”

  He chuckled. “Well, there’s this cousin on my mother’s side, but he’s a little wild.”

  “What do you mean by wild?” She ate another chip.

  “He’s got a few tattoos, and he plays in a band.”

  She shuddered. “That’s more Lucy’s style.”

  “Not anymore it’s not.” He bent down and nibbled on Lucy’s neck.

  “Get a room.” Trisha came over and gave Lucy a kiss on her cheek. “Alan and I are the only ones allowed public displays of affection since we’re newlyweds.”

  Aunt Bev ushered everyone inside to eat. They all helped her set out the food, then took their places around her table.

  Dex volunteered to open the bottle of champagne then passed it around.

  Bev raised her glass. “To my new home, which is clos
e to all the people I love most in the world.”

  They all tapped their flutes, then drank.

  Everyone started passing around dishes and serving up the goodies they’d all brought.

  “This rice pilaf is terrific, Lucy.” Jack forked another bite.

  She slid Dex a grateful glance.

  Aunt Bev poked her finger at Jack. “Not only did Lucy and her mother inherit my talent for cooking, but they also got one important attribute from my side of the family. They learned how to spot a good man.” She pursed her lips. “Well, Michelle didn’t do so well the first time around, but she learned her lesson. And obviously Lucy has chosen wisely. I’m sure Niki will find herself a good man, too.”

  After they finished eating, Lucy insisted on cleaning up the dishes. Bev joined her in the kitchen and directed her where to put her china. As Lucy hung up the damp dish towel, Bev patted her arm.

  “I’m so proud of you, Lucy,” she said.

  “I wouldn’t be where I am without you. My new location is a little behind schedule, but you’ll be getting an invitation to the grand opening in a few months.” She was on track to finish paying off the money Bev had given her to buy the shop. In fact, she planned to make the last payment by the end of the year, a couple of months early.

  Aunt Bev shook her head. “I’m not talking only about your business, although that’s quite an impressive accomplishment. You’ve overcome a lot in your personal life. Uncle Clyde would be as happy as I am that you and Dex are together. Do you think you’ll marry him? I sure hope you will.”

  She wasn’t ready to make that leap anytime soon. “If I marry anyone, it’ll probably be Dex. Which I can thank you for as well. If I hadn’t needed a surrogate husband to bring to the wedding, Dex and I might never have taken our relationship beyond professional.”

  Amusement lit up her face. “I doubt that. I suspect Dex would have found a way.”

  Lucy glanced into the living room and found him having a lively conversation with her stepfather and uncle. Probably about football. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Of course I am. And mark my words. The next wedding we celebrate will be yours. I have a feeling about these things.”

  Lucy waited for that familiar knot to form in her gut at the mention of marriage. But it didn’t. Because everything about her and Dex felt right. She wasn’t frightened anymore.

  Bev hugged her tight, and Lucy knew her aunt had read her thoughts. They were looking at the man with whom she’d spend the rest of her life.

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  About the Author

  Wynter Daniels lives in Central Florida with her husband of more than twenty years and their two college age children. After careers in marketing and the salon industry, Wynter’s steamy prose begged to be set free. She has authored more than two dozen books in the genres of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Find her on the web at www.WynterDaniels.com, on Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest and on Facebook at Wynter Daniels, Romance Author.

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