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  “He was staring so long at your chest that he spilled the milk foam all over the counter.” Also, she looked so damn sexy yesterday with her curly hair piled on the top of her head that I was tempted to buy the coffee shop, order everyone out, bend her over the spilled coffee and fuck her until my dick started to hurt from use.

  “Maybe he was staring at you. Did you ever think of that?”

  I contemplate that thought for about a half second. “No. It was you.” I lean down and press a kiss against her cheek. “Not that I really blame him. I’d rather stare at you all day than make coffee foam hearts.”

  “You say the sweetest things.”

  I’d do sweet things, too, but we’re in the middle of the Jay and Molly Hall Center for Relief, where we house and feed a bunch of teenage girls and young women who have been abused. I rein in my lust, instead of throwing Birdie over my shoulder and laying her down on the first horizontal surface I can find. Or hell, I can take her standing up. Two nights ago, I was so hungry for her that I smashed the emergency button on our private penthouse elevator and ate her out while sirens blared and security personnel kept calling in to tell us the police were on the way.

  Birdie hid in the bedroom while I explained to the crew that there was just a malfunction that someone should look into. They bought it because, well, what were they going to do? Arrest me for using my own damn elevator to fuck my wife? Not likely. Now that the danger is gone, it’s hard to keep my hands off of Birdie. Time and place, I remind myself, and this is not the place.

  Birdie runs this shelter instead of the laundromat. After we sent my uncle and his perverted crew to prison, I offered to sell the company and move back to her hometown. For some people, big city living isn’t good. There are too many people and everyone moves at too fast of a pace. My gran is like that. She likes her small retirement home and doesn’t want to move into one where all she hears when she opens the windows is road noise. I drive down once a week to play bridge, listen to the old cats gossip, and hold my gran’s hand while she listens to the robins chirp outside her window.

  As for Birdie, she was glad to get out of the town where everyone still referred to her as the girl whose mom sold pictures of herself on the internet. In the city, Birdie’s anonymous. Well, not really. She’s Mrs. Nick Merritt Hall, but money’s a pretty big shield. No one here knows her for her mom’s misdeeds. Instead, she’s the young philanthropist setting up shelters all over the city to help troubled girls and women. She even had a feature in Chicago Monthly. I had the cover blown up and put in my office. She says it’s terrible, but I love it.

  I allow myself to pat her ass gently but nothing more. “Remember that for later.”

  She winks at me before commanding the attention of Stan, the computer delivery kid. While he keeps his eyes focused straight ahead, mine linger on the sway of Birdie’s fine ass. I had my mouth all over it last night and the memory is stirring things in my jeans that probably shouldn’t be awakened in a place like this. I pull out my phone and send a text to Birdie that I’m going back to my office.

  Ok, she replies.

  I tuck my phone and my disappointment away. My office is only a short drive away from the shelter. Dexter, my secretary whom I inherited from Dad, greets me with a list of to-dos as long as my forearm. I listen with half an ear since the rest of me is still back at the shelter with Birdie. She’s the center of my life and when we’re not together, even during a workday, it feels like I’m missing a limb.

  After Dexter finishes his litany of things I have to do, I lock myself in my office and get to work.

  “I haven’t ruined the business yet,” I tell my dad’s picture. He grins back at me and even though he’s gone, I still feel like he’s supporting me. Still, it’s his legacy I’m protecting so that I can pass this down to my own child. I buckle down and start checking things off my list. Calls are returned. Emails are answered. Contracts are signed. Proposals are reviewed. Before I know it, the sun has stopped shining and the streetlamps are on. I push away from my desk and walk over to the windows. Headlights compete with brake lights, creating a pretty night picture. Time for me to go home. I return to my desk to pack up my briefcase when the door to my office swings open. I look up to see Birdie in the doorway with two brown paper bags. A smile breaks across my face.

  “You’ve brought dinner, I see.”

  She swings the bags. “Shake Shack burgers, hand-cut fries, and two strawberry milkshakes.”

  “Bring it over.” I drop my things and walk to the seating area. I wait until she sets down the bags before picking her up and tossing her onto the sofa.

  A laugh erupts from her mouth. “I thought we were having dinner.”

  “I am. You’re going to have to wait,” I inform her while attacking the zipper on her jeans. “I’m starving and haven’t eaten all day.” I pull the tight denim off her legs and then sweep her shirt off over her head.

  She flutters her eyelashes at me and purses her lips into a tight pout. “The shakes are going to melt.”

  “Nah.” I lift one off the coffee table and pop the top off. “I’m going to drink one of them right now.” She screams when I pour the icy treat on her chest and over her stomach. Those screams turn to moans when I start licking the pink milk off her skin. As my tongue curls around her nipple and my fingers dive between her legs, the hunger I’ve felt gnawing at my gut all day eases. My little bird is finally home.

  Epilogue

  Birdie

  3 years later

  “Come here.” Nick pulls me into him, his arm wrapping me into a hug. “You need to calm down.” He leans down, nuzzling my neck. That always does the trick. I sigh, melting into him. I was overly excited today. It is our first Christmas in our new house and we have news to share with Higgins and Gran. I want everything to be perfect, so I’ve been counting down the minutes until they get here.

  Nick finished building our new home only a month ago. Everything is new and fresh but the plan to build a home had come when I told Nick that I wanted our family to grow. Gran isn't getting any younger and I wanted her to see her great-grandbabies. For them to be held in her arms. I want our children to have memories of not only her, but Higgins too. I swear Nick went to work on building us a home the next day. I thought he might want to move back into his childhood home but there were too many memories there. So much had happened that we thought making a fresh start would be the best thing for all of us. Even though we decided not to live there, we ended up turning it into one of the many shelters we’ve made over the years. Nick kept his promise to the girls that he found when he went to confront his uncle. He got them help and then took it a step further by creating a safe place for victims.

  “I think Gran is onto us,” I admit. I don’t think I’ve met someone as sharp as Gran in my whole life. The woman doesn't miss a thing. Sometimes she plays like she doesn't know something only to get more information from people, but she always knows what she’s doing. She’s usually biding her time until she gets you to give her what she wants. She’s a sneaky thing but in a cute old lady way. I adore Gran and she’s become one of my closest confidants. Nick says we gang up on him but he has Higgins on his side, so we’re pretty even.

  “Hmm,” is all Nick says. I pull back and glare up at him.

  “She got you!” I half shout, smacking his chest.

  “She didn't get me,” he defends but looks completely unsure of himself. “Maybe she got me.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know.” I laugh because I’m guessing that he might have made a small slip when he went out there a few days ago to play bridge with her. I had to miss going because I hadn't been feeling the best. I tend to get worn out easily lately but the doctor told me that it should pass soon. Nick wanted to stay home with me but I made him go. I knew I shouldn’t leave him alone with her. He probably played right into her hand. I smile, thinking about how much I love that little old troublemaker.

  “She’s sneaky. She was all ‘What are you going to name the
baby?’ when it was my turn to play. I wasn't thinking and might have said ‘We haven't picked a name yet.’” I giggle in his hold because I can see Gran’s triumphant smile in my head. “I tried to play it off all ‘when we have one’ but I don’t think she bought it.” I continue to laugh. “This is all your fault. I knew I should’ve cancelled when you weren’t feeling well.”

  I continue smiling as I pick my head up and kiss my man. “Gran sure did lay the guilt trip on pretty heavy when she thought you weren’t going to come that night. She knew exactly what she was doing. You were doomed before you even went over there. Sucker!” I say before I laugh again. These moments remind me how lucky I am to have found someone that loves me with everything he has. I may not have had the best childhood, but Nick, Gran and Higgins have made up for it. They’ve taught me what it means to have a family.

  “You’re going to pay for that sucker comment later. I’ll show you exactly what kind of sucker I can be.” He smiles before kissing my mouth. I try to deepen the kiss but get interrupted by the doorbell.

  “They’re here!” I jump away from Nick, half running for the door. Higgins was picking up Gran on the way over. I fling the front door open.

  “I’m pregnant!” I shout.

  “About damn time,” Higgins says. He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet, fishing out a twenty and handing it over to Gran. “You couldn’t have done this last Christmas? That’s when I called it.” He shakes his head at me.

  “My bad?” I half laugh. He grabs me, pulling me into a hug.

  “Congratulations, sweetheart. You’ll make a wonderful mother. Hell, you are already one to all of those girls you help every day.”

  “That she is.” Gran hugs me next. “I’m so happy for you. I thank God every day that Nick went to the grocery store that day. There has been a lot of sorrow in our lives but this is a new beginning for all of us.” I hug her a little tighter. “Thanks for getting me that twenty, too.” Higgins groans behind me as if twenty dollars is going to make or break him.

  “Inside, everyone. It’s too cold out.” Nick holds the door wide for everyone. He gives me a hug and then Gran pulls him down, kissing both his cheeks. They share a moment together. My eyes water watching the two of them. I love how good he is with his grandma. My husband is truly the most honorable man. I may have never met his mom and dad but I love them and thank them every day for the man that they have given me.

  Nick takes Gran’s and Higgins’ coats and leads them into the dining room, where we have a small feast set up. We all take our seats and begin passing around the many dishes that we’ve prepared. Our conversation is easy and the laughter is plentiful. I can feel the amount of love that’s around this table. Nick leans over, placing a hand on my belly before he kisses me lightly. For the first time in my life, I feel as though I’m exactly where I should be. Who knew forgetting my Shoppee card would lead to me finding the love of my life?

  “Everything okay?” Nick breaks me from my thoughts.

  “It’s perfect.”

  “What are you two whispering about over there?” Gran chimes in, trying to give us a hard time.

  “We should tell them,” I say as Nick smiles at me. “Matter of fact, we’ll just show them.” I take out the ultrasound pic that’s been burning a hole in my pocket and slide it toward them. Gran picks it up and I watch as her mouth drops open in surprise. Higgins sticks his hand out, palm facing up.

  “Give me back that twenty. I called twins.” We all laugh and I know in the years to come this home we built will only be filled with more of this laughter.

  THE END

  Want to know what’s next for me? Sign up for my newsletter or send me an email! I’ve got another book for you that I’m planning to drop on December 1 and then another wonderful story on December 15 featuring snow, a lumberjack, and a tiny kitten. Save room on your Kindle for it!

  Until then, don’t forget to check out older Ella Goode titles. I’d recommend Pretty Prize. It has a pretty new cover. Love you all,

  Ella

  Also by Ella Goode

  She’s the One & My Only One

  Spark

  Smooth Kisses, Sweet Kisses, Saved Kisses

  Ace of Hearts & Deuces Wild

  Finding Home & Bring Him Home

  Captured, Kept, Stolen

  Make Me Yours

  She’s All Mine

  Pretty Prize

  Three of Us (Twins #1) and Belong Together (Twins #2)

  Their Private Need (Michigan, Easy and Annie)

  His Bold Heart (Chelsea & Wrecker)

  Her Secret Pleasure

  Captive Ride

  The Last Christmas Present: Billionaire Holiday Romance (a Daddy story)

  The Wolf’s Mail Order Bride

  Beauty in Summer

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  Copyright © 2019 by Ella Goode

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