Bidding War by Cher Carson Page B

comfortable silence, and Lacy knew she could spend the rest of her life loving this man. The weeks she hadn’t seen him felt the longest of her life. She went through the motions, working and visiting her brother, but something was missing. It didn’t take her long to figure out it was him. He was the missing piece of the puzzle for her. He was the difference between being happy and merely surviving.
    He kissed the back of her hand as he pulled into the Emilio’s parking lot. “What are you thinking about, beautiful?”
    She smiled, tilting her head to look at him. He was gorgeous. Not model-striking, but sexy, rugged… a real-life fantasy. “I was just thinking about you, about us. I’m happy you didn’t give up on me.”
    He chuckled. “That wasn’t an option for me.” He eased the vehicle into a parking spot and cut the engine. “These past few weeks were hell, thinking I might never see you again.”
    She sighed. “I needed time to sort through what happened. I was hurt and angry…”
    He gripped her thigh, applying gentle pressure. “I know, baby. I get that. I screwed up, but it won’t happen again, I promise.”
    She smiled as she laid her hand on top of his. “You can’t promise you won’t screw up again any more than I can, but when we do, I think we can agree to work through it.” She sighed. “This relationship thing is new for me. It’s going to take some getting used to.”
    He smirked. “I’ve got nothing but time, sweetheart. Seriously, I’m in this for the long haul, as long as it takes.”
    She knew he wasn’t a patient man, but he was patient with her and she appreciated how much it cost him. “I hope it won’t take all that long.” She could imagine their life, living together, working together, maybe getting married and having a family someday. Propping her leg up on the seat, she turned toward him. “Do you want kids?”
    “Hell yeah.” He laughed. “Though I have to admit, I’m kinda hopin’ for boys. I don’t know what the hell I’d do with a daughter.”
    She smiled, imagining him as the father of her children. “Why’s that?”
    He leaned his head against the seat, a grin splitting his handsome face. “I think about the teenage boy I used to be, and if my little girl ever brought home a kid like that, I’d be haulin’ my shotgun out.”
    She laughed, squeezing his thigh. “She’d be a daddy’s girl, huh?”
    He tilted his head, smiling at her. “Oh yeah. No man would ever be good enough for her.”
    She loved his protective instincts. Instead of intimidating her, as she feared it might, he made her feel safe, protected, as though she had nothing to worry about as long as he was with her. “I think that’s sweet.”
    He rolled his eyes, chuckling. “I don’t know about that. I’ve gotta admit though, a few of my buddies have sons. They’re about four or five now, and I think that’d be pretty cool. Teaching them to play sports, taking them fishing…”
    She reached over to stroke his cheek, realizing that she loved everything about this man, his kindness, generosity, his commitment to his family. “I happen to know your mama is more than ready to be a grandmama.” His mother routinely stopped by their job sites to check on their progress and Lacy often took a coffee break to catch up with her. She was a wonderful woman, kind, warm, generous, much like her eldest son.
    “She told you that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
    “Yeah. You sound surprised.”
    He laughed. “I don’t know why I am. She’s been singing your praises for the last six months, telling me you are exactly the kind of girl I need to set me straight.”
    She linked her hand with his. “She told me you’ve helped her, financially, since your father died.”
    He shrugged. “It’s no big deal. She made a hell of a lot of sacrifices for us over the years. I figure it’s about time I repaid her.”
    “She’s so proud of you,” she said, quietly. Knowing she would never