Page 42 of Unveiled

“Technically, it wasn’t me, but—”

“Stop it, it was you. I would’ve never given Mark enough to do this if it wasn’t for you being the most amazing man ever. You gave me your strength when I couldn’t find my own. You gave me attitude when I needed it and patience when I lacked it. You shared your amazing parents with me, giving me back Winston and Family the way it should be. You gave me Mark and Charlie and the gang at Cole when I needed a team at my back.” A wet nose and furry head wormed between their legs. Tatum dropped to her knees, taking the mixed breed rescue mutt’s head in her hands.

“You even gave me Manero to be my new best friend. Isn’t that right.” She was no longer talking to him, but speaking in that baby voice to her new best friend.

Rush mumbled. “I’m supposed to be your best friend.” Tatum stood and held him tight.

“You’re my two-legged best friend. Better?”

“Better.”

“You even gave me a weird appreciation for disco and half shirts. You’ve given me back everything and more. I love you, Russell Sampson, and one day in the future, if I’m lucky, you’ll give me little disco loving, half shirt wearing babies, too.”

Rush growled. The thought of Tatum pregnant gave him a feeling he couldn’t describe. “You know, Babes, if that’s the goal, the condoms we’re using are going to hinder that just a bit.”

“Silly man.” She smacked his chest. “Keyword is future. We’ve been lucky so far, but I’m not ready yet. Besides, I doubt very seriously you’re willing to share my tits.”

Tatum was right, he wanted her all to himself for a while.

“True.”

She reached up and cupped the tits in question. Her nipples hardened visibly under the thin red swimsuit. Her pleasured moan almost made him forget her surprise.

“How about I give you one more thing, then we can practice the baby making all afternoon, what do you say?”

“Rush, you don’t need to give me anything else.”

“I know, and it’s not really my gift. Come on, I’ll show you.” Rush took her by the hand, leading her nervously through the house to the garage. He really hoped this wasn’t an epic fuck up or an overstepping, but it was too late now. They’d already established he wasn’t an asker.

He pushed the door to the garage open and let her lead. She stopped just one step into the dimly lit area. Rush flicked the switch, flooding the garage with light, and Tatum gasped. She rushed forward, stopping short of touching it. When she turned back to him, she had tears in her eyes and her face was pale.

Rush couldn’t tell if he’d fucked up royally or given her the most epic gift ever. He was leaning toward the former when the silence stretched on and her head continued whipping back and forth.

Anxiously, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Babes, I’m sorry. I thought you’d want to finish it. . .with me. To honor all the time you spent with your dad. I realize I may have been way out of—” His words were cut off when she leapt into his arms. He stumbled back against the wall and barely maintained his balance.

“Don’t you dare apologize.” He felt her sobs down to his soul. “This is the most amazing thing you could’ve ever done for me. I would love to finish it with you. It would make my dad so happy, I know it would.”

“Whew. Thank God, because the tires, rims, and solid bench seat arrive next week.” Tatum unwound her legs and stood, putting distance between them. When she popped her hip to the side and smirked, he could see she was trying to project an air of anger, but he read her too well to buy it.

“You know I wanted the split bench.”

“Yeah.” Rush spun her around until her back was pressed against the wall. Gathering her hands in one of his, he held them above her head. “But your dad wanted the original.” Reaching around her neck with his free hand, he untied the bikini top but didn’t pull the top down just yet. Her breathing increased with anticipation. “I did it to honor him.”

He kissed her.

“Now, what I’m about to do to you enters the no dad zone, so this conversation is officially over. Bench seat, no further arguments, deal?”

“Deal.” Rush dropped the strings he was holding, and her tits sprang forward. He devoured them immediately.

“God.” She panted. “How did I get so lucky?”

She wasn’t lucky, but he would spend the rest of his life being the best man he could possibly be so she never realized that truth. He was the lucky one.

“It has to be the goo, Babes.”

Tatum rolled her eyes. “When are you ever going to let that go?”

“Never, Babes, never. Wanna touch ‘em?”

With a sigh, she answered. “You know I do.”

Rush released her hands so she could do just that.

THE END