Page 127 of Beating Heart
He leaned down and covered my mouth with his, just as my father stepped into the kitchen and cleared his throat.
“Welcome to the family, Nash.” He clapped him on the shoulder.
“Way to ruin the kiss, Dad,” I groaned.
“Sounds like you two have a lifetime for that.” He chuckled.
And he was right.
This was just the beginning.
thirty-three
. . .
Nash
The weekend had been a blur and ended in the best way. After I’d reached out to Emerson’s brother, Easton, he’d arranged for me and Cutler to come to Rosewood River.
We had become friends since that first day we met, and we’d texted a few times. He was a cool dude, and as it turns out, her whole family was amazing.
It didn’t surprise me. My girl was the best, and of course, she’d have a family that adored her.
Today was a big day because it was Cutler’s Star Student Day at school, and then we had the meeting with Tara at River’s office to deal with after we dropped him off.
Emerson was in the bathroom with Cutler, helping him style his hair for his Star Student Day. This kid lived for these special moments, and he’d found a woman who wanted to celebrate them with him.
“What do you think, Pops?” He strolled out of the bathroom looking like a damn mob boss. He wore a white button-up, a black leather coat, and dark jeans with black dress shoes, and his hair was gelled and slicked into place.
Emerson was just staring at him like he was the most perfect thing she’d ever seen.
“You look cool, buddy.”
“Look at my Sunny’s shirt,” he said.
Emerson puffed her chest out, and her tee read: Beefcake’s Girl.
She had a basket full of these Rice Krispie treats that my boy was obsessed with. And damn if it didn’t make me proud that she knew what to do and how to make it special for him.
“I like it,” I said, waggling my brows because, damn, my girl was gorgeous.
“Good. You have a matching shirt that you need to go put on.” She moved to the counter and tossed me the tee she had sitting on the barstool.
Beefcake’s Pops.
These weren’t written in Sharpie. She’d had them made in advance.
And I fucking loved it.
I went to change into the ridiculous tee, and the three of us made our way to school. Normally, I’d just hand the teacher the store-bought treats and head to work, but today, we took photos together in front of the classroom, and all the kids came running over to see what he’d brought.
Cutler beamed up at Emerson as his classmates came over to say hello to their pediatrician. She was basically a celebrity here.
Apparently, she’d called Doc Dolby while she was home to tell him that she’d had a change of heart, and she wanted to stay in Magnolia Falls. I’d laughed my ass off when she’d told me that he’d never really interviewed anyone else because he felt confident that she’d change her mind. He’d just figured if she left, he’d step back in and start over with the hiring process.
He'd found the person he wanted to take over his practice, and he’d been determined to keep her.
Just like I was.
