Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

MADDEN

"What's wrong?" I ask as Bec runs toward me, her dark hair flowing down her back.

She crashes into me, and I pick her up, holding on tight as she wraps her legs around my waist. "Nothing. Trey signed over custody to me, and it's all thanks to you."

"No, it's not." I shake my head. "He's a father, and I choose to believe he finally stopped thinking about just himself, and started thinking about what's best for Mick."

She grabs my shirt between her fingers. "You and I both know that's a fucking pipe dream, Mad. He did this because you pressured him and made him feel like shit about what he was doing."

I carry her over to the picnic table on the side of the building and have a seat with her in my lap. Her eyes are bright and full of unshed tears. "No one has ever done anything like this for me before, Madden. I don't know how to react, or what to say, other than thank you."

Pushing her hair back from her face, I reach down to her chin and tilt it up so that we can see each other clearly. "You don't owe me a thank you, or anything of that nature, Bec. I wanted to do it, and he was open to hearing what I had to say."

"Are you sure?" She raises her eyebrows. "That doesn't sound like Trey."

"Not at first, but when I explained to him what was going to happen when he was sentenced, and possibly moved to federal prison, he understood." I swallow hard, ready to lay everything out on the table for her. "I might have also told him I'm head over heels in love with you, too." I lick my suddenly dry lips. "And I want to move you and Mick into my house. Want us to buy a place together, at some point. Would love for you to have my last name when the time is right. I want all of it with you, Bec, but I'm willing to wait. I know how much Mick means to you. I know how hard you've been working and what you've done to get yourself where you are right now. I don't want to impede..."

She puts her finger on my lips. "Stop talking." She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth before letting a smile spread across her face. "You're not going to impede anything. I want all of that with you too, Madden. I don't know when, but I fell in love with you. Maybe it was when you worried more about me and Mick than you did yourself, or that first kiss you gave me. It could've been the night we spent at your house, or a few minutes ago when I read the letter Trey sent me with the paperwork that says Mick is mine. Either way." She leans in, kissing me squarely on the lips. "I'm there with you, and I want nothing more than for us to have the life we've both always dreamed about."

My heart thrums against my chest. There are no words, there's only action as I pull her mouth to mine, sealing what she's just said with a kiss. She meets me right there, and sweeps her tongue against mine, digging her fingers in my hair. I hold on to her ass with my free hand, encouraging her to grind against me. We're into it until we hear a horn honk.

"Get a room, you two. Shit, this is a police station."

Caleb.

We pull away from each other. She buries her face in my neck, and I look over her shoulder at him. Although he said the words with what sounded like irritation, he's grinning at me, flashing a thumbs up.

"We will. See you later."

I get up, holding her body to mine, and make a mad dash for my truck. As we're driving away, everyone who was inside is standing out on the steps, clapping for us.

"Congratulations, you two!" Millie yells from the top, waving.

We share a grin, and I reach over, grabbing her hand, resting it on the console. "This." I lift our clasped fingers together to my lips. "Is what I've always wanted. This will never be broken as long as we keep the connection strong."

She nods. "We'll keep it strong, and it'll last forever."

Sounds fucking good to me.