Chapter 9

“I’m nervous,” Ellery whispered.

Her hand was clasped in mine, resting on my thigh, so I gave it a gentle squeeze. “Don’t be. They’re gonna love you, baby.”

I was taking my girls home to see my parents. They’d already spent a little time with Corinne, but not much because of everything going on, between trying to get settled and figuring out our routine.

Telling them about Laura had been hard and despite all she’d done, they were still understandably devastated to hear that their daughter was dead. But Corinne had helped to heal them. Even if she hadn’t been their biological granddaughter, no one could meet my baby girl and not fall in love with her.

When I told my mom about Ellery, she’d begged me to bring her to meet them. It had taken a little time and a whole lot of orgasms to convince my girl, but she’d finally agreed.

I stopped at a red light and glanced over at her just as the baby let out a little cry. Ellery’s lips formed a sexy little pout, making me want to bite them. “See? Even Corinne thinks this is a bad idea.”

A laugh rumbled in my chest, and I shook my head. “Relax, baby. I’m pretty sure that smell coming from the back is why Corinne is fussing.”

Ellery sighed. “Probably.”

Luckily, we didn’t have to endure the odor for long because I pulled into my parents’ driveway a couple of minutes later.

My mom came barging out of the house and went straight to the back of the car, wrenching the door open. “Hello, my sweet little grandbaby! How are you, cutie? Did you miss Grandma?” She chattered on as she unbuckled the baby and lifted her out of the car seat, then cradled her against her chest.

I opened the car door and climbed out, rolling my eyes when my mom didn’t even acknowledge me as I slammed it shut behind me. I muttered as I rounded the hood of the car and opened Ellery’s door, then helped her out of her seat.

My mom finally looked up from the baby. “My goodness,” she exclaimed. “Look at how gorgeous you are!”

Ellery’s cheeks heated, but she smiled shyly back at my mom. “Um, thank you.”

“Hey, Mom,” I grumbled. “Nice to see you, too.”

“Oh pish, Zane,” she muttered, looking back down at the baby. “You know I’m always happy to see my boy. Now, introduce me to your girl.”

“Mom, this is my Ellery. Baby, this is my mom, Diana. Don’t believe any stories she tells you about me. She lies.”

Mom gasped and tossed me an indignant glare.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Thomas,” Ellery said sweetly, even as she elbowed me in the ribs and whispered, “Be nice.”

My mom grinned widely. “Well, aren’t you all sugar and spice? I have a feeling we’re going to get along wonderfully!” She held Corinne with one arm and slipped the other through Ellery’s before leading her toward the house. “Come, come. Dinner is almost ready!”

My dad, who looked like an older version of me, stood at the door, grinning widely. His body was slightly hunched, and he walked a little stiffly when he moved back to let us enter, but his whiskey-colored eyes twinkled. Despite being in constant pain, my dad was one of the most upbeat and optimistic people I knew.

“Dad, this is Ellery.”

“Nice to finally meet the girl we’ve heard so much about,” he said as he took Ellery’s hand.

“My girl,” I grunted, snatching her hand back and tucking her under my arm. It was ridiculous, but I couldn”t seem to control my caveman instincts around Ellery.

She rolled her eyes and peered up at me. “He’s your father, for Pete’s sake.”

I just shrugged and led her through the house, ignoring the laughter following me. When we reached the kitchen, I set Corinne’s diaper bag on the counter. Then I leaned against it and pulled Ellery to me so she stood between my legs, her back to my front. “Anything I can help with?” I asked as I rested my chin on Ellery’s head.

“You can set the table,” my mom instructed distractedly as she cooed at Corinne. A timer went off, and she sighed, making me chuckle. “I’d better get dinner out of the oven.”

Reluctantly, I let Ellery go when she reached for Corinne. As usual, as soon as my baby girl was in Ellery’s arms, she snuggled in close and relaxed. Warmth spread through my chest as I watched my girls until my mom snapped a dish towel on my arm. “Son of a bitch!” I muttered.

“Watch your language, young man,” my mom admonished with a glare. “Now, get the table set.”

Ellery giggled, and I couldn’t help smiling at the sound, but I pretended to grumble as I walked to the cupboard to grab plates.

“I’m going to change Corinne and make a bottle,” she told me softly.

“Thanks, baby.” I planted a kiss on her lips as I walked by.

She gasped before her eyes darted around, then landed back on me. “You can’t kiss me in front of your parents,” she hissed.

“The hell I can’t,” I growled before slipping an arm around her waist and hauling her body into mine. My mouth covered hers, and I gave her a hard, intense kiss. When I pulled back, she looked dazed, and I couldn’t help smirking. “You’re mine. I’ll kiss you whenever I damn well please.” I patted her sexy ass, then let her go and moseyed out to the dining room.

“Just like his father,” my mom muttered.

My dad laughed, and I glanced up as he walked into the room. He had the silverware, and for a few moments, we completed our task in silence. When we’d added everything else to the table, we re-entered the kitchen, and he grabbed us both a beer from the fridge.

“When is the wedding?” he asked with a sly grin.

“When do I get more grandbabies?” my mom piped up.

I took a drink from my bottle, then grinned. “Soon.”

Ellery returned before I could say anything else, and my mom announced that everything was ready. She asked to feed Corinne, so Ellery gently passed her over before taking her seat next to me.

During the meal, my parents got to know my girl and entertained her with ridiculous stories from my childhood. It didn’t escape my notice that none of them included Laura, and I was grateful for that. Ellery and I had talked about my sister, so it wasn’t like she would be blindsided by the mention, but it was still a raw subject for me and my parents.

Corinne had fallen asleep after her bottle, so we put her in her baby carrier and set her in my old bedroom. My parents had bought a baby monitor after the first time I brought her to see them.

It was an unseasonably warm night in January, even for southern Tennessee, so we took the monitor with us outside and built a fire in the pit on my parents’ porch. We continued to talk and laugh, and my parents even broke out the fixings for s”mores. Ellery fit perfectly with my family, as if we’d carved out a spot for her and had been waiting for her to fill it.

Waiting to get my ring on her drove me crazy, but Sheila—the old lady who usually handled the property vests—and her old man had been on vacation and wouldn’t be back for another week. I wanted to wait to propose until she was wearing my property patch.

Not that those things had stopped from trying to knock her up already.

When the fire died down, it was getting late, and I had an early client. Not to mention that we would be up with Corinne a couple more times in the night. So we packed up the car, got our little one, and said our goodbyes.

“I expect my son to bring you back very soon,” my mom told Ellery as she held her face in her hands. “Heck, you don’t need to wait for him. Come see me anytime, beautiful.” Then she kissed my girl’s cheeks before letting her go.

While Ellery spoke with my dad, my mom came over to hug me. “I couldn’t have chosen anyone more perfect for you, Zane. She’s special. Don’t let her go, or I’ll disown you and adopt her.”

I pretended to look offended, but then I laughed and shook my head. “I would do the same thing in your shoes.”

Once we were in the car and headed home, I laced my fingers through Ellery’s and rested our joint hands on my thigh. “Told you they’d love you,” I said smugly.

“Your parents are awesome.” She giggled and added, “They are so cute when they get all mushy over Corinne. Especially your dad.”

“Yeah. It’s hard to believe that anyone could treat them like Laura did,” I muttered bitterly.

Ellery squeezed my hand gently. “She was sick, Zane.”

Sighing, I brought her hand to my lips and kissed the back. “I know, baby. And I’ll make my peace with her eventually, if for no other reason than because of Corinne.”

“You’re a good man,” Ellery whispered.

“I wouldn’t go that far, baby. In fact, when we get home, I’m gonna show you just how bad I can be.”