Taste (Take It Off #9)(45)
Author: Cambria Hebert

I laughed as my little boy and puppy nearly tripped over each other as they played.

“Cookies!” Jack said, reaching up for one.

I laughed and pushed one closer to the edge of the counter so he could reach. “Don’t give any to Bullet,” I told him. “Cookies make puppies sick.”

Out in the other room, the front door opened and closed. Bullet took off in a flash, barking and sliding all over the floor to greet Spencer at the door.

Jack laughed and looked at me with cookie all over his mouth. “It’s Spencer!” I said, excitement rushing through me. Even after being together a year, he still managed to give me butterflies.

I heard Spencer laughing at the dog’s antics, and then he appeared in the doorway, taking a deep breath of the cookie-scented air. “Cookies!” he said, echoing Jack’s earlier word.

“Daddy!” Jack said and launched himself at Spencer.

Spencer’s eyes met mine. Everything in me stilled. Time slowed. All the breath in me whooshed out.

Jack called Spencer daddy.

It was the first time he’d done it. The pure joy in the single word made my heart ache. Jack loved Spencer just as much as I did, and it was only natural he would assume Spence was his father.

The problem was Spencer and I hadn’t had this conversation. I knew he was committed to us, to Jack, but I had no idea how he would feel about Jack calling him daddy.

Even clearly shocked, Spencer easily caught Jack and swung him up into his arms, giving him a big smile. “What ‘cha got there?” he asked Jack, looking at the half-eaten cookie in his hand.

“Mommy made cookies!” he said and held the cookie out for Spence to take a bite.

He did and made a bunch of satisfied noises around the small bite. Jack laughed with delight, and my heart turned over.

“Do you want one, Daddy?” Jack said, his innocent eyes intent on Spencer’s face.

I watched his Adam’s apple bob in his throat. His eyes held so much emotion that it was almost painful to see.

“Jack,” I said, stepping forward, wanting Spencer to know it was okay if he wasn’t up for this.

Spence caught my eye and shook his head imperceptibly. Then he looked back at Jack. “I’d love one,” he said, kissing Jack on the cheek.

He bent down to set the little boy on his feet. “You wanna grab me one, son?”

One word.

One three-letter word.

It obliterated me.

As Jack rushed off to do his daddy’s bidding, I stood in the center of the kitchen and cried. Big, fat silent tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched Spence bend down and let Jack shove the entire cookie into his mouth.

Then Bullet ran back into the room, barking like a maniac, and Jack took off after him, his laughter echoing behind him.

Spencer stood slowly, chewing the huge bite in his mouth, and speared me with an intense amber stare. He prowled across the room, holding my gaze, and then reached out, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

“I think a father should be allowed to live in the same house as his son,” he said, low, hooking an arm around my waist. “Don’t you?”

I sniffled. “Yes,” I answered, my voice watery.

“I love you, Elle,” he said, brushing a kiss across my cheekbone. “And I love Jack. I’d hoped he’d someday think of me as his father.”

“You are his father, Spence. You’re the only father he’s ever known.”

“I think it’s time we make it official, darlin’,” he said, tipping my chin up with the backs of his fingers. “I think it’s time you marry me.”

Joy filled me up inside, and I couldn’t stop my smile. “Don’t you want to live with me first? Make sure you still like me?” I teased.

He grinned. “Nope. Don’t need to. I’m already in too deep.”

“I like you deep,” I said, pressing a little closer.

He groaned. “Unless you want our son to see his mother in a very compromising position on this counter, you better not tease me.”

“Our son,” I whispered.

“Yeah, darlin’, ours.”

He kissed me, his lips lingering over mine while the salt from a rogue tear mixed between our lips.

“Daddy!” Jack called from the other room.

Spencer rested his forehead against mine. “I love that sound.”

“Me, too.”

“Let’s get married this weekend,” he said. “I don’t want to wait.”

“This weekend?” I pulled back, surprised.

He gave me that charm-dripping smile and turned up the dimples.

Of course I agreed.

It was the best day of my life.

THE END