Delivering His Gifts (Mountain Men of Liberty #10)- K.C. Crowne Page 0,78

looked absolutely terrified. I couldn’t blame him. We hadn't really talked about getting married. I wasn’t even sure he’d wanted to get married until that moment.

But the answer was easy.

“Yes,” I said, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Mason slipped the diamond onto my finger, and I still couldn’t believe it. I had an engagement ring on my finger. A sight I never expected to see again. My heart fluttered, and I felt a bit weak. Mason was there, however, and he stood up and held me against his chest.

We kissed, our bodies shaking from excitement. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought he might be crying too. Our cheeks were wet, but we were smiling. I don’t think I had ever smiled so big in my entire life, in fact.

“And one more thing,” Mason said, speaking slowly. “If it’s possible, I’d like to see about adopting Skyler.”

The breath caught in my throat. I stared at him with the widest eyes, like a deer in the headlights as the cliche goes. “I would love that, but Greg is her father.”

“We’re taking Greg to court,” he said. “I know we lack proof of all the horrible things he’s done to you, but it’s only a matter of time before he does something abusive again. Eventually, Skyler will witness how he treats you or his anger will be aimed at her, and I know we both want to protect her.”

“I—I would love that, Mason,” I repeated. “I really would. And if we can find a way to sever his parental rights, I know you’d be a better father to her. I just don’t know how. He’s always been untouchable.”

I knew it was only a matter of time before Greg’s his narcissism affected our daughter. I feared for my daughter, especially when she became a teenager and defied him or wanted some freedom. What would happen when she started dating or having sex? Would he also call his own daughter a whore? I couldn’t be sure, and that gnawed at me every day, waiting for the day she came home from her dad’s hurt and reeling from his insults.

“We’ll see what we can do, that’s all I’m saying,” Mason said. “Because you’re not in this alone, you know. I’m here too.”

Accepting help had never been easy for me. But I nodded my head. I knew Mason better now; I knew the type of man he was. And I trusted him.

“I’m sorry I brought it up,” Mason said.

“No, please don’t be sorry,” I said. “I would never have accepted your proposal had I not thought of you as an ideal father-figure for my daughter. The love you show for her already is amazing to me, and I want nothing more than for us to be a complete family, for her to be raised by a kind, loving man like you instead of that abusive asshole. I just don’t know.”

“Shh, I know,” he said, his lips brushing against my forehead. “But we’ll figure it out, I promise.”

He held me close, kissing me softly, as we overlooked the beautiful scenery outside our window. All things considered, I couldn’t have asked for a better proposal, or a better fiancé.

My phone buzzed in my pocket a few moments later, and I frowned as I stared at the screen. “It’s Greg,” I said, feeling uneasy. I feared he might be up to something, or hell, that somehow he had cameras here at the cabin in the mountains.

I answered, my voice shaking. “Yes?”

“Mommy!” Skyler’s sweet voice responded.

“Hi honey,” I said, feeling some relief at hearing her voice instead of Greg. “What’s going on?’

“I just wanted to say I missed you,” she said.

“I miss you too, baby. Are you having fun at your dad’s?”

“Ehh, not really, but he said my cousins will be over on Thanksgiving.”

“Oh, I know you’re excited to see them.”

Skyler continued telling me about everything she’d done since arriving at her dad’s. Mostly she played by herself, drawing or reading a couple books he bought her. I could tell my daughter was bored, and that was likely the reason for the call. But hearing her voice reminded me that she was okay. There were worse things to be than bored, and she was in good spirits.

As we spoke, I heard shouting in the background. Greg’s voice. “Time’s up, Skyler.”

Skyler argued, “But I’m not finished talking to mommy.”

“You’re finished because I said you are. You do not defy me, you hear?”

Hearing that tone sent a chill through my body. Every hair