Craved Mate (Cybermates #6) - Candace Ayers Page 0,44
her mouth gaped open at me.
I smiled down at Ame as the baby squealed and went crazy. She practically climbed out of the carrier and launched herself at Mel, she wanted her so badly. Mel worked on unstrapping Ame from the carrier. “Marry me. Please.”
Mel held Ame against her chest and just stared at me.
Her friend, Ingrid, came up beside me and scowled. “Get on your knee, you tallywacker.”
I nodded. “Right.”
Mel’s jaw dropped. On one knee in front of her, I looked up and smiled. “Mel, we were made for each other. I’ll spend the rest of our lives showing you that. Will you marry me?”
She suddenly smacked me on the shoulder with the back of her hand and growled in the cutest way at me. “Are you crazy? Get up!”
“Say yes and I will.”
Price and Ben shook their heads. “This is embarrassing.”
Ingrid hushed them and put her hands on her hips. “Now, don’t be rude, Mel.”
Mel scoffed. “Are you in on this?”
“Ben might’ve mentioned something about this happening. I might just support it.”
“Mel.” I drew her attention back to me. “What’ll it take to get you to say yes to me?”
She bounced Ame on her hip and pressed her lips to her Ame’s little head. “Are you sure—”
Someone in the crowd behind us, I think it was Aunt Nancy, yelled, “Say yes, or I will!”
Mel looked around, realizing for the first time we had an audience. She blushed furiously and then moved closer to me.
Everyone cheered and Ame’s swinging fist was too close to my head. After taking a solid punch to the jaw, I stood and looked down at my little sparring partner and then at my mate.
“There’s one more thing.”
Mel frowned. “What?”
“I have taken over parenting Ame. Forever.” I shook my head. “Jenny signed her parental rights away and I’m going to adopt her. We’re a package deal.”
Mel blinked away tears and cupped Ame’s head. “Are you using this baby to lure me in?”
“I won’t say it’s beneath me—”
Mel stroked my jaw with her free hand. “Yes. I will marry you. Both.”
I wrapped my two girls in my arms, the luckiest man in the entire world.
Mel took a deep breath and looked up at me, tears streaming down her face. “I’m going to be a wife and a mom. Finally.”
Epilogue: Mel
“Everyone’s seated. We’re ready to begin.” Ingrid smiled warmly as her eyes surveyed me approvingly.
“Coming.” One more quick glance at my make-up, and I couldn’t contain the grin that spread across my face. It was finally coming true. This was what I’d wanted for so long. All those years ago when I’d given up fame and a spot light in favor of a normal life as a noncelebrity, this was what I’d had in mind. I was beginning to think it would never happen.
“Aren’t you glad you didn’t settle?”
I just smiled and picked up the bouquet of wild flowers from the side table.
Outside the tent we’d had erected for the occasion, my brother and Ben stood waiting for me.
“Don’t be nervous, little sis. It’s going to be perfect.” Pierce kissed my forehead.
“He’s right. It is.” Ingrid clasped my hand and squeezed. “I’m going to take my seat. But here.” She tucked a tissue in my fist. “I brought a whole box.”
Pierce was on my left and Ben on my right. As the recorded wedding march began, the three of us took the first step down the aisle toward the gazebo on the beach under which Hamish MacGregor and I would say our vows.
For weeks I’d been fielding jokes from those two about how they might just give me away to the highest bidder, but today, their faces held proud, pleased, but serious expressions.
My engagement ring glinted in the sun and I wore a flowy, pale blue sundress for our beach wedding. My soon to be sister-in-law, and brother-in-law were in the front row. Warren had donated his wheelchair to charity a month ago, no longer having a use for it, and was in full remission.
Ame was on Heather’s lap, dressed in a frilly, pale blue dress I’d had made to match mine. It was easily the happiest I could ever remember being, well, it was a close tie with the day Mac and I signed the adoption papers making Amethyst Isabella MacGregor our daughter.
We weren’t opposed to having more children, but my age and my diabetes lowered my fertility rate. If it happened, it happened, if not, we were more than content with our family of three.
I’d