News Boy - Susan Hawke Page 0,32

when he’d sworn they’d been stolen, maybe I would’ve figured out Dylan’s nasty ass had been in our house much sooner.

Guess we know who fucked with the alarm system. Fucking shitprick. I halfway wished I could go kick him in the dick for scaring Neil, but no way. Neil needed me more than I needed to inflict pain on a creepy-ass idiot.

I couldn't say whether I grabbed him or he jumped into my arms. It happened too fast to tell. I was reaching for him, and I suddenly had an armful of boy.

"Daddy!" Voice hoarse and raspy as he cried out, he wrapped his arms around my neck and locked his legs around my waist. "You came for me. I knew you would."

"Of course I did, buddy. I’m so sorry I didn’t watch you better. I thought I was, but I missed important clues. It won’t happen again. I promise Daddy will always be there from now on—whether you need me or not. And I will listen when you tell me someone took something you know damn well was there the last time you looked."

He sounded worn out as he tried to comfort me. “It’s okay, Daddy. We didn’t know. Besides, you told me not to trust him.”

“Yeah, well, I should’ve listened to my own advice,” I grumbled as I carried him next door, leaving Mack and Rico to deal with Dylan.

When we got to the porch, Neil whispered in my ear, "Can we be alone for a minute? I saw Uncle Jim's car, and I know Brittany is probably inside waiting, but I need to say something first."

"Of course, sweetie. Do you want to go out back or sit down on the bench?"

Neil shook his head. "I don't want to see the backyard for a while. Out here, please."

I immediately took a seat on the bench. Neil kept his arms and legs around me but scooted back enough to look me in the eyes. "Did you mean it? I accidentally called you Daddy, but I don't want to take it back. I'm sorry I got mad and yelled at you. I was scared you were going to leave me forever. Did you mean it when you said you would stay?"

"Yes, sweetheart. I'm sorry it took me as long as it did to understand why you got so upset. Neil, when I said I was glad it was over, I didn't mean you and me. Never you and me. I simply meant I was glad you wouldn't have to live in fear. And I'm even sorrier I didn't have the balls to admit I wanted to be your Daddy when you tried to ask me on Sunday morning. If you'll have me, I'm all in. You're stuck with me."

Neil giggled, covering his mouth with both hands in a way that always melted me. "I am? How stuck?"

His response emboldened me. "Stuck enough so you're going to have to help me pack my shit this weekend. I plan to give up my lease. No point in keeping my apartment if I'm going to be living here from now on."

Eyes twinkling, Neil solemnly nodded. "Obviously. Duh. Why would you live anywhere else? Everyone knows Daddies have to live with their boys."

I wanted to kiss him so badly, but words needed to happen first. "Are you sure you want me to be your Daddy, sweetheart? Tonight is proof I still have a lot to learn. I may have been a kickass Ranger, and I might have even been a good Dom at one point, but I've never been a Daddy before."

His hands were already petting my chest as he wiggled closer. "That's funny because I think you're the best Daddy I've ever seen. The nicest and cuddliest. And the strongest with the most muscles. And also the hottest."

Winking, I tickled his belly. "I'm glad to know you approve of both my Daddy skills and my appearance." I waited for him to stop giggling, then lifted his chin and looked him in the eye. "Neil, I know this happened fast, and it wasn't what either one of us expected. But honey, never doubt you mean the world to me. I'm already in love with you, and I can't wait to spend our forever taking care of you like you deserve."

"Because good Daddies do." Neil started out teasing, then sobered and stared back at me through grown-up eyes. "Brody, I know I said the day we met how I didn't need a big beefy guy like you following me around and running my life, but I was wrong. Not only do I need it, it's everything I've ever wanted. I love you too. Now can we kiss?"

I threw my head back in amazement as joy filled my chest and poured out of my mouth in pure laughter. Catching my breath took a few seconds. Nodding, I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "Yes, sweetheart. Now we can kiss."

While our arms tightened around each other and our lips met for yet another perfect kiss, I made a mental note to send Mack the biggest basket of damned fruit I could find as a thank-you for bringing me into Neil's life. This boy held my heart in the palm of his hand, whether he knew it yet or not. I meant every word when I said I was ready to spend our lives together as his Daddy. Whatever he needed, I would always try like hell to provide.

But for now, I pushed away all thoughts of the future, the kidnapping, stalkery son of a bitch from next door, and even the friends waiting to talk to us. Why would I want to think of anything else when I was kissing my very own boy?

I tilted my head to deepen the kiss. Yeah, this was definitely the right start to an awesome forever.

About the Author

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I'd care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I've found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that's what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I'm a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown "kids of my heart." While I'm also known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; my Susan name is only for contemporary mm romance. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

Keep in touch!

Website: http://www.susihawke.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/SusanHawkeNewsletter

Reader Group: www.facebook.com/groups/TheHawkesNest

Also by Susan Hawke

Lovestrong series

How Not To Wait (free prequel)

How Not To Blend

How Not To Tuck

How Not To Sin

How Not To Break

How To Heal

Also available in audiobook format on Audible

Davey’s Rules series

Rules to Follow

Rules to Break

Rules for Santa

Rules for Growing

Rules to Obey

Making Rules

Rules to Ignore

Rules for Loving

Also available in audiobook format on Audible

Men of Hidden Creek, season 4

Realize

Standalone Titles

Abandoning Ship

Dancing With Daddy

News Boy