Walt took their coats, placed them on a drying rack.
Brenda was already warming up hot soup, and Larry was calling family.
Walt turned to see Dakota rubbing her hands over his mother’s. “Let’s not do that again, OK?”
His mom grasped her hands and held them. “Thanks for keeping me sane.”
Dakota smiled and they both looked down at their hands.
His mom patted her hand, and that’s when Walt noticed the shine coming from Dakota’s ring finger.
“I think I’ll find that bubble bath before I eat.”
JoAnne walked by his side, patted his arm, and smiled before walking away. “Brenda, honey, can you bring that to my room? I must shed these clothes.”
Walt heard the others exit the great room. He moved to Dakota’s side and took her hand in his.
The ring was perfect, and the fact that it sat on her ring finger made him smile like a kid on their sixteenth birthday. Car keys in hand.
“I thought I lost that.”
She stretched out her hand, admired the ring. “Oh, is this yours? I found it under the backseat while searching for canned tuna.”
Walt lifted her chin to meet her eyes.
“I thought I lost you.”
Dakota shook her head, slowly. “Takes more than a little snowstorm to get rid of me. Besides, I have some seriously unfinished business to take care of in this life.”
He smiled, loved that she could laugh in the face of what had to have been a harrowing experience. “What’s that?”
She searched him with a look. “I need to tell the man who bought this ring that I love him.”
The words were music, like a breathing child, like a heartbeat where there once was nothing. They filled him, she consumed him.
“I love you, Walt. I really hope this ring is our next step.”
He stepped closer, felt her body against his. “Are you ready for the next step?”
Her smile was ear-to-ear. “I need a little sleep, a long shower, and some food, but after that I’m ready.”
“So we’re getting married.”
“Oh, we’re getting married, Doc. We are so getting married.”
He brushed his lips against hers. On a sigh, she melted into his touch.
Their child, not quite ready to say hello to the world, kicked him.
Dakota pulled away laughing. “We’ll get your father healthy enough to wear a suit, make sure my parents and sister can be here. Fly Mary in, get Trent and Monica here . . . maybe even my agent.”
“Sounds like forever.”
“Not quite forever. I’m thinking this weekend will work. Gotta snag ya while your mom still likes me.”
Walt scooped her up, spun her around. “I love you.”
He kissed her again, felt his heart sing.
“I need food, a bath, and a bed,” she told him.
“You got it.”
She stopped him before they headed up the stairs. “Wake me in the morning with a kiss.”
“I’ll wake you every morning of our lives with a kiss.”
Epilogue
She felt him long before he slid into the space beside her, placed his lips against her ear, and said, “Please tell me that ring doesn’t mean you’re married.”
Dakota pulled her hair aside to feel the warmth of his breath on her neck. “Oh, I’m married.” She laid a hand on her belly, felt Junior stretch to the point of rearranging one of her lungs. “But you might convince me to stray.”
The woman sitting at the bar beside her looked Dakota up and down, and then swung her gaze to the man trying to pick her up.
His breath tickled the lobe of Dakota’s ear, made her lean into him.
“I’m in the penthouse suite,” he murmured.
“Tempting.” Dakota sucked in her bottom lip, gave it a little chew.
The eavesdropping woman clicked her tongue, grabbed her drink, and left the bar in a huff.
They both started laughing as Walt took the now unoccupied seat.
“Is everything all set?” she asked.
“The room is filling, the books are stacked, even our moms have added their own personal flavor to the event.”
Dakota groaned. “Should I be worried?”
Walt took her hands in his, kissed them. “No. This idea of Mary’s is just short of brilliant. What better way to show our families how respected you are, than to bring them here?”
The holidays were behind them, as was their brief honeymoon in the western Caribbean.
The New York Morrison was hosting her release party and book signing of Succumb to Me, the final chapter in Mathew and Cassidy’s story.
“Tell me our mothers are getting along.”
Walt tossed his hands in the air. “If they’re not, they aren’t bogging me down with it.”
“How’s your dad?”
“Loving the attention. He and Dennis are sitting in the back of the room, watching the show.”
Dakota wasn’t even sure what the show was. She’d been told to stay clear of the ballroom where she’d be giving a speech about her latest book, and plugging her new one that would be out in late fall. With the exception of the hotel, and the guest list for the after-signing party, Dakota was clueless. “What show?”
Walt winked, not giving her anything. He checked his watch and stood. “Showtime, Baby Mama.”
She held his hand as they walked through the hotel, down a long hall, and into a holding room beside the ballroom.
A high rumble of excitement came from the many voices inside the ballroom, an occasional bit of laughter leaked through the doors leading in.
The door opened and Mary popped out. “There you are.” Her blue eyes sparkled when she smiled. “I love this part.”
“I know.” Mary had been at her side for much of her success, and release events like this were always so full of life and energy it was hard going for long stints without them.
Dakota glanced down to see what Mary was wearing. It was a pink T-shirt with Dakota’s website on the left shoulder. “Cute shirt.”
Mary giggled and turned around. On the back, the shirt said, Baby Mama’s BFF.
“I love it.”
Mary kept laughing. “Wait until you see the rest.”
Dakota turned to Walt.
He smiled and took his jacket off. His shirt was blue, on the back it said, Dr. Baby Daddy, below that it stated . . . Inspiration for Chapter Thirteen.
Didn’t matter that Dakota didn’t know Walt when she wrote chapter thirteen, the implication would be clear. Chapter thirteen was sexy hot, and well worth a Walt mention. She let out a squeal and was laughing as Mary led her into the fray.