The Mitchell Family Series BoxSet 1-4.5 (36 page)

Chapter 19

Miranda

When I woke up, Ty’s arms were still wrapped around me. I still couldn’t believe that all of this had happened. The truth was that I had wanted it for so long. I had to admit that I never thought it was going to happen. All of the signals were there, but neither of us had the nerve to act on them. If it hadn’t been for Ty’s plan he had concocted at the party, it still wouldn’t have happened.

I didn’t know what to think about us hooking up. I had fantasized about it for so long, but hadn’t thought about what would happen after we did. I had a child to think about, so having random hook-ups was just not an option for me. I had to put her before everything else.

But this was Ty.

He had been a part of her life since the day she was born. He loved her.

He was also one of my best friends and now I was so afraid that somehow we had damaged that friendship. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but at some point I would have to go home and Ty would stay here. How could I imagine a future for us when it just wasn’t possible?

I felt Ty’s arms tightening around me and looked up to see him smiling back at me. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

He smiled and started rubbing my back. “I was afraid to open my eyes, on account of last night just being the best dream ever.”

I giggled. “It wasn’t a dream. Trust me. I was there.”

“Yeah, I remember.” Ty reached down and kissed my head. “You were…..my god you were so hot last night. I couldn’t get enough of you.”

I let my hands slide down under the sheets and felt his morning girth. “I am right here if you want some more.”

Normally I would have worried about my hair or breath, but Ty was so different. He pulled my body up and planted his lips right on mine. Before he could do anything further, we heard a knock at the door.

“Oh shit! It’s probably your mom telling us that Bella is giving her a hard time,” I suggested.

Ty jumped up and started putting his boxers on. “Damn, I promised her if she watched Izzy that we would go to church with her and my dad.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I jumped up and watched as he started putting on a pair of khakis he found in his closet.

“I will stall them, just get dressed as fast as you can,” he stated as he pulled a shirt over his head, kissed me and walked out of the room.

I heard him opening the door and talking to his mom while I ripped clothes out of my bag, looking for something appropriate to wear. I hadn’t actually had time to plan about places I might have to go or people that I needed to impress. Everything was all so sudden.  Thank God I found a skirt and a sweater that at least looked presentable. I went over to the dresser and grabbed a brush. My hair was a mess from getting out of the shower and jumping right into bed. It didn’t help that I was rolling around on pillows half the night. I finally gave up and threw it in a messy bun. After brushing my teeth, I made it outside in less than ten minutes.  Ty winked at me like we had a big secret and I couldn’t help but smile.

He already had Bella and was taking her back inside to get changed.  I followed behind him. “Wait! I will get her dressed.”

“Okay, I was just trying to help.”

“Sorry,” I shook my head. “You know I hate mornings.”

I continued to get Bella changed while Ty grabbed a couple things to add to her diaper bag. Luckily his parents weren’t ready to leave, they were just giving us time to get the baby ready. I was able to primp a little more and add some makeup to my tired eyes.

We decided to follow his parents instead of switching car seats and also having to stay after church was over. Ty explained his mother would stay for hours at coffee hour, gabbing with her friends. I still wasn’t awake, but he was kind enough to run in the house and fill a whole travel mug full of coffee. It was the little things like cups of coffee and helping with Bella that made me so crazy about him.

“I am so sorry about this morning. After everything that happened last night, it must have slipped my mind.” He grabbed my thigh and gave it a squeeze.

I gave him a smile and grabbed his hand into mine. “You look really happy.”

“You’re the reason.”

I felt my cheeks flush, but I didn’t know what to say.

I realize that thinking about sex in a church was probably a horrible sin, but as the reverend discussed his lesson on unanswered prayers, lasts nights actions kept running through my mind.  The lesson discussed praying for something to happen for so long and being so upset when God didn’t answer them. He explained about a man who was involved with a woman all throughout high school. That woman went off to college and left him behind. He prayed and prayed to have her return so that they could have a life and a future together. After years of hoping he ended up meeting someone and falling in love. They were married and had three great children. After being married for twenty years, the woman from his past came back into town and tried to rekindle their relationship, even though the man was married. Despite her attempts the man realized that because of his unanswered prayers he was already with his real true love.

I thought about all of the times I prayed for Tucker to change and want us to be a family and how those prayers were never going to be answered.  Then I looked over to Ty, with Bella on his lap, and my hand in his. My heart felt so full of love.  Last night wasn’t a one night stand and Ty wasn’t using me for sex while I was here. This was much more than that to him. Him protecting me and feeling jealous when other people looked at me, he obviously wanted me to be just his.

Bella was exceptionally well behaved during service and even more so when a bunch of nosey people noticed that Ty and I were there together and I had a child. I had no clue what they were thinking or saying about me, but Ty never let go of Bella, or my hand, even after we got outside of the church.

“So we have exactly five hours before dinner will be ready,” Ty said as we headed out of the church parking lot.

“What are we havin’ for dinner?”

“Mom always makes something big on Sunday’s. It’s a family tradition.”

“I don’t want to keep imposin’ Ty.”

He pulled the car over slowly and put it in park. After taking my hand and kissing it, he looked me right in the eyes. “You know we should have been a couple for months now. If it wasn’t for your cock block brother, it would have happened sooner. Now, I can’t change the past Miranda, and maybe waiting all these months gave us the time to get our heads on right, but now that the cat is out of the bag, I’m not holding back. I am crazy about you and I want you to be a part of my life. I don’t want this to be temporary. I am sorry if you think I am rushing, but dammit, I have never felt so happy before and I’m not about to let it go.”

I honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I just sat there, staring at him.

“Please say something, baby, you’re making me nervous.”

I looked down at our intertwined hands and started to tear up. I was far from sad, but after everything that I thought I wanted for so long, I realized  it was finally happening. “This is usually the time where I tell you that I have a baby and if you can’t handle that, then we probably shouldn’t see each other anymore, but since you love my child almost as much as I do, I think we can skip that conversation,” I joked. It was the best I could do. I think I was still in shock.

“Does this mean I don’t have to sleep at my parents anymore?” He teased.

“I guess it does.”

He leaned over and kissed me full on the lips. “Then don’t fight me about family dinners.”

“I wasn’t fightin’ you. I just don’t want to be needy.”

He started pulling back on the road. “You can need me all you want. I’m not kidding Miranda, I am tired of being alone. Spending the past few days with my two favorite girls has made me the happiest I have been in over a year.  Waking up next to you this morning was fantastic, even with your wild hair.”

I rolled my eyes. “Should I cut it?”

“Hell no! Sometimes I need to be able to grab it.”

We both started laughing.

Sunday dinner turned into late night cards. Ty and his parents entertained me with stories of Ty when he was younger and things that Bella had done while they were babysitting.  Before we got ready to head back over to the carriage house, I headed into the kitchen to help his mother with getting everything cleaned up.

She smiled when she saw me coming in the room. “My son is smitten over you.”

I smiled and grabbed the dish towel to start drying. “If I can be honest, I am pretty crazy about him too.”

She turned the water off and looked directly at me. I actually felt scared. “Ty has been through Hell this past year and one thing that has always put a smile on his face is when he talks about you and that little girl. I know that you are only supposed to be here for a short time, but I have to ask that you will consider his feelings in all of this. I’d hate to see him heartbroken again.”

“Mrs. Mitchell…”

“It’s June or Mom, not Mrs. Mitchell when it’s family dear.”

“Sorry, June, I …well Ty and I just started whatever this is between us, but I can promise you that I have no plans of hurtin’ him. I really care about him. I have for a long time.”

She shook her head. “I can tell. I just know my son and I have never seen him look at anyone like he does you, not even Van.”  She reached over and touched my chin. “Do you hear what I am saying?”

No! Say what you mean in English…..

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“When you first came here I thought he was getting in over his head, but after I saw him with the two of you, I realized he was already starting to fall in love. You are good for him Miranda, you and Bella.”

Love? He couldn’t love me….

I had been here for three days and already been accepted by his parents. Ty made it clear that we were a couple.  I felt his arms wrapping around me before I could answer his mother. “You ready to head over. I need to go to bed so I can get up for work tomorrow.”

Ty let go of my waist to grab Bella and after he had walked away, I reached over and hugged his mother. “I won’t break his heart, I promise,” I whispered.

She gave me a smile and grabbed my hands. “Do you want to go into town tomorrow? I have to grab some groceries and a few other things.”

“That would be great. I will see what we need over there and make my own list.”

We said our goodbyes and finally headed back to the carriage house.

Surprisingly, Bella stayed asleep while we carried her and laid her down in the porta crib. Since Ty would clearly be sleeping in his bed with me, she needed to be comfortable herself. I wasn’t really sure if I should take off my clothes or sleep in underwear, or put on a big shirt, so I sat on the edge of the bed and waited to see what Ty was wearing. He stripped out of everything except his boxers and climbed into bed. “What’s wrong?”

“I guess I am not used to sleepin’ next to someone who just wants to sleep.”

Maybe that sounded weird.

“I really hate that you have never been appreciated by a boyfriend before. Get into something comfortable and climb in here next to me. “ He patted the bed beside him.

I stripped down to my underwear, while he watched and smiled, and climbed in beside him. He pulled me in closer and kissed the top of my head. “A real man makes his woman feel wanted and always keeps her safe. Close your eyes, baby.”

I closed my eyes but I couldn’t go to sleep right away. I kept thinking how at some point I would be expected to go home. I had basically committed myself to a relationship with Ty, one that I wanted more than anything, but I had no idea how it was ever going to work. At some point my brother was going to find out and he was going to kill him.

Then I started thinking about Ty’s mother and how she thought he was already falling for me.  Ty had never acted like this before with Van, I knew that for a fact. I just couldn’t get why he wanted me, when nobody else ever had.

His gentle snores reminded me that I was in his arms, and for the time being, he was mine. I didn’t know how long I could keep him, but I would do anything to stay this happy. I didn’t care what anyone else thought of him, he was perfect to me.

Chapter 20

Tyler

I hated when my alarm went off indicating that I had to get up and get ready for work, especially since I had the most beautiful girl in the world sleeping in my arms. It was a good thing that she was such a heavy sleeper. I managed to get up and put on my entire uniform without waking her or Izzy. After using the bathroom to do everything else, I snuck over to my parents for a cup of coffee. The coffee at the auto shop was worse than my mothers and I never felt like stopping anywhere else.

The morning drug on forever and all I kept thinking about was my amazing weekend with Miranda. Looking back, I know that the timing had never been right for us before, but it still made me sad that we had wasted so much time already. Izzy was getting so big and I wished that I had been there more.

I caught myself daydreaming more than once and my boss was really getting on me to finish up an air conditioning job before the day was out. The customer had already waited an extra three days for the part to come in. I kept myself occupied on the task at hand until it was time for everyone to break for lunch. As I was walking out to the parking lot, I saw three familiar faces heading in my direction.

My mother, Miranda and Izzy smiled as I met them halfway in the parking lot. “What are you guys doing here?”

“I had to run into town and offered to bring Miranda with me,” she explained.

Miranda held out a brown bag. “Your mom said that you really like this place so I got you lunch while we were there.”

“Ty up!” Izzy held out her arms for me. I hated grabbing her in my dirty uniform, even though Miranda said it was okay. After giving her a fry, my mother finagled her out of my arms and walked her around.

I leaned over and kissed Miranda. “Thank you for lunch.”

She nudged me in the arm. “Thank you for wanting me.”

“Just to be clear, I think I have always wanted you, sexually of course. Curious at least,” I added.

“You know I don’t mean like that.”

“I know and please don’t thank me. This,” I pointed from her to me, “is what I wanted. This is right.”

“It feels so natural, almost like we have been together for a long time already,” She agreed.

“I think all those late night phone calls helped us. We don’t have to go through that getting to know each other phase.” I took my sub out and started eating it. Miranda wrapped her arms into mine and put her head on my shoulder.

“That is true. I even knew what buttons to push when we got freaky. That was a plus.”

She leaned in to kiss me. “Definitely a plus.”

“Your mom really loves you.” She changed the subject.

“Yeah, she obviously really loves you too. She never liked Van. You should have seen when everything went to shit. She kept telling me how she had told me all along Van was the wrong girl. The fact that she likes you amazes me.” I didn’t want to tell her that at first my dear mother had told me to stay clear of Miranda. That only lasted until they met Izzy.

“She helped me shop for you today. I am going to start making dinner during the week for us at the carriage house.  She told me everything you like and don’t like so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

She had no idea how depressing my life was before she walked back into it. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.

“I hope you can cook good,” I teased.

“I hope you like everything well done.” She seemed pleased with her comeback.

I looked over and saw my mother putting Izzy in her car seat. Miranda must have noticed too because we both stood up. “I guess I will see you tonight?”

“Dinner will be ready for you.”

“I feel like an old man.”

“Am I an old lady?”

“I’ve seen you naked and you have no wrinkles….like none anywhere,” I joked. “You going to give me a kiss so all these dick heads I work with can stop staring at my girl?”

Miranda wrapped her arms around me and slapped me with a very long, very tongue involved kiss that left nothing for the imagination. I heard whistling as our kiss broke and waited until they pulled away before walking back into the shop.

“Where’d you find that?” My boss asked.

“None of your damn business.”

“Touchy! This one must be good in the sack,” he implied.

You have no idea…..

“Her name is Miranda. She’s my girlfriend and I would appreciate it if you kept your thoughts to yourself.”

“Hey guys, it looks like Ty here has finally found himself a keeper,” he called out.

“It’s about time. Is he pussy whipped already?” Someone yelled from the back.

I rolled my eyes and went back to my station, ignoring them for the rest of the day.

When I got off work it was starting to get dark. Pulling up to the farm and seeing the lights on at the carriage house really made me feel content.  Walking in the door was even better. Izzy came running up to me grabbing on my legs while Miranda was busy getting the table set for the dinner she had ready. I still felt like I was in some kind of dream. A week ago I was coming home to an empty house. I didn’t have a girlfriend and honestly I didn’t know if I even wanted one, but from the moment Miranda walked in my door everything changed.

“Ty up.” Izzy dangled between my legs. I pulled her up and gave her a big kiss on the cheek.

“Hey cutie. What did you and Mommy make for dinner. It smells so good.”

“We made you peach and thyme glazed pork chops with rice and broccoli.” Miranda smiled like she had accomplished something tremendous.

I walked over and grabbed her for a hug. “I would have been fine with hot dogs and beans.”

She kissed me slowly. “We can have that tomorrow.”

“Or next week, cause you will still be here,” I kissed her again. “or the week after...”

That is exactly what happened too. After three weeks had passed, we were happier than ever. During the week I would work and come home to the girls. We spent the weekends going places or just hanging out with my parents. Miranda fit in like she belonged with us and the longer we were together, the more sure I became. In a few short weeks everything about my life had changed and I never wanted it to go back to the way it was.

Van had called to talk to both of us several times, but we decided to keep our relationship a secret, to avoid the time bomb that would go off when our Kentucky family found out about us.  She knew we were friends and that we hung out and that is where we left every conversation.  Miranda’s mother had been keeping tabs on Tucker’s release. It hadn’t happened as early as they first assumed, but he had been out for a couple weeks before they heard anything from him. The phone calls to Miranda’s old phone started up and with those calls came the threats. The voice was muffled and the number was always blocked, but it was clear who was doing it. As much as her family hated it they knew she was safe staying at the farm.

Miranda and I had been trying to figure out how to keep her there for a longer period of time. At some point the verbal threats weren’t going to be enough to keep her with me, so she had to either tell them we were together or find a different reason that she needed to stay. With the help of my mother, she found a salon in town that was looking for someone to fill in while their regular shampoo girl/receptionist was on maternity leave. It was just temporary but would give us two months without the family breathing down our necks. I had to give it to my mother. Not only did she keep our secret, but she welcomed Miranda and Izzy into our family, sometimes too much.

Even my father stepped in and suggested that we clean out the back of the carriage house, which was for storage and still had wooden garage doors on it, and finish it off to give Izzy her own room. His argument was that it increased the value of the property, but their desperate attempts to secure my happiness made me appreciate them. Who better than them to know how pathetic my life had become before the girls came into it.

Miranda’s mother didn’t take the news of her daughter wanting to stay here, but with her ex being such a threat, it worked to our benefit. They still video chatted and talked at least a few times a week.

My mother was all too happy to be able to watch Izzy three days a week while Miranda worked. The salon was on the same block as my shop so not only did we ride to work together, but I got to have lunch with the hottest girl in the world every single day she worked. The guys at the shop finally stopped giving her a hard time. Once they got used to seeing her all the time, they knew how serious we were.

Because things had become so serious, I had decided that I was going to give Miranda a romantic night out. Even with a little one running around, we got to spend time together, but it wasn’t like we could run around naked having wild sex all night. Most of our alone time consisted of hot showers while Izzy napped or waiting until she fell asleep so we could quietly have sex.

It was a Friday and our official one month anniversary. My parents were taking Izzy for the night and Miranda and I had reservations at a little restaurant an hour away. She wore a red dress similar to the one she had worn months ago on the night that should have been ours. Of course she looked gorgeous and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She had curled every strand of her long blonde hair in fancy ringlets. Her makeup was perfect and she smelled like heaven. I even wore a pair of dress pants and a black v-neck shirt. While Miranda was getting into the car, I ran back into the house and set up her surprise for when we returned. My father was going to set the rest of the things up once we were gone.

I had everything planned out. Our dinner was going to be perfect and when she got home she would be showered with attention. I had never felt this way about anyone and she needed to know that I was pretty damn sure that this was it for me.

Miranda seemed nervous on the ride to dinner. “You okay, baby?”

“I’ve never been to any place fancy before. Are you sure I look alright?”

We were already holding hands, in fact I never drove without her hand in mine. I pulled it up to my lips. “You are the most beautiful woman on this planet. You deserve to be taken to fancy places.”

She leaned over and kissed me. “I can’t believe that it’s been a month already Ty. If I would have known that we would be this happy, I never would have held back my feelin’s.”

“All that matters is that we are together now.”

Dinner was perfect. We had a candlelight corner table and Miranda looked so excited. Instead of sitting across from me, she scooted her chair closer to mine and I rubbed her leg under the table. She had no idea that her night had just begun and I wanted it that way. I had so much more planned.

On the way home from dinner, she cuddle up next to me as I drove. “Our dinner date was wonderful. Thank you Ty.”

I kissed her head. “You’re welcome, baby.”

Her hand started sliding up my leg and stopped at the zipper to my pants. “I’ve never been so happy in my life,” she whispered in my ear and then licked the lobe.

I felt her hands unzipping my pants and then one of her hands sliding inside. “Ahh.” I was trying to focus on the road as she pulled out my cock and started stroking it with her hand.

She said nothing before unfastening her seat belt and dipping her head between my legs. I felt her take my erection into her mouth. “Jesus Miranda….”

I held the steering wheel with one hand and put my other hand on her head. It was extremely hard to keep my eyes on the road when Miranda was working her magic. No one had ever got me off the way she could. I finally had to pull over to the side of the road until she finished. I needed to close my eyes and enjoy it. We had a baby at home and blowjobs just weren’t something that happened  that often. Her mouth lingered over my erection even after I had finished. She slowly pulled away with a big smile on her face, like she had made some huge accomplishment. “Thanks again for our date Ty.”

“You.Are.The.Girl.Of.My.Dreams.”

She giggled as I pulled back on the dark road. I had sent my father a text telling him that we were on our way home before we had left the restaurant. He knew to wait a little while before he went over and got everything set up for me.

We pulled up and I jumped out of the car before Miranda and headed to open her door for her. “Let me get that for you.”

“Thank you. We are home now. You don’t have to impress me anymore,” she said.

“I have a surprise for you.” I covered her eyes and slowly walked her into the house and straight to the bedroom. Candles were lit around the room and my father had done a great job putting the rose petals all over the bed. A bottle of wine was chilling and chocolate covered strawberries were on the nightstand. I slowly removed my hands from her eyes.

Miranda put her hand over her mouth and her eyes filled with tears as she took everything in. “How did you do this?”

“I had some help.”

She walked over to the bed and touched the real rose petals. “This is amazing.”

“Sit down, baby.” She followed my lead and sat down on the bed. I grabbed a strawberry and fed it to her. “Do you have any idea how happy you make me?”

She kissed me with her strawberry lips. “I have an idea.”

“I get lost in you every single day. I love you so much.” It wasn’t how I planned on saying it, but there it was just flying out of my mouth like it couldn’t stay unsaid any longer.