Claiming His Read online

  “This is enough, Lance. There’s nothing else that I could possibly ask for.” Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are bright, like she’s holding back tears.

  Ignoring her, I drop to my knee, feeling a jolt of energy when she gasps.

  “Maggie Ward, you are my light. You are the everything that I never knew I was missing. You’re home. Please marry me.”

  The ring I picked out is the biggest one that I thought she would accept wearing, and her hand shakes when I slide it onto her finger.

  “Yes.” The word is nothing more than a breath, but I hear it, and I stand, kissing her hard.

  She’s mine.

  She’s all mine.

  Maggie

  The cool band of the engagement ring slips easily onto my finger and I can’t stop staring at it. Not, at least, until Lance stands up and pulls me to him, pressing my body into his and kissing me harder than before.

  It’s a needy kiss, and I open my mouth to him, wanting him to take all of me. I’ve never been taken care of like this before, never trusted anyone to take care of me without hurting me, but now that he’s stepping up, I don’t want him to stop.

  He can’t stop.

  His hands slide up under my coat and squeeze my tits through my sweater, and I feel a flaming heat between my legs. I want his hard cock in me, and I want to ride him until he comes, coating me with his seed.

  He’s panting and my heart is racing while he strokes my body, and I reach down to feel his cock through his jeans when suddenly I remember.

  The windows.

  I pull back quickly and look around, but nobody on the street is looking in. They’re all cold and bundled up, and too busy trying to stay warm to look into the kitchen.

  Thank God.

  Lance is breathing hard and has his dark eyes trained on me. “What?” His voice is a deep and throaty growl and I feel my stomach twist.

  God, I want him.

  “The windows,” I tell him, gesturing around us. If anyone did want to look in, they would have a great view of everything that we’re doing in here.

  He starts to laugh, harder and louder than I’ve heard before, the sound bouncing around the open space. After a moment, I join him.

  “We’ll have to celebrate another time then,” he says, reaching for my hand. “But right now we probably need to leave anyway so that you can meet the crew. They’ll be here any moment now.”

  “The crew?” My mind is on his cock and the way it would taste, so I have no idea what he’s talking about.

  “I hired a crew to come in and start cleaning. You have some homework to do over the next few days so that we can get everything bought and set up. New ovens, new seating, anything you need. Then, hiring, of course.”

  “How quickly do you think I’ll be able to be in? A month?”

  Again, he laughs, but this time I frown at him. “What? You laughing at me?”

  “Yep.” He leans down and gives me a kiss. “But only because you’re not quite on the same page as me yet. You’ll be in by this time next week as long as you can finish your homework right away.”

  “Wait, what? How is that possible? This place is huge! There’s so much to do!”

  “Sure, but we have the people to do it for you. It’s not like when you were setting up your current space, Maggie. We can hire all of the crew that we need to make this as easy as possible on you. In fact, here they are now.”

  Outside the door is a group of half a dozen men. Lance goes and lets them in, talking to them about the space. They’re here to clean and told him that they’d have it ready for any additional renovations and changes in the morning.

  Looking around, I find it a little hard to believe. There’s dust and dirt everywhere, as well as broken chairs, bits of trash, and even a few floorboards that need to be replaced.

  “When we come back tomorrow, this place will be ready for some major changes. So, future-Mrs.-Lance-Parker, what do you say we get out of here, pick up Liv, and start doing some planning?”

  I almost forgot and now glance down at the ring on my left finger.

  The diamond is huge and sparkling, catching the light in my new bakery and throwing it around the room. How could I forget that this gorgeous hunk of a man proposed?

  New bakery. Sole custody of Liv. New husband.

  Same me, just taken care of.

  It’s hard for me to believe.

  It’s hard for me to accept.

  But I’m going to.

  Chapter 15

  Lance

  After picking up Liv from school, Maggie and I walk her home. She holds onto both of our hands, swinging as we go down the sidewalk. She’s singing a nonsense song that she apparently learned during circle time today.

  I have no idea what circle time is.

  It’s hitting me that with my new family, I will have a lot to learn.

  “I’d love to come in,” I tell Maggie, standing on her front porch, “but I think that you, Liv, and your mom have a lot to talk about.” She lifts her chin and I kiss her, feeling my cock swell at the taste of her lips.

  “You have to come in. We have to tell my mom. And I texted Julie, so she’s on her way over to hear my big news.”

  She’s right.

  Luckily, her mom has liked me since high school and Julie…well, Julie and I are learning how to get along again.

  “So, it’s a family thing?”

  She grins. “The first of many.”

  “Okay then. To family.” I grab her hand and open the door, walking into the living room where Liv and Maggie’s mom are snuggling on the sofa.

  “Liv tells me that you have good news,” she says, sitting up and looking at Maggie. Her eyes are bright and expectant, but before Maggie can tell her what’s going on, the front door swings open and Julie runs in, shutting it loudly behind her.

  “Sorry, guys, but shit, it’s cold out there!” Her eyes fall on Liv, who is grinning on the sofa. “Oops, booger, pretend I didn’t say that word okay?”

  Liv nods, but I can tell she’s going to repeat it later, probably right when we least expect it.

  Shit.

  “Well, Lance and I have news,” Maggie says, giving my hand a squeeze. “We met with a lawyer today about sole custody, have a new location for Blue Sky, and got engaged.”

  It takes everyone a minute to hear what she’s said.

  “What’s sole custody?” Asks Liv, leaning around her grandmother.

  “A new location?” Her mom asks, frowning. “Is it farther away?”

  “Wait. You got engaged!?” Julie runs forward and grabs Maggie’s hand from mine, turning it so that she can see the ring. “Holy shit!”

  “Holy shit.”

  Everyone stops looking at Maggie and slowly turns to Liv, who looks pleased with her new words.

  “Oh, Maggie, I’m sorry,” Julie says, “but what in the world? And this ring is gorgeous! Good job, big brother.”

  Then, before I can stop her, and before she really has a chance to think about what she’s doing, Julie throws her arms around me. This is closer to her than I have been in a long time, and I carefully reach around her waist to pull her in for a hug.

  Just as quickly as she hugged me, she’s stepped back and hugs Maggie. Maggie’s mom stands up from the sofa and comes to hug me.

  “You’ve always been a favorite around here,” she tells me, pulling me by the arm so that we’re a little farther away from everyone else. “But this past week, Maggie has been different. I can’t thank you enough for being so willing to take care of my girls.”

  Looking over her head, I watch as Maggie swings Liv up into her arms and hugs her. Right there is my world.

  “Mrs. Ward,” I tell her, “I’ll do anything for Maggie and Liv. They’re everything to me.”

  She gazes at me, and I can tell that she’s seeing high school me and trying to reconcile that memory with the man I am now. “Well,” she says finally, “then welcome to the family.”

  Maggie
<
br />   It would be ridiculous for anyone to be able to sleep after the excitement of yesterday, so it makes sense why I am bone tired this morning. Lance didn’t leave until well after Liv went to bed, and while we didn’t get any real alone time, we sat up late with Julie and my mom looking at plans for the bakery.

  My bakery.

  It’s still really hard for me to believe that Lance – or anyone -would do something like this for me. I pull a tray of muffins out of the oven, trying to ignore the indignant squeak the door makes every time I move it.

  Not for much longer, door.

  I have just a few minutes before I need to open for customers, so I take some time to look over the plans we made the night before. Everything is new and clean, no more squeaking doors and stuck cupboards for me.

  It’s thrilling, really, that someone would want to do this for me.

  Still in a daze, I walk to the front door and unlock it, flipping around the sign so that my customers will know they can come on in. Before I’ve even made it back behind the counter, the door flies open, hard enough for the bell to jangle uncontrollably and rip from the ceiling.

  It smashes into the ground with a clang and I hear footsteps running at me through the bakery.

  I turn around, but I’m shoved backwards before I can catch a glimpse of the person. I don’t need to see who it is to know it, though.

  Damien.

  “You think that you can hire a fancy-ass lawyer and keep me from seeing Liv? Are you crazy?”

  He lashes out again, and this time I stumble and only keep from falling by catching my balance on the display counter.

  “Fuck you, Maggie. You can’t keep me from seeing Liv. I’m going to hire a lawyer too, you’ll see. And you’ll never see Liv again.”

  His face is twisted in rage and he raises his hand to hit me, making me flinch away from him, but the blow never comes.

  Instead, his raised hand is grabbed out of the air and pulled back so sharply that he falls backwards. His wrist makes a sickening cracking noise and he hits the ground with a thud.

  Lance is standing over him, breathing heavily, and there’s a crowd of customers in the door, watching to see what’s happening. I never heard them come in, and neither did Damien, since he ripped the bell off the wall.

  “Lance!” Stepping over Damien, who’s moaning on the floor, I throw myself into his arms. He snakes his arms around my waist, pulling me closer and kissing me on the forehead. My heart is pounding, but here I feel safe.

  “You okay, darling?” He murmurs, and I nod against his chest.

  “I am now. You saved me.”

  “I called 911!” Someone from the crowd shouts, and in just a moment, blue and red lights flash though the windows. My customers move out of the way, none of them wanting to leave before they can give their statement to the police.

  “I’m so sorry he came after you. I should have been here.” Lance and I are in the corner, having talked to the cop, and he’s holding my hand, gently rubbing the back of it with his thumb.

  “You were here. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  Suddenly, Mr. Tatum pushes his way through the crowd and walks up to us, holding up a packet of papers. “I was going to bring you by some information regarding the sole custody we’re filing for, Ms. Ward, but it looks like I just missed the excitement. Some of your customers filled me in. I hate that he attacked you, but this is good for us.”

  “It is?”

  He nods. “He’s being arrested now for assault, so we’ll get a protective order against him. There’s no way a judge will let him anywhere near you or Liv. He signed his own papers by attacking you. Are you okay?”

  “I am.” Lance pulls me closer to his side and gives me a squeeze. “You really think this is the last we’ll hear of Damien?”

  “I guarantee it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to the courthouse. Your muffins smell delicious, by the way.”

  “I’ll bring you some at the office later today,” I promise him. “Thank you for everything you’re done.”

  “Not at all.” He waves and leaves the bakery.

  It’s then that I notice the line forming. “Oh, Lance, I better go. Look at my customers. I can’t believe they all waited.”

  “I can. They love you.” He kisses me and, for a moment, I feel my desire pooling low between my legs. I don’t want him to leave, not because I’m scared, but because I don’t want to take my hands off of him.

  “I’m going to work, but I’ll come by before lunch when you close.” He turns away but then looks back. “I know that you told Mr. Tatum you’d bring him muffins, but if you have any cupcakes, those are the best.” He winks and I flush.

  “You like my cupcakes?” I call after him, and he turns, giving me a smoldering look that practically lights my panties on fire.

  “Save me the good one.”

  He leaves, and there’s only one thing left for me to do. Smoothing out my apron, I walk behind my counter and smile at my customers.

  “Thanks so much for waiting,” I tell him. “And I have good news.”

  When I tell them that I’ll be moving to a bigger space, they all cheer.

  “Does this mean that you’ll need to hire someone to help you run the new bakery?” The girl who asked is about halfway back in line. She has thick red hair in a long braid down her back and stunning blue eyes.

  “Come talk to me when everyone clears out,” I tell her. “I’m going to need someone I can trust.” She grins and gives me a thumbs-up.

  I take a deep breath and start ringing up customers. Lance is right. At the rate things are going now, I’m going to need that new space.

  I’m helping customers, but my mind isn’t here. I just keep thinking about how much my life has changed in the past week.

  Soon I won’t have to deal with Damien.

  Soon I’ll be Lance’s wife. This means that I can have him anytime I want, anywhere I want. The thought gives me chills.

  And Liv. Soon Liv will have the doting dad that she’s always deserved.

  As for Hemingway, he’ll just have to get over the fact that he won’t be the man of the house any longer.

  Chapter 16

  Lance

  It’s been a long damn morning, but there’s one more thing that I need to do before I go check on Maggie.

  “Boss man. What’s up?” Ben eyes me warily, like he’s already ready for a fight. I don’t blame him. He knows that he messed up coming into work drunk yesterday. Sitting down across from him, I exhale. He leans forward on his desk, his eyes locked on mine. I can tell that he’s nervous, and I’m glad. I’m tired of people trying to walk all over me.

  “Hey. Did Jeremy talk to you this morning?”

  “Jeremy? No. I came in and got right to work.”

  I look at him and can tell that he’s lying. His eyes are bloodshot, and I wonder if he’s been drinking already this morning or if they’re still raw and red from his night last night. I don’t ask.

  “Listen, Ben, you know that you saved my ass years ago when I was looking for work, but the time has come for us to part ways.” I exhale and lean back in my chair, worried about what he may say, but he simply nods.

  “This has been a while coming. I messed up, Lance, and I’m sorry I put you in that position. That’s what I get for thinking with my cock, isn’t it?” He chuckles and shakes his head.

  I raise my eyebrows in surprise. This is not how I expected this conversation to go. Instead, I thought that it would be a battle of wills and that he would leave, screaming and throwing a fit. Part of me is worried that he has something up his sleeve.

  The adrenaline from dealing with Damien is still coursing through my body. I don’t want to get into a fight with Ben, but it’s a nice feeling to know that I could easily handle him.

  “So, you’ll leave now, then?”

  He nods. “I just have to pack up some boxes and files.

  “No files.” The last thing I want him to do
is try to sneak out any client files since I don’t know where he’s going to be going.

  “No files? Okay.” Running his hands through his hair, he sighs. “I guess I’m good to leave then.”

  I exhale, trying to slow my heart rate. “I guess so. I’ll walk you out.”

  He stands and hands me his office key, which I slip into my pocket. When we walk down the hall, he doesn’t say anything. Since I got to work a little late, the office is full, and everyone is watching.

  Nobody says anything.

  We get to the door and he turns to me. “Thanks for everything. You’ve built a good thing here, Lance. I hate to go, but I know that you’ll do great things.”

  He sighs and zips up his coat before pushing open the door and stepping out into the cold.

  I watch him go before turning back to the office. My secretary is staring at me, a look of concern on her face. I nod at her and try to smile, then check my watch.

  Damn. I still have a long morning ahead of me before I’ll get to see Maggie again, and since I just fired Ben, I need to worry about his clients.

  If I can get everything wrapped up this morning then I can spend the afternoon with Maggie. My cock grows hard just thinking about her.

  All I want to do is protect her. All I want to do is make sure that nobody ever lays a hand on her. The thought that she could have been hurt this morning when I wasn’t there is enough to make me sick.

  Maggie

  Lance has his arm snaked around my waist as we walk down to my new bakery location. The concern that my mom had had about where the new bakery would be located was real, but she didn’t need to worry since it’s even closer to our house then my current storefront.

  This means that I won’t have to leave as early as I do now in the morning and I can be home faster in the afternoon.

  The size of the bakery means that I’m going to have to get serious about hiring someone to work with me. At first, this made me feel a little queasy, since I don’t want to trust the wrong person and have them hurt my company, but now I’m excited.