“So,” I said, twisting in his lap, “what did you need?”

“To give you this.” He nodded to a long box on his desk. The piece that had once belonged to his father and had become his most prized possession.

“What is it?” I asked, sliding the box closer to me.

“Your wedding present. I wanted to give it to you before all the craziness began.”

My mouth curved as I toyed with the ends of the ribbon. “You know you didn’t have to get me anything. You’ve already given me so much.”

He pressed his lips to my temple. “Open it.”

I tugged on the ribbon, sliding the box out of its hold. I slowly lifted the lid. Inside were papers folded neatly in thirds. As I unfolded the stack, I gasped. “What in the world?” There were pictures and lists of places. Rome and the south of France. Mallorca, Spain and Mikonos, Greece.

“Next summer, you, me, and the kids are going to Europe. And every place we go, you’re taking a cooking class.”

Tears stung my eyes. “My dream.”

His lips brushed my hair. “I love making each and every one come true.”

I leapt from his lap, hurrying to a decorative box on his bookshelf. Griffin grunted. “That wasn’t exactly the reaction I was expecting…”

I lifted the lid of the box and pulled out my own papers, but they were rolled into what looked like a scroll with a red ribbon tied around them. I turned, rushing back to Griffin and taking his mouth with mine in a hard kiss. “I love you so much. I never thought I could love a person as much as I love you.”

He smiled. “Okay, that’s a little better.”

I handed him the scroll. “This is from me. And Will, Ava, and Mia.”

Griffin quirked a brow but untied the bow. As he scanned the top page, his entire body locked. His gaze shot to mine. “This is paperwork to file with the court. To make me a guardian of the kids.”

My tears spilled over, tracking down my cheeks. “We want to make it official in every way possible that we’re family. Will, Ava, and Mia, too. Crosby can file them next week. If you want.”

Griffin let the papers fall to his desk and framed my face with his hands. “I want.” He slid his lips against mine in the most tender kiss. “You’ve given me my dream, too.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“A family. Forever.”

Want to find out what Shay is running from? And meet the hero she falls for with secrets of his own? Find out in Reckless Refuge. Available for purchase by tapping HERE. And turn the page for a special preview.

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