Jacob's Ladder:Gabe(46)

           



       

"That's right."

"Shouldn't you be telling her first before you tell me?"

I smiled. "In a way, yes, but here's the thing: there's an old custom where a man asks the father of the woman he loves if he can marry her. It's a way to show respect to your future father-in-law." I reached out to place my hands on his shoulders. "Instead of going to your Papa, I wanted to ask you if I had your permission to marry your mother."

Linc's mouth gaped open. "You want my permission?"

"Yes, I do. Although your mom loves her dad very much, you are the center of her world. You will be the one most affected by us getting married, so it only seemed fair to ask you."

When Linc's brown eyes pooled with tears, my throat constricted, and I felt like someone had punched through my chest to squeeze my heart.

"You're the only guy in the whole wide world I'd want to marry my mom."

Linc's statement sent me over the edge. Overcome by emotion, I jerked him against my chest. "You don't know how proud I am to hear you say that, buddy." After squeezing him tight, I eased him back to smile at him. "I promise I'll be a good husband to her, and I'll do my best not to hurt her or you."

"You better."

"I will."

A quizzical expression came over Linc's face. "Have you gotten Mom a ring?"

Once again, I had to laugh at just how much of an old soul he was. "No, not yet. I wanted to make sure things were square between the two of us before I dropped a chunk of change on a ring."

"Can I help you pick it out?"

"Sure you can. You probably know more about what she likes when it comes to jewelry than I do."

He frowned a little. "I don't know. Maybe I could also ask Aunt Kennedy and Aunt Ellie."

"Actually, buddy, I'd like to keep this just between the two of us."

As Linc nodded, he held up his right hand. "I won't say anything. I promise."

I grinned at him. "I trust you. You did a great job of keeping our guitar secret."

"I did, didn't I?"

"Yep." I jerked my chin at his guitar case. "Speaking of, we better pack up the sheet music and head out. Your mom will kill us if we're late for dinner."

"Okay." He started shuffling the music back into his folder. When he reached to pick up his case, he froze.

"What is it?" I asked.

He turned to stare intently at me. "Are you guys going to have kids?"

Holy shit. He wasn't holding back with that loaded question. I swallowed hard. "Uh, well, we really haven't talked about it."

"I think Mom would like to have more kids, maybe a little girl," Linc replied thoughtfully.

"She probably would." I smiled to myself at the thought of having a sassy little girl with Rae.

"What about you? Do you want kids?"

Since I knew Linc deserved absolute honesty, I decided it was best to tell him the truth and not sugarcoat it. "You know, I wasn't sure I really wanted kids before I met your mother." I smiled at him. "But then I met you, and everything about you has changed my mind." When Linc remained quiet, I asked, "What about you? Are you on board if we decide to have more kids?"

He nodded. "That would be cool."

"Then what's with the mood change?"

After nibbling on his lip-a trait that was so much like his mother-he peeked up at me. "I was just thinking that even if you guys did have kids, maybe you might adopt me."

Talk about feeling like I'd been sucker-punched and roundhouse-kicked in the balls. Linc had really pulled out all the stops with that question. Although I had thought about it before, it hadn't seem real until the words had come from his mouth. I guess I'd never stopped to imagine that he would want me to adopt him. Sure, I thought he would be fine with me being his stepdad, but there was a whole new level of meaning with taking on my name and legally being my child.

I drew in a deep breath. "Even though I don't need to have a piece of paper that tells me you're my son, of course I would want to adopt you. It's just … complicated."

With his eyes lit up like one of the stage lights during a show, Linc danced around my chair. "I can't believe I'm going to be your son!"

"Wait a minute, Linc, didn't you hear me when I said it would be complicated?"

"Why does it have to be complicated?"

"Because of a lot of legal bullshit. First, we'd have to get your mom on board-"                       
       
           



       

Sweeping his hands to his hips matter-of-factly, Linc asked, "Do you seriously think she would say no?"

I laughed. "No, I don't think she would, but she's only a small step. The big step is your real father has to give up all his rights to you. That means your mom would have to track him down and then he would have to sign the legal papers."

Linc's face fell. "Oh. That does sound complicated."

Reaching out, I ruffled his hair. "Complicated, but not impossible."

"Does that mean you'll try?"

"Of course I will. After I talk to your mom about it, we'll start looking into it before we get married." With a laugh, I shook my head. "I'm probably putting the cart before the horse on that one considering I need to ask her to marry me first."

"When do you think you'll do that?"

I shrugged. "I dunno. After I get the ring, I'll wait until the moment feels right."

"That sounds like a good plan."

When my phone dinged in my pocket, I grabbed Linc's guitar case. "Come on. I bet you a hundred bucks that's your mom giving me grief for being late."

Linc rolled his eyes. "Just tell her you're a man and you'll come to dinner when you're good and ready."

Tsking at him, I said, "And here I thought you had women all figured out."

"Jeez, give me a break. I'm only ten."





Two months later

"Pinch me," I murmured.

Gabe laughed. "Only if I can pinch your ass or your nipple."

I smacked his arm with my free hand. "Way to ruin a moment."

"My apologies." Gabe released my other hand and brought his hand to my arm then gave it a gentle pinch. "There, how was that?"

"I'm still standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, so it's not just a wonderful dream. It really is real life."

Many, many months ago, I'd told Gabe how I wanted to eat French toast or crepes in Paris. Somehow, he hadn't forgotten that random comment, and when my birthday month rolled around, he presented me with two first class tickets to Paris. We'd arrived the previous day just in time for my birthday the next day, and even though our hotel suite boasted the most amazing view of the Eiffel Tower, I hadn't actually gotten to stand in front of it until this moment.

After breakfast in bed led to a lengthy sexathon and subsequent nap, it was after five o'clock before we dragged ourselves out of the hotel room. After three orgasms, I certainly wasn't complaining about being slightly delayed in seeing the tower in person.

As I stood staring up at the intricate metal structure, I found it surreal that the girl who had barely been outside of Georgia was about to celebrate her twenty-eighth birthday in Paris. "I feel just like Carrie in Sex and the City."

With a chuckle, Gabe replied, "Does that mean I'm your Big?"

I grinned. "Yes, except without all the douchey behavior."

"I'll take it." He wagged his brows. "Especially the big part."

Elbowing him, I said, "Don't make sexual innuendos in front of the Eiffel Tower. It's far too classy."

"Babe, I'm pretty sure it's heard much worse, not to mention what it's seen." As he shielded his eyes from the setting sun, he added, "Man, it must be a rush to fuck up there."

"Only you would stand in front of the Eiffel Tower and think about sex. Besides, I seriously doubt that happens."

"Oh, I'm sure numerous people have been caught, not to mention the ones who threw enough money at the guards to have some after-hours fun." Gabe waggled his brows at me. "Want me to see what the going rate is for a post-sunset quickie?"

Although I normally wasn't one to shy away from sex in public places, I didn't think I could possibly have sex on the Eiffel Tower. I mean, what if we got arrested? How would I ever explain to Linc why I was being detained in a Parisian jail? I quickly shook my head back and forth. "No. I'm good."

Gabe bent over to place his palm on my bare thigh. As his hand started underneath my skirt, he asked, "Maybe a finger bang in a corner?"

With a shriek, I jerked away from him. "Once again, I'm going to have to say no."

"I'm really digging you in this dress. It's very accessible."

I jabbed my index finger into his chest. "That's it-no more horny sex-talk. I don't want to hear anything else come out of your lips that isn't romantic."

"Exactly how would you define ‘romantic'?"