Gaining Miles (Miles Family #5)(5)

“You know what this means, right?” Cooper asked, the firelight reflecting in his wide eyes. “If you marry my mom, you’ll be my stepdad.”

“And my father-in-law,” Chase said.

“Slow down, boys. I haven’t even asked her out on a date yet. All this,” I said, gesturing to the fire, “is just symbolic.”

“Yeah, we get it,” Chase said. “But I still think you should marry her.”

“Chase, I love how pro-marriage you are,” Cooper said. “And I agree, he should definitely marry my mom.”

“Hell yes, I’m pro-marriage,” Chase said. “Speaking of, what gives? Are you going to lock shit down with Amelia or what?”

Cooper crossed an ankle over his knee. “Our love is solid. I don’t need to lock it down to know she’s mine forever. Don’t get me wrong, I’m marrying the shit out of that girl—when she’s ready.”

Chase nodded. “I can respect that.”

“So where are you taking her?” Cooper asked, looking at me. “On your first date, I mean. You better make it good, dude. This is a long time coming, and my mom hasn’t been on a date in a long-ass time.”

“I thought I’d take her to dinner, but now you’re making me wonder if that’s good enough.”

“Dinner’s good,” Cooper said. “But be sure she knows it’s a date, not a friend thing.”

“Yeah, you’ve been in the friend-zone forever,” Chase said. “It could be tough to climb out.”

“That’s a good point,” Cooper said. “I’m glad we noticed you out here tonight because you’re definitely going to need our help.”

“Cooper Miles, I do not need dating help from you,” I said, although Chase’s friend-zone comment had gotten under my skin a little.

“Why not?” Cooper asked. “I’m awesome at this stuff.”

I raised an eyebrow and took a drink.

“You are awesome at it, Coop, but I gotta be honest,” Chase said. “I think Ben has this covered. Look at him.”

Cooper eyed me for a few seconds. “He is handsome as hell. He’s been rocking the beard since before beards were cool. And the gray just makes him look distinguished.”

“Exactly,” Chase said. “The dude’s a panty-melter even without our help.”

“I agree with you, but can we not talk about panties when the panties being melted in this case belong to my mom?” Cooper asked.

“Good point,” Chase said.

Shaking my head, I laughed. These two. I loved these boys. Life wouldn’t have been the same without them. But I didn’t need their advice when it came to dating.

This didn’t need to be complicated. I was going to approach Shannon and ask her out on a date, like a man should. Take her out. Treat her right. There was still that bit of doubt in my mind—concern that maybe Chase was right. Maybe I was just a friend. And maybe that was all I’d ever be to her.

But what I felt for her was too big to ignore. Too much to contain. I’d watched Shannon from afar for so long. Now there was nothing keeping us apart. I was going to take the chance. Put my heart on the line. I’d give it to her if she wanted it. Give it all to her and never ask for it back. I wasn’t sure if Cooper and Chase had been joking when they said I should marry her. But that was absolutely what I wanted. Only one question remained. Would she have me?

Soon, I’d find out.





Three





Shannon





Hudson was fast asleep in my lap, soothed by the motion of the rocking chair. My arms were tired from holding him, but I wasn’t about to get up. There was nothing like holding a sleeping baby, and I was positively smitten with this little guy. He was eight months old now, and threatening to crawl. Roland and Zoe’s life was about to get a lot more interesting when he got mobile.

They’d gone out for a date night. I loved that they lived close for many reasons—seeing my grandson included. But even more than that, I loved that I could give them time together. Their commitment to each other—and their marriage—as they navigated the transition into parenthood was heartwarming to see.

I heard the front door open and close. A few seconds later, footsteps ascending the stairs. It sounded like Roland.

My son peeked through Hudson’s half-open door and smiled. He was thirty-three years old with a wife and child, and I still looked at him and wondered how he’d gotten so tall. He favored his father—only much more handsome—with dark hair, blue eyes, and that neatly trimmed stubble so many men were wearing these days. It suited him.

As did fatherhood.

“Hey, Mom,” he said, his voice soft. “Sorry to keep you here so long.”

“It’s fine.” I glanced down at Hudson. His eyelashes brushed his round cheeks and his lips moved in his sleep. “He’s been asleep for about an hour.”

“Thanks.” He gently lifted Hudson out of my lap and cradled him in his arms, swaying a little. “I’ll get him down for the night.”

I loved seeing Roland as a father. The love and care in his eyes when he gazed at his son filled my heart. I left him to it, quietly slipping out the door as he snuggled his baby boy.