Chapter Eight

Matt

Waking up to the smell of bacon came to him as a surprise. He walked into the kitchen in a pair of joggers to see Candy talking to Danielle, his little sister. “Matt,” Danielle squealed, jumping in his arms.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, thankful he was wearing pants.

“Mom called me and said you were here and probably didn’t have any food, so I brought up some before the storm kicked up.”

“Did you drive up by yourself?”

“No, Reed is making a snowman outside with your nephew.”

Matt walked to the window and saw just that. He smiled to himself because one day it would be his turn to make snowmen with his kids. He wanted to scoop Candy back up and take her to bed, making sure to knock her up.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be out of your hair soon, mom just asked to make sure you were taken care of or she’d come here herself.”

“Thanks for coming then.”

“Candice is making some lunch for all of us before we leave, so why don’t you go play with the boys.”

“You know you sound like mom already.”

“Shut up,” Danielle hissed. Matt ran up to Candy and planted a fast but passionate kiss on her lips before snatching a piece of bacon and running to get dressed.

 

Candice

She’d been surprised to see a woman pop up at the front door until she noticed the resemblance to the Kane’s. She knew the woman was Danielle. They brought in several grocery bags along with a little boy. Danielle was clearly pregnant and it struck a chord with her. Candice feared being like her mother and having a man that only stayed because he knocked her up. They hadn’t used protection and she worried that she was following in her mother’s footsteps.

When Matt went outside to play with the boys and she watched the way he lovingly played with little Reed, some of her fears slipped away. She knew Matthew wanted to marry her and he had every intention of getting her pregnant, which he made clear while she was serving lunch.

He came up behind her and started peppering kisses on her neck, then whispered, “Mm…I see you looking at her round belly. I can’t wait to get you pregnant. Just the thought has me hard.” He hugged her tighter. “Candy, you’re my world.”

She almost dropped the plate of burgers she made so she could drag him off to the bedroom. He hadn’t told her he loved her, but after the messages he sent Ryan to the words he had spoken to her, she knew. It was only a matter of time before he told her.

They finished their food just as the first flakes of the storm started to come down. “Okay, Reed, let’s go,” Matt said. Reed got up and started picking up the dishes.

Candice started to get up, but Danielle tapped her hand. “Sit down. This is a lovely thing to enjoy.”

“I’ll help them clean up.”

“Did they help you cook?”

“No.”

“Then they clean up. It’s the rule in the Kane household; something Reed learned from and adopted in the Landry household.”

“Oh my. This just keeps getting better and better.”

“My parents raised some remarkable men. I hope that we can keep that tradition and respect up with our children.”

“I’ve never known a man to help with anything.”

“That’s the case with a lot of men. It’s the wife’s job even if she’s got a job outside the house.”

“I really lucked out.” Candice knew that he was more than she could have ever hoped for. It scared her, but from the talk she had with Rose the other night, it seemed that she wasn’t the only one who thought this family was amazing. In the two years for her, nothing changed between her and Spencer. Well, she said their passion and love intensified. Candice couldn’t wait for the time when she could tell Matt that she was pregnant.

They all left about half an hour later to make sure they got down the pass and to their home before the storm hit. They lived on the other side of town. Matt promised that we’d all go down to the Kane’s family home for Christmas. As much as she wanted to go, she was nervous. So far everyone she met was amazing, but his parents were considered the best. It unnerved her, wondering if she could live up to the family name.

“What’s on your mind, beautiful?” Matt said, walking her to the sofa.

“Nothing,” she replied, attempting to seem sunny.

“Bullshit, Candice. Tell me what had that concerned look on your face a moment ago.”

“What if your parents don’t like me? I mean…I’m not like you.”

“I’m glad you’re not like me because I’m not into dudes, but my parents aren’t snobs.”

“No, but they’re perfect.”

“Ha, I supposed compared to a lot of parents they are, but they are pretty normal people. My mom is a nosy, loving, controlling mother. My father is a determined, questioning, and stern father. They’ll love you. If they could love Rose, you’re a shoo-in.”

“Why wouldn’t they love her?”

“Her and Reed are cousins. Technically, they’re brother and sister. Long story. Anyways, Mitch Landry, the man believed to be Rose’s dad, screwed our company and family over. He’s in prison right now for that and for trying to have Rose killed. She isn’t her parents, and my parents, hell the whole family, welcomed her.”

“Especially you,” Candice let her jealousy slip.

“Come on, now. I don’t know what you’ve heard or what you’ve been told, but it wasn’t like that.”

“I know, I’m sorry. Rose is a really nice person. I’m just being petty.”

“No, you’re being reasonable. I understand. My brother gives me shit all the time for no reason about her. Yes, I planned to asked her out one day. Just like I planned on getting a tattoo one day. Neither have ever happened. I could have asked her out, but I didn’t. She’s a pretty girl, but no different than any other. I wanted to be her friend more than anything. I hated her father and I worried for her. That’s it. She has my brother and I couldn’t be happier for them.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I love you, Candice. I didn’t know what love was until you. When I saw them together, I knew I would have done a disservice to all of us. Trust me, I called and quit because I thought you were with Ryan. I told my family I wouldn’t see them anymore.”

“You really love me?”

“With everything in me.”

“I love you, too. I don’t know when I knew for sure, but my heart had been yours before I was willing to let it go to anyone.”

“Damn it, you’ve gone all mushy on me. Now that means I’m going to have to make slow love to you when all I want to do is strip you naked and fuck you until we both can’t walk.”

“Then I guess you can grunt how much you love me because I need you now.” She climbed onto his lap, straddling him. Her mouth smashed against his. They both moaned as she ground her hips into him. He stood up, taking her with him, wrapping her legs tight around his waist, and carried her into the bedroom.