Page 25 of Doctor’s Orders

I quickly face my face and brush my teeth—using his toothbrush—because we’ve had our mouths all over each other. Then I throw on my clothes and go find my kids. They’re probably starving this late in the morning.

Both of the rooms they slept in last night, the doors are opened and the beds are empty. So I creep downstairs. The scent of coffee makes everything in me perk up a little. Then I catch the salty, fatty smell of bacon. Damn, this man is too much.

I find them all in the front room with the big window facing the woods surrounding his house. And there are my two kids, both wrapped in tinsel of some sort, hanging ornaments on an enormous tree.

“Good morning. I’m so sorry I slept so late,” I say.

“Mommy,” Lydia and Bennett yell together. They come over to me, hugging me.

“Did you sleep well?” I ask.

“Yes,” Lydia says. “That bed is the most comfortable thing I’ve ever slept on. It’s like a big poofy cloud.”

“Mine too,” Bennett says.

“Hungry?” Graham asks, handing me a cup of coffee.

“Starving actually.” I take the coffee and he leads me to the table, where he then brings me a plate of eggs, toast and bacon. My stomach rumbles loudly.

He leans down and kisses my cheek. “Morning, sugar.”

“You didn’t have to let me sleep in like that. It’s not your job to feed and entertain my kids.”

“Maybe I want it to be. You needed the sleep. I’m always up early regardless of when I go to sleep.”

“Mommy,” Lydia says. “Doc says he’s going to make popcorn and we can put it on strings and then decorate the trees outside. The birds will come eat the popcorn!”

I smile at her. “That sounds amazing.” I glance up at him and then watch my kids continue to put ornaments on his tree. Bennett’s are all clumped in one general area. “Doc and I have to do something in the other room. We’ll be right back.”

I grab his hand and pull him into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you doing all of this? You can’t play with their emotions like that, Graham. Surely you know that.”

“Lizzie, I’m not playing at anything.” Then he pulls something out of his pocket and drops to one knee.

I gasp, covering my mouth. “What are you doing?!”

“Marry me, sugar. Be my wife. My partner in everything.”

My heart is pounding so loudly I can barely hear his words. “Okay, listen, I know you’re a natural caretaker. You love kids.”

“I love your kids,” he clarifies.

“Well, they’re very lovable. But I know what this is. My ex shows up and makes a scene and you, being the amazing man that you are, decides to ride in on your white steed to rescue the poor single mom.”

“Is that what you think this is?” he asks. Then he stands to his feet, sets the ring box on the kitchen counter.

“Your intentions are misguided. So sweet, but I don’t need you to rescue me.”

“What’s not what this is. Lizzie, I love you. I love your kids. I want us to be a family.”

“And you what ordered an engagement ring on Door Dash?”

He tilts his head. “Sort of, but I’ll explain that later. Right now, we have things to hash out.”