Mick was content, happy, ecstatic. Trish was everything he dreamed of as a lover and more. She wasn't shy, and she was built to come at his touch. Pleasuring some women was often more work than he cared to put in, but not with Trish. She was a flower bud that opened to his touch.

If he could make love to her for eternity, he would be a very lucky man. Joey, the cheat, was a stupid idiot in Mick's book. What sane man looked elsewhere even if he only had Trish once a week? His stupidity led her to Mick, and he knew how to take care of her.

Normally, he would never think of his father while enjoying the afterglow, but Mick understood why Michael never sought to replace his wife in his heart and his bed in the three decades. Mick never remembered his parents sharing a room. Had they tried to have a marriage or had it always been a practical arrangement? Either way, the arrangement failed and Mick suffered because of it. His father's life hadn't been a picnic, and he planned to treat him with compassion, especially since he was Mick's only blood relative left.

"What are you thinking about?" Trish's warm hand covered his heart.

"My father. Unless there are relatives I don't know about, he's my only blood relation."

"Does that make you sad?"

"No. It makes me determined to spend time with him. Cherish what I have."

"I supposed you lost your cousins."

"Harper said that I'm their step cousin."

"Putty was concerned about you."

Mick sighed. "I'm expecting an apology from Heidi. She was rude to you. Her siblings were not happy."

"Siblings speak their minds."

"Do you with yours?"

She paused. "Not so much since I'm not around. I, um, my mother called."

"Is everyone okay?"

She raised her head. "Yeah, but she summoned me home for my father's birthday."

"Can you go?" Mick turned to his side and propped his head with his bent arm.

"Probably. I'd hate it if I missed one of my own patients' surgery."

"Are you afraid you'll see Joey?" He said his name. Mick wasn't afraid of him.

"I hadn't thought of that. Will you come with me?"

Mick took the invitation as a good sign. She wanted her family to meet him. "Yeah. I'd like to meet them and it's a long trip by yourself in your imaginary car."

Trish laughed. "I was planning to rent one. I still can if you don't want to drive your gas guzzler."

Mick laughed. "My place is bigger so if you move in with me, you'll need a car."

She paused. Did he mean it? "I think it's too soon, but when we're ready, we could find a bigger place near the hospital."

He smiled. "Something to consider. I'm glad you didn't flatly turn me down."

Trish laughed. "I'm starving. Come on."

He watched as she stood up and looked for her clothing on the floor. So many women turned shy and covered their breasts with their arms or pulled the sheet off the bed. Mick smiled, when she looked up at him as she threw his boxers at him. "Need these."

"We could eat in our birthday suits. It'll save time later."

Chuckling, she said, "I hate to rain on your parade but I go to sleep early."

"Eat fast. We'll have time for another round, then you can sleep."

She smiled like it was her plan all along. Mick resisted the urge to throw her back on the bed and watched as she wiggled into her sexy white panties. He preferred cotton to lacy, just like he liked Trisha over Candy.

They worked together to boil some pasta and smothered it in jar sauce. "Carbs are good for stamina."

She laughed. "You are so full of it."

"I think that was you."

Her cheeks blushed. "It was pretty great."

"Pretty?" He pouted.

"Truly amazing."

He bit his tongue, because he wanted to ask if he was her best ever, but never ask questions you might not like the answer to and there was only one answer he would like.

Taking his mind off sex, he said, "Do you want to go to Tyler's tomorrow night? I haven't told him about my mother."

"Do you want me too?"

"Yes." He squeezed her hand. "I really do."

"Okay. How's your friend and the baby?"

"Meg is okay. Brynn is good too. I think they'll go home tomorrow."

"That's great. Did you buy her a gift?"

"A gift? I never bought Clara a gift."

Trish sighed. "Men. You need me."

"Baby, I do."

She laughed. "My friend Max mentioned having us over."

Mick nodded, "I like your friend. We'll be busy." He could wait to see Tyler when she went to her counselor, but he wanted her to get to know his friends. "Maybe I'll see if my dad is free when you see Sydney on Thursday."

"He would like that."

Mick nodded.

The following day, Mick picked Trish up at the hospital. She leaned in and kissed his lips. "I missed you."

Mick smiled. They had sex once more before falling asleep and then again fast and hard in the morning. Mick's dick had been humming with happiness all day. Even when Harper pulled him to lunch.

Once they were at a table in the sandwich shop surrounded by strangers, she asked how he was doing. He smiled. "Fine. I'm in love."

She smiled. "So soon?"

Mick laughed. "I started falling the day we met. It's been eleven months. What about you?"

She smiled. "Yeah. Levi is amazing. Heidi and Billy had a big fight. He wasn't happy that she was so bitchy. That's not her. I think Annette brainwashed her with the Wang."

"Sounds like a secret weapon. I don't want her to be unhappy. Should I talk to him?"

"I'm sure they'll work it out."

Mick felt petty. "She should apologize to Trish."

"She should. So your father had a showdown with my aunt. He told her he wants a divorce. It was ugly."

Mick's gut tightened. "How do you know?"

"Hudson overheard her crying to my mother who has no sympathy for her own sister."

"It's a mess. I just want everyone to get along and love each other."

"Everyone will, except Annette. My eyes were opened. What about you and Uncle Michael?"

"I love my father and always have."

Five hours later, with Trish in his car, he drove to Tyler's apartment. The couple had been house hunting for weeks, but were still crammed into his old place. As soon as they arrived, Tyler picked up the leash. Blue met Trish by sniffing her. Mick wanted to say, it smells good. Then the dog went to Tyler.

Mick whispered to Trish, "Are you okay if I walk with Ty?"

She nodded, and he brushed her lips. Poppy clapped her hands. "You are so cute together."

Mick left before Trish's cheeks turned pink. As soon as they reached the sidewalk, Tyler said, "What's going on? You have me wondering what you want to talk about. I'll be your best man, but it's too soon."

Mick laughed in the frosty night air. "I'm counting on it and you're right. This isn't about Trish. I finally found out why she hates me."

"Seriously? Did she tell you?"

They stopped while the dog pooped. Cars drove by and there was a siren in the distance. "My father did, but Trish overheard some details and the shit hit the fan."

"So what's the story?"

"She isn't my mother." His breath looked like smoke under the streetlight.

"Seriously, did your dad fool around?"

"What? No! My mother died from complications after my birth. He married Annette to give me a mother."

"That backfired."

"No shit. She was jealous of my mother and hated her. The sick bitch took it out on me. My father's reasons for staying with her are lame, but I won't blame him. I love him. I'm just glad to know I was conceived from love."

"Wow!" Tyler frowned. "Clara wasn't conceived from love."

"So what? You love each other now. She knows she's loved."

"She really is. Bro, what can I do for you? That is one heavy story."

Mick shrugged. "I'm okay. I'm in love."

Tyler slapped his back. "You deserve it. She's great too."

Mick's heart soared. When they returned to the apartment, Clara sat on Trish's lap. She was clapping her hands. His heart ached with longing. He wanted a baby, but like Tyler said it was too soon. He wanted to follow the right order and not do it backwards like his friend.

They didn't stay long. Mick had his clothes in his truck, so he drove them to Trish's apartment. Once inside, he pushed her against the door and kissed her. Pent up desire unleashed, and he wanted her right there. Although it was a fantasy the day before, his sexy Trish was ready for him. She reached for his belt begging him to hurry. Her light body was easy to hold as he drove into her. It was hot and fast. "Fucking amazing," he groaned just before he climaxed.

When she could speak, she panted, "You fuck amazing."

He laughed and carried her to the bed. It was her turn as she climbed on top of him. Naked, cuddled together just before he drifted off, he said, "I never want to sleep without you again."

She lifted her head. "Don't say that. Sometimes I have to work at night. I can't control my schedule."

"Shhh, it's okay. I know. Remember, I travel, which is part of my job. I just mean I want to, but I understand it's impossible."

"Oh," she sighed.

He kissed her until her body relaxed. "Trust me to always want only you, even when we can't be together. Te amo."

"Te amo."

"Forever." He meant it.

Thanks for voting ⭐️

Just a heads up. This story will finish next week. It is not 4 chapters, but I'll take a few days off and wait to start the next series on the following Monday.

The new series is a new setting. Mostly. It's about an hour and a half from Boston. I'm excited for some small town life.