The Amendment Read online

  The Amendment

  Melanie Moreland

  Moreland Books, Inc

  THE AMENDMENT by Melanie Moreland

  Copyright © 2019 Moreland Books Inc.

  Registration # 1162043

  Ebook ISBN # 978-1-988610-26-9

  Print book ISBN # 978-1-988610-25-2

  * * *

  All rights reserved

  * * *

  Edited by

  * * *

  Lisa Hollett—Silently Correcting Your Grammar

  * * *

  Cover design by Melissa Ringuette, Monark Design Services

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any

  means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information

  storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are

  products of the author's imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any

  similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Created with Vellum

  Dedication

  The Amendment is a journey of love, forgiveness, and understanding.

  There is only one person I could dedicate it to.

  This book is for my Matthew

  * * *

  Because with him

  Forgiveness is offered

  Support is never ending

  and

  Love surrounds me every moment of every day.

  * * *

  Always and forever yours—M

  Contents

  1. Richard

  2. Katy

  3. Richard

  4. Richard

  5. Richard

  6. Katy

  7. Katy

  8. Katy

  9. Katy

  10. Katy

  11. Katy

  12. Katy

  13. Katy

  14. Katy

  15. Katy

  16. Richard

  17. Richard

  18. Katy

  19. Richard

  20. Richard

  21. Richard

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Other books by Melanie Moreland

  About the Author

  1

  Richard

  It was late when I finally pulled into the driveway, sighing with relief at being home. I used to love traveling for work, but now, I found I dreaded going. I hated leaving Katy and my girls.

  My flight had been delayed leaving Toronto, then again departing Calgary, and it had been a long day. I reminded myself to speak to our travel specialist who handled our bookings. I wanted direct flights—no more stops.

  I noticed although the house was dark, two lights shone in the night. The one over the front door for me and the muted glow coming from the nursery window. That meant Katy was awake with Heather, no doubt feeding her.

  I pushed open my car door and stretched. The streetlamp glinted off something white, catching my eye, and I glanced toward it with a frown. I jogged down the driveway, confused at the half-dozen campaign signs on my lawn. All the political parties were represented. With a curse, I yanked them all out of the grass and carried them to the garage, tossing them into the corner. I grabbed my small suitcase and hurried into the house.

  I took the steps two at a time, stopping to drop my bag into our room, then headed next door to the nursery. Exhaustion, stress, and the tension of the day drained away at the sight before me.

  Dozing in the huge cuddle chair was my beautiful wife, Katy. Cradled in her arms was our baby, Heather. Tucked beside them was my Gracie. She lay across her mother’s lap like a starfish, taking up as much room, and no doubt her mother’s attention, as possible. A discarded bottle lay on the floor. They were a beautiful trio, and my little girls were both growing up far too fast for my liking.

  I bit back my amusement watching them. I pulled my phone from my pocket, snapped a couple of pictures before I crossed the room to try to help settle my girls in their proper places.

  I eased Heather from Katy’s arms, whispering assurances to Katy as she stirred. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got her.”

  “You’re home,” she mumbled. “You’re late… We waited.”

  “I know, baby. I’m sorry.”

  She tried to pat my face and missed. “S’okay.”

  Chuckling, I held her hand, kissing the palm. “I’m here now.”

  “Missed you.”

  Her words warmed my heart. I pressed a kiss to her head. “I missed you.”

  “Hmmm.” Was all I got.

  “Is she all fed?”

  “Yes, all fed. Again.”

  I grinned. Heather had a voracious appetite. Constantly hungry and impatient when she was made to wait for her meal.

  “Okay, stay there. I’ll be back.”

  She smiled, sleepy and content, letting her eyes drift shut.

  Heather snuggled close to me, and I stood by her crib, not wanting to tuck her in quite yet. She was a warm, sweet-smelling weight in my arms. I rocked side to side in the motion that always soothed her, loving how she felt nestled to my chest. Finally, I laid her down, stroking the wild hair away from her forehead. She had inherited my cowlick. If she was anything like me, it was going to drive her crazy.

  Once I made sure she was settled, I went back to the chair, studying Gracie. She was a light sleeper, and I knew there was a good chance once I tried to move her, she would be awake, and nothing short of one of our Daddy and Gracie raids on the ice cream tub would lull her back to sleep. We would sit at the table, her on my lap, the ice cream tub in front of us, and I would feed her tiny mouthfuls and listen to her babble on about some great event in her day, trying not to grin like an idiot the way her lisp made some words sound.

  “It wath tho funny, Daddy! I laugh and laugh!”

  Luckily, she must have been exhausted, because she stayed asleep through the lifting, carrying, and re-tucking into her little princess bed. Bending low, I kissed her curls, my love for her bursting in my chest.

  Then I returned to the nursery. With no children on top of her, Katy had curled into a ball and was sound asleep. I tried not to laugh. She probably wouldn’t remember me coming home or talking to me, albeit briefly, when she woke up in the morning. I bent, sliding my arms under her and carrying her to our bed. Her side of the bed was straight and tidy. She had obviously been sleeping on my side, the pillow wrinkled and bunched, the blankets thrown back. She always slept there when I was gone. She said it was the only way she could sleep when I was away. My side of the bed, dressed in one of my shirts, and clutching my pillow.

  I pulled back the blankets on her side and slid her in. I left her sleeping, grabbed a long, hot shower, and got ready for bed, slipping in beside her. In a second, she was nestled against me, her head on my chest and her leg tossed over mine—my own personal starfish. There was no doubt Gracie had inherited that from her.

  I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

  She shifted, lifting her leg, her knee rubbing over my groin, making my cock stir. Maybe she wasn’t as sleepy as I had thought.

  “Katy,” I warned. “Don’t be starting something you’re too tired to finish.”

  She burrowed closer, running her hand down my chest, her voice low and raspy from sleep. “I missed you so much.”

  I lifted my head, peering down at her. Her eyes were drowsy and narrow but still filled with adoration. She had a way of looking at me that made me feel ten feet tall. As if I could do anything. Be anything for her.

  I tugge
d her up my chest, my lips close to hers. “I missed you too, baby. I always miss you.”

  Her hand slid under the waistband of my sleep pants. Nude sleeping had stopped once Gracie began to walk. She was adventurous and had no trouble climbing into our bed in the middle of the night.

  Katy’s hand closed around my hardening cock. “I missed this, too.”

  “We’re both happy to be home.”

  She sat up, throwing her leg over my hips and gripping my waistband. “Up,” she commanded.

  I arched, and she dragged my pants down, lowering herself until we were skin-to-skin.

  “Jesus, Katy, you had underwear on a few minutes ago.”

  She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “My undies exploded.”

  “Exploded?”

  Her voice was raspy and sexy. “They heard Richard VanRyan was back. Boom! They were gone.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  She stretched over my torso, the heat of her sliding along my cock. “Yeah.”

  “I hope you weren’t hurt during the blast.”

  “A little scorched. I’m sure you can put out the fire.” She kissed me, her lips devouring mine, hungry and urgent. I gripped her hip and wound my other hand into her hair, kissing her back. The taste of my wife, the feel of her skin on mine, was like nothing else. I loved these moments with her—when it was simply us. Together.

  I eased back, gazing up at her. Her quiet beauty overwhelmed me at times. I stroked her soft skin, spreading my hands over her stomach.

  She bit her lip, for the first time not meeting my eyes as I ran small circles over the gentle curves of her. She stilled my actions, her fingers restless on top of mine.

  “Hey,” I called quietly. “Katy, baby, come back to me.”

  She lifted her eyes, and I shook my head, knowing exactly what she was thinking. I traced the light lines that bothered her so much along her hips and stomach. It wasn’t very often she was insecure with me anymore, and this was something I needed to address, once and for all.

  “These don’t bother me, Katy, and they shouldn’t bother you. They don’t make you less beautiful—only more so to me. They’re part of you. Part of us. You have them because for nine months you cradled, nurtured, and carried our children—my children—inside you. These little lines are proof of the strength you have. Tiny reminders of the wonder that your body is to me.” I raised myself up and kissed her, pouring all the love I felt into the kiss. “Of the wonder you are to me.”

  “How do you always know the right thing to say?”

  “It’s not the right thing, Katy. It’s the truth.”

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “Good.” I winked at her. “Because I’m about to fuck you, and I need you to be with me on that.”

  She grinned, her dark moment passing. She pushed me back to the mattress. “Oh, I’m with you, VanRyan.”

  She shifted, lifting her hips, and my cock slid along her folds, the heat and wet making me hiss. She sat up and engulfed me fully.

  I slammed my head back into the pillow. “Fuck!”

  “Yes,” she moaned and began to move. “Yes. Fuck me, Richard.”

  I matched her rhythm, thrusting up into her. “Katy, baby, you’re wild tonight.”

  “I’ve been thinking about you all day.” She rolled her hips, leaning back and taking me deeper. “Thinking of you inside me. Oh God, Richard…”

  I flipped her over, staying inside, and drove into her mindlessly. She whimpered and cried out, her blunt nails digging into my shoulder. I covered her mouth with mine, needing her taste and her silence. I didn’t want Gracie wandering in right now. I would scar my daughter for life, because there was no way I could stop fucking my wife.

  Katy stilled, screaming her release into my mouth. I rode it out, my orgasm crashing in around me, tightening my balls, sending shards of pleasure down my spine. I thrust one last time, groaning her name as I came, hard and shaking.

  Then I collapsed on her.

  She wrapped her arms around me, her touch a gentle balm to my soul.

  “I love you, Katy.”

  I felt her smile against my skin. “I know.”

  I chuckled, pulling myself away. I tucked her into my side, tugging the blankets over us.

  “Everything okay while I was gone?”

  “Yes. Jenna and Laura came for a visit and checked on us. Graham called to make sure we were okay. How was the trip?”

  “Good. It went well.”

  “The BAM boys behaving themselves?”

  “For now. Becca sends her love. There are some gifts in the suitcase for the girls.”

  “Oh, lovely. I miss her. Is she okay?”

  “Seems to be.”

  “Is Reid treating her well?”

  I snorted. “The boy is head over heels for her. He’d give her the world if he could, so yeah, she’s fine.”

  “I need to call her and check up on her. Make sure she’s all right. I know she’s still settling. She sounded stressed last time I spoke to her.”

  “She’s gonna come home for a visit soon. I’m sure she was busy the day you spoke. If she needs to talk before, she’ll reach out.”

  “Nope. I’m going to call her. She might be worried about bothering me. You know what she’s like. I want her to be okay.”

  I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with her—it was a lesson I had learned in our time together. Katy was stubborn—a fact I adored about her. She loved my old assistant Becca and missed her greatly. Another fact I adored about my wife—the way she cared for people.

  I remembered what I had seen when I’d pulled up to the house.

  “Hey, what are all those bloody political signs on the lawn for?”

  “Oh. Well, the candidates asked, and I didn’t want to say no to anyone, so I let them all put up a sign.”

  “I hate those things.”

  “So, take them down.”

  “I did. I tossed them in the garage.”

  She laughed. “They’ll probably put up new ones.”

  I groaned. “Damn it. How can I stop it? Cover the grass with poison ivy? Fence it off and station a guard dog inside?”

  “A little drastic, don’t you think?”

  “You have a better suggestion?”

  “Maybe you should put up your own sign.”

  I was confused. “I’m not running for anything, Katy. I don’t have a damn sign.”

  “That would work.”

  “What would?”

  “Richard VanRyan. I’m not running for anything. I just wanted a damn sign. We could print them and put them everywhere.”

  I started to snicker at her silliness. “Maybe I will. I need to come up with a better slogan, though.”

  She giggled. “Richard VanRyan. Panty exploder.”

  I had to turn my head into the pillow to stop the loud peals of laughter. Only Katy could make me laugh this way. She was the first and the only one to be able to do so.

  “I don’t think that’s exactly PC.”

  “You have something better?”

  I thought about it, then grinned.

  “Sure. Richard VanRyan—I’m kind of a big deal.”

  It was her turn to be amused. “Whatever.” She rolled over, still laughing. “Such ego.”

  I wrapped my arm around her waist, dragging her back to my chest. I nibbled on her earlobe. “But I am, Katy.” I thrust my hips into her, letting her feel how big a deal I was.

  “Oh, go fuck yourself, VanRyan.”

  I snickered at her favorite expression. “I would rather fuck you.” I lifted her leg over my hip, tilting forward, pushing against her warmth. “I think you would too.”

  She pressed back with a groan.

  “Fine, Mr. Big Deal. Make it worth my while.”

  I bit down on her neck. “Oh, baby. Challenge accepted.”

  2

  Katy

  I woke up to an empty bed, the sheets still warm from Richard’s body heat. I rolled o
ver into his spot, burrowing into his pillow. It smelled like him—warm, rich, and decadent. Citrus and ocean breezes mixed with a darker hint of musk. He always smelled wonderful. Even when I’d disliked him, he had smelled good.

  I sat up, drew my legs up to my chest, and wrapped my arms around my knees. I glanced at the clock and grimaced. It was barely past seven, but I could smell coffee and knew without a doubt, Richard would be in the kitchen with the girls, giving Gracie cereal and feeding Heather a bottle as he sipped his coffee and listened to Gracie tell him everything he had missed.

  I was never sure who missed whom more. Gracie was a daddy’s girl, and she had him wrapped around her little fingers. He had endless patience when it came to our girls. He never lost his temper, his voice always held such tenderness when he was with them, and his eyes glowed with his love. It was a far cry from the cold, uncaring man I had first known. Once he had opened himself up to love, allowed himself to feel it, he had transformed completely. When he had fallen in love with me, my entire life had changed. He became everything I could have imagined in a husband and partner, and now a father for our girls. His career had flourished, our married life was rich and full, and I was happier than I ever thought possible. I glanced at the picture that sat on my dresser. It was one Richard had taken of Penny and me.

  Penny Johnson had rescued me from the streets and gave me everything I needed in life: a home, love, and stability. She became more than my caregiver—she became my friend, protector, teacher, and mother. Losing her to Alzheimer’s had been a crushing blow. I wasn’t sure I would have been able to cope if it hadn’t been for Richard.