“That’s what you say now, but just wait until I’m waking you up in the middle of the night to run out and get me whatever food I’m craving,” I warned, twisting my neck to meet his gaze. “Then you’ll be wishing for delivery day.”
“I’m never going to get tired of taking care of you, beautiful.” He shook his head and smiled. “Ask for what you want or need, and I’ll be fucking thrilled to get it for you. Any time, day or night. It’s my privilege to be the man who looks after you and our children.”
I’d been at rock bottom when I’d walked into Dirt Dashers and interviewed for a cleaning job, and it had turned out to be the best decision I’d ever made. “You should give Mrs. Acker a raise.”
“I can do that,” he quickly agreed. “Any specific reason why?”
I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Because I’m living my dream, and I wouldn’t have you or a baby on the way if she hadn’t hired me.”
“Already gave her a raise and a damn nice bonus for sending you my way,” he admitted, his smile widening. “But I gotta disagree.”
My nose scrunched up. “About what?”
“We were meant to be. It might’ve taken me a little longer to find you, but make no mistake, it would’ve happened eventually.”
“Aww,” I sniffled. “You can’t say sweet stuff like that. The hormones are already getting the better of me, so it doesn’t take much to make me cry.”
“Can’t make any promises, but I’ll try my best,” he promised, wiping the tears off my cheeks with his thumbs.
We spent a few more minutes looking at the babies before heading out to the parking lot. As we walked through the hospital lobby, I was struck by a pang of sadness. After helping me into the passenger seat of his truck, Dash crouched down and brushed a kiss against my forehead. “What’s wrong, beautiful?”
“It’s just the two of them up there with Thacker,” I cried, twisting my hands together.
“Did you want to stay longer?” he asked.
“No.” I heaved a deep sigh as I struggled to find the right words to explain why I was upset. “What’s the waiting room going to look like when we have our baby?”
His answer was swift. “It’ll be packed with friends and family from wall to wall.”
“Exactly.” I sniffled again, fighting to hold back my tears. “We’re going to have a huge support system for our baby, but they don’t have friends to lean on like we do.”
“Ahh, I see what you mean.” He gave me a big hug and promised, “If Thacker needs us, we’ll be there for him. You want to get closer to your sister, she can come over whenever she wants as long as she doesn’t pull any shit that hurts your feelings. But Thad still has a long way to go until I’ll let him be around you or our children. He’s on his own.”
The tension drained from my body, and I leaned into him. Knowing that my man had my nephew’s back, no questions asked, was all the reassurance I needed. “Thank you.”
“Like I said before, beautiful.” He leaned back so I could see how serious he was. “Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I’ll make it happen.”
Epilogue
Dash
“Thought I’d find you in here,” I said softly as I walked up behind my wife in the room next to the one where our son lay sleeping in his crib. I slipped my arms around her waist and dipped my head into the crook of her neck to place a kiss on a spot that made her shiver.
“How did you know?” Her tone was breathless, and she tilted her head to the side to give me better access.
I smiled against her skin and splayed my hands over her stomach. “’Cause I know you. You think I’ve missed those longing glances every time you walk by this room, beautiful?”
Brynn put her hands over mine and sighed. “It’s too soon, isn’t it? Kobe isn’t even a year old yet.”
I put my hands on her hips and turned her around, then cupped her gorgeous face. “It isn’t too soon if it’s the right time for us, Brynn. You want another baby? I’m more than happy to put one in this sexy belly,” I told her with a wicked grin before kissing her slow and deep.
When we came up for air, I grabbed her ass and plastered her body against mine while resting my forehead on hers. “I fucking loved seeing you pregnant. Loved how your body grew ripe and round. Loved that every fucker who looked at you knew you were taken.”
Brynn melted into me, circling her arms around my neck and staring up at me with dreamy amber eyes.
“Besides, we make really fucking cute babies.”