Her eyes widen and a soft smile lights up her face. “You got me a present?”
“I’m always thinking of you.” I smirk at the box. “Had a devil of a time stuffing that box in my saddle bag, so it’s a little banged up.”
Link squawks and fusses as she hands him to me. “Shh, give your momma a break, little man.” I tickle my finger over his cheek. He blinks up at me, big blue eyes the same shade as Serena’s. Everyone keeps saying they’ll change. I hope not. He smacks his lips a few times and closes his eyes again.
Paper rustles behind me and I turn, wanting to see her expression.
“Oh my God.” She slides her hand over her open mouth. “They’re so pretty!”
“You like them?”
“I love them!” She pulls the tall, black leather boots out of their tissue paper wrapping and studies the yellow embroidered flowers trailing along the side, from ankle to knee. “They’re beautiful.”
“I don’t think the flowers are buttercups, but close.”
She grins at me. “You’re like a shoe fairy. First, Libby, now me.”
I’d gotten Libby something similar for her birthday. She took it hard when Serena moved out.
“Yeah, I know. That’s why these come with them.” I hand her the baby and pull a smaller velvet box from my back pocket.
“Gray, I was only kidding.” Her eyes widen and she takes a step back.
I open the small velvet box in my hand, pleased with the way the small diamond earrings sparkle in the light. “I know you’re worried about him grabbing at your earrings. But these are small and have a secure clasp.”
“They’re so pretty,” she gasps. “They look like little flowers.”
“They are.”
“Really?”
“Here.” I open my arms to take the baby back and hand her the box. “I don’t think you want me jabbing at your ears.”
“You’re the best husband.”
I heft my baby boy in my arms, staring at his sleepy face. Love and awe twine through my chest. “You’ve given me a precious gift I never thought I’d get to experience. I plan to spoil you for the rest of my life, Serena.”
“I don’t need presents.” She finishes slipping the earrings in and pulls her hair back so I can admire them. “Just you.”
“Do you like them?”
She peers into the mirror covering the door to her closet. “I love them.”
I set Link in his crib and walk over to Serena. “You put them on before the boots, you must like them.”
“I really do.”
I wrap my arms around her waist, untying the short robe she’d put on earlier to feed the baby. She exhales a shaky breath and leans against me, staring at our reflections in the mirror.
Sometimes, I still think I have no business with this woman. Or maybe I’m still in prison, sleeping through the best damn dream ever. If that’s the case, I hope I never wake up.
“What are you doing?” she asks as I open the robe.
“I want another one,” I whisper against her ear. “A little girl who looks like you.”
“I don’t think you can place an order,” she teases.
I kiss her shoulder, tugging the fabric out of my way. “Or a brother for Link. I don’t care.”
She tilts her head, studying me with serious eyes. “Two is my limit. So you better make it count.”
Laughing, I strip the robe off the rest of the way. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
“Answer something for me, first.”
She turns to face me, waiting for the question.
“Do I make you happy?”
“Happy doesn’t come close. I always feel cherished in your arms.”
“You’ve given me a life I thought I’d lost.” I kiss her temple. “I’ll cherish you until the day I die.”
And even then, it’ll never be enough.