She snickered. “No, it’ll be mine. Just from it being tender inside and semi-recent after birth.”
I partially relaxed and eyed her carefully as she climbed off the bed. “So, it’s okay?”
“It’s absolutely okay, I promise.”
“Thank fuck,” I breathed out. “Come shower with me, then I’ll make you breakfast as promised.”
She smiled and held my hand on the way to the bathroom. Once standing on the cool tiles, I touched her waist, gaining her full attention.
“Thank you, babe.”
She arched a brow. “For the sex?”
I smirked devilishly. “For putting me out of my misery.”
* * *
I showered quickly to get a head start on breakfast before Jess emerged. I had Marjorie (my coffee machine) fired up and warming, and the pan heating for the bacon when I heard a scuff at the front door.
On high alert, my senses and body instantly primed. Ash and Hana—Jess’s sister and niece—weren’t due to come around for another couple of hours, and I would have heard Chippy’s voice by now if they’d arrived early.
I rushed to the door and peered through the peephole. Shock pulled a sharp inhale into my lungs as a tall, lean male figure retreated down our garden path.
Without thinking or having a plan, I whipped the door open and called out, “Hey.”
He froze but didn’t turn around until I called his name.
“Mo.”
Dressed in black leather from jacket to boots, with his greying hair tied in a small ponytail at the back of his head, Mo Rivers appeared exactly as I remembered him—sans the gang vest. While not making himself visible to me since mine and Jess’s wedding a couple of years ago, I knew Mo kept close tabs on his daughters from afar.
My eyes fell to the bags of gifts he’d left on our doorstep, then cut back to him as he turned to face me.
“I didn’t think you’d be awake yet,” came his low tone as he eyed me up and down.
“Been awake for a while… babies have a habit of doing that.”
Interest sparked beneath his scraggly greying beard, though he didn’t pry further into my obvious opening.
He hesitated, as did I. Our history wasn’t great; I was beaten to within an inch of my life by his gang thugs, yet he was the reason I still had my life. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be long dead.
I stepped outside and quietly closed the door behind me. He remained rooted to the spot as I approached.
“Look, Jess doesn’t know you’re here.”
He held up his hands. “I didn’t mean to draw attention to myself. I’ll get going.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
Mo’s dark-brown eyes bore into mine. “What did she have? A boy or girl?”
Pride welled deep within. “A boy.”
“A boy,” Mo breathed out and pressed his knuckles to his sternum as if it ached from the news. “I have a grandson.”
I grinned as my chest puffed further. “You do. Do you…” I hesitated again before clearing my throat. “Do you want to come in and meet him?”
The unknowns were plenty. Even if he did accept, I wasn’t sure that Jess would be okay with it. But after seeing my dad meet his grandson, I felt compelled to give Mo the same opportunity. Cree was, after all, the latest in Mo’s bloodline.