Page 70 of Waiting to Love You

A confused look covers her face before she sighs heavily. “That’s what you’ve been doing the last week?”

I nod my head. “I wasn’t ignoring you. Preparing is a better way to explain things. I just wanted to show you I was in this for the long haul. That I’m not going anywhere. You and Rebekah are my home.”

Bristol steps out of my embrace and stares at me, searching for something, but doesn’t say a word. Unable to take the silence any longer, I speak again.

“Don’t be too mad at the girls. I swore them to secrecy. I wanted it to be a surprise,” I say, wanting to make her understand.

“I hate surprises,” she grumbles.

“Good to know.”

“Do you want to hold her?”

“Yes,” I say quickly, a little louder than expected. “I mean, that would be great, but I need you to show me how. My experience is limited to baths and putting some pasta things in the microwave to warm.”

“Have a seat in that chair. It’ll be easier to keep her from squirming. Since she’s not a newborn anymore, you don’t really have to worry about anything. Just make sure she doesn’t crack her head open.”

I nod and stride toward the chair in the corner. It’s covered in light pink fabric with large white polka dots all over the entire thing. A small white end table is sitting beside it, with a unicorn lamp on top. I lower myself into the chair, and she places Rebekah in my arms.

“Hey, Princess,” I murmur as my daughter spins around and gives me a huge smile. “She’s beautiful.” I lower her down into my lap and brush my hand across her soft curls.

“We did good, didn’t we?” Bristol says.

I just nod my head, unable to believe that we created such a perfect little girl.

“I just need to run to the kitchen and warm up some milk. I won’t be more than five minutes.”

“Sure thing. We’ll be here when you get back.” I hold up Rebekah’s small hand and wave at Bristol as she heads out of the room, leaving the two of us alone for the first time.

“Hey there, Princess. I’m not sure if you know this or not, but I’m your daddy.” I grind my teeth together, overcome with the love I feel for this little girl. “I thought your mama was gonna be the only woman I loved for the rest of my life, but then you came along. I promise, you two are the most important people in the world to me.”

Rebekah lays her tiny hand on my cheek as her eyes droop shut before flying open. I chuckle as she struggles to stay awake, afraid she will miss something in the few hours she is asleep. “Relax, little one. I’ll be here when you wake up, and every day after that.”

“You mean it?” I hear Bristol’s voice and turn in her direction as she comes into the room, a small bottle in her hand.

“Of course, I do, Bri. I have spent my life waiting for both of you. I don’t plan to waste another minute without you in my life. However you want me.”

I reach out and grab the bottle from her, then slide it between Rebekah’s lips. She wraps both of her small hands around it, sucking greedily as her eyes droop shut one more time.

“Give her a few minutes, and she’ll be out like a light.” Bristol runs her pointer finger down our princess’s cheek before taking a seat on the arm of the chair I’m sitting in.

“I meant every word, Bristol,” I say once again, turning in her direction as her eyes fill with tears. “I need you to know that I’ve loved you since the night we finally gave in to our feelings, connecting our hearts forever. I told you that day that I was falling for you, but today I can say with certainty that I am completely and utterly in love with you. Both of you.”

Tears stream down her cheeks now. “I was so afraid when you didn’t answer any of my calls or texts over the last week that we had lost you forever.”

“Never,” I respond with conviction as I look down at our little girl.

Bristol giggles softly, sliding her arms beneath Rebekah and gently lifting her out of my arms. “I think this one is down for the count. I’m sure dinner is cold by now but thank God for microwaves.”

“Dinner can wait.” I have a much more pressing matter to attend to now… or as soon as I can get out of my daughter’s room. I plan to show Bristol exactly how much she means to me.

“My room is across the hall.” She motions toward the door as she lays Rebekah down in her crib. I turn and walk across the hall, taking in her room. It’s decorated simply with a portable crib tucked into the corner near the window.

“I just started putting her in her room at night. She’s been mostly sleeping through the night for over a month, but I wasn’t ready to be apart from her yet,” she whispers, her eyes drifting from my lips to my eyes every few seconds. “Thank you for giving us a second chance.”

I sigh as I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “Bri, when are you going to learn how irrevocably and unconditionally I love you?” I whisper before kissing her gently.

My heart races—no, gallops—in my chest as emotions swirl through my mind. Yearning to feel the softness of her skin against my calloused fingers as I make her mine, ruining her for any other man who dares to lay his hands on her.

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