Page 110 of Until Bax

“I’m happy for you two,” Liam says, dragging me from my thoughts, and I look over at him. “Really fucking happy, man.” He claps my shoulder, then looks down when a tiny voice shouts.

“Dada.”

“Hey, baby.” He lifts his daughter, Rose, off the ground and glances around. “Where’s mommy?”

“Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma.” She sings, making him and me both laugh.

“There you are.” Rebecca sighs, rushing up to Liam and touching the top of Rose’s head before leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss her husband. “She got away from me.”

Looking at the three of them, I know that fate is a funny thing. Two years ago, Rebecca had written Liam off as a weekend fling even though he made it clear to her that he wanted more. Then, three months later, after being sick for weeks, she went to the doctor and found out she was pregnant. When she told Liam that the single time that they had been together had led to her being pregnant, he used that to his advantage and took some time off work to go and stay with her in Chicago. It took some time to convince her to take a chance on him, or maybe not, since they moved down here a month before Rose was born and got married at the courthouse a few days later. It wasn’t the wedding either of them wanted, but when Rose was a year old, they renewed their vows with everyone in attendance and had a big party after.

Dragging my eyes off them, I look across the room when the DJ calls my name, and everyone gets quiet. When I find Olivia’s gaze, my face gets soft when You Are The Reasonbegins to play.

Cutting across the room toward her, she meets me halfway on the makeshift dance floor as the people step away to give us room.

“Hi.” She smiles up at me like I didn’t just let her go a few minutes ago.

“Mrs. Mayson.” I wrap my hand around the nape of her neck, tip her back over my arm that’s hooked around her waist, and cover her mouth with mine. I kiss her deep as people shout and clap. It’s not for show, and I don’t give a fuck who’s watching us.

I honestly never thought that I would have this. This all-consuming love that takes over your life in a way that makes everything better. With her, the hard times are bearable, and the good times are that much sweeter.

And I know life is just going to get better from here.

* * *

Olivia

10 years later

With Kate’sbaby monitor pressed against my ear, I listen to my husband talk quietly to our daughter, who he’s tucking into bed, which is an hour-long task most nights. As our last baby and our only girl, we’ve babied her, or everyone’s babied her. She’s spoiled rotten and has everyone in this house wrapped around her tiny little finger, especially her dad.

I have no regrets. She’s a good kid. All of our kids are good kids. Our boys, who are nine and seven, are the spitting image of their dad with the kindest hearts, and an overprotective streak a mile wide, especially when it comes to Kate. And my girl, who is just now turning four, she’s… Well, honestly, she’s a hellion, but she will need that fire in her soul to survive growing up in a house with three overprotective men and to get through this life unscathed, so I don’t try very hard to tame her wildness.

When the voices on the baby monitor get quiet, I wait, and then I hear the sound of footsteps padding down the hall.

“I thought you’d be sleeping?” Bax says the moment he pushes the door open and finds me sitting up in the middle of the bed.

“I just put my book down.” I scoot over as he gets into bed, then curl into his chest when his head hits the pillow. “Was she okay?”

“She wanted to come sleep with us. I bribed her with double chocolate chip pancakes in the morning.”

“She accepted that?” I ask in disbelief. She never takes a bribe. Ever.

“Yep,” he mutters, squeezing my ass.

“Humm.” I slide my leg farther over his hip, and he grins as he slides his fingers into my hair and starts to pull my mouth down to his. When we are a hair’s breath away from each other, there is a thud in the hall, and we both freeze.

Looking at the door, I watch the handle turn, and a second later, Kate pokes her dark head inside. Where the boys look like their dad, she looks just like me, something Bax swears is a curse.

“Daddy.” She steps inside with Gemma, who is getting up in age right behind her. Again, she has everyone wrapped around her little finger.

“Fuck me.” He groans only loud enough for me to hear.

“Baby, you’re supposed to be in bed,” he tells her.

“I know, but I’m hungry.”

“You’re not hungry, you’re tired.” He sits up as I hide my smile.

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