Page 116 of Daddy's Naughty List

He headed to the living room to say goodbye to the girls. After the regular rounds of hugs and farewells, he found Bliss in the spare bedroom changing diapers. She cooed and chatted with the girls, keeping them entertained as she worked.

She was incredible. He knew without asking she was sacrificing a lot to take care of her girls. She must be doing a great job because they were healthy and happy. Adorable.

But he knew why she’d lost weight, and her clothes were all thrift-store finds. She was doing without so her girls wouldn’t have to. That was what moms did. But she shouldn’t have to do without anything.

Connor got what Reid was saying. It would gut him if he hurt Bliss in any way. But he was going to find a way to help her. He could make sure she had food and all the other things she needed, even if he had to do it anonymously. She wasn’t going to do without anymore.

Crossing the room, he sat on the bed while she changed the youngest baby. A tug on his pants had him looking down, and the face of an angel started up at him. Doing his best to ignore the panic clawing at him, he smiled down at the tiny girl. With her ivory skin and red cheeks, not to mention her soft blonde curls, she looked like a porcelain doll.

“Who is this?” he asked, trying to keep his voice soft and gentle.

Bliss glanced down and beamed at her daughter. “Pink fingernails mean Sadie. Sophie’s are purple.”

“You paint their fingernails already?” That seemed young.

Bliss giggled. “It isn’t easy to tell identical twins apart when they aren’t old enough to talk. I paint Sadie’s nails pink and Sophie’s purple to make it easy to know who’s who.”

When he looked back down at Sadie, she reached up to him. Even he knew she wanted him to pick her up. What if he dropped her? Or what if she cried? Bliss giggled again, but then that sad look he hated returned to her eyes.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get her in a second. I just have to get Nori’s socks on her.”

Okay, now Connor felt like a wimp. He’d tracked down murderers and drug lords. He could pick up one tiny baby. “That’s okay. I’ve got her.”

Leaning over, he lifted Sadie onto his lap. God, he hoped he didn’t drop her. She smiled at him, chattering in some baby language he had no hopes of deciphering. She was the most beautiful creation he’d ever seen.

He smiled at her and, in the gentlest voice he had, said, “Hi there, Sadie. My name’s Connor.”

She blinked at him. He’d never felt more scrutinized in his life. Her chattering started back up, and he had the feeling he was being scolded. Out of the blue, she smacked him on the nose with her chubby hand. “Da-da-da-da,” she said, staring straight at him.

He turned to Bliss, whose cheeks were scarlet. “She’s learning to talk. She sees pictures of men in her books, and I always call them that. She doesn’t really know what she’s saying.”

Turning back to Sadie, Connor took another look at the set of her jaw and wasn’t so sure. He needed to get out of there. He’d never wanted to stay anywhere more. But he was a protector, even when the one he was protecting others from was him. He should never have come into the room. Leaving was too hard.

Sitting Sadie down on the floor so she wouldn’t fall and hurt herself, he stood to go. “I just came to let you know I’d take care of getting your car to Winnie’s shop in the morning. It will be fine until then. I’ll be over in the morning to drive you to work.”

The pain filling Bliss’s eyes hurt him more than anything he’d ever known, and he’d known more than his fair share of pain. This was why he needed to stay away from her. Hurt was the only thing she’d ever gotten from him, and it was all she ever would.

It took all his strength not to run for the door, but he managed to walk.

“Connor, wait! I have something I need to talk to you about.”

“You’ll have to tell me tomorrow, trouble. I have someplace to be right now.” He didn’t look back. He didn’t slow down. It was for the best.

Chapter Eight

Bliss

Bliss collapsed onto the well-worn sofa after she finally got the babies all down. She wasn’t sure how long Nori would sleep but usually she had a good hour and a half. She’d been fussy all day. She couldn’t be teething already, right? She was only two months old.

While everyone was sleeping would be a good time to clean. Or wash clothes. Her eyes slid to thebasket of goodies Winnie had given her the day before. Her sister was the best. She’d put together a Christmas-themed pampering Bliss basket, and it was begging to be used.

Her Mary Poppins angel agreed.There are elements of fun in work that’s to be done.

Mary Poppins was correct, as always. Bliss was down to her last two work outfits.

She was all set to be productive, but then her Miranda Lambert angel started singing something about being drunk and not wanting to go home. That was an obvious vote for having some fun for once. If she even remembered how.

Chores could wait. Time for some pampering.

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