Page 124 of The Enemy Face Off

All the things my exes never were.

It's taken being with a real man to help me heal the last of the damage they did. But I have. I refuse to let what happened to me in the past get in the way of the amazing future I have with Milo and the kids.

When Josie starts yawning, I take her to bed and read her a bedtime story. Milo and I take turns, and I love how naturally he's allowed me to blend in with the kids. Like he has with our entire relationship, he's let me take control and be in charge of the pace at which things happen.

Although, with how quickly I fell for Josie and Jonah, everything has felt so natural. I have no intention of ever replacing their mom, but I can love them with all my heart and be there for them whenever they need me.

When I leave Josie's room, Milo's already in the shower, so I get ready for bed.

Another simple, mundane thing that I love?

Spending hours reading in bed at night.

It's my favorite way to spend an evening, and I'm so glad I don't have to give it up, that I've found a guy who enjoys it as much as I do. There's nothing better than snuggling up with a good book with the man you love right by your side.

Milo enters the room and I glance up from my book. He's wearing only his pajama bottoms, his sexy chest and muscular arms on full display. He may have joked about dad bod being imminent, but I ain't seeing it yet.

His hair is growing out, and I look forward to the day it's long enough so that he can tie it into a man bun.

Yep. For real.

Wild that I'd ever think that, huh?

"What?" he says, when he notices me staring. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No reason," I say as he climbs into bed. "I was just thinking it'll be good once your hair is a little longer and you'll be able to tie it up."

He chuckles to himself as he reaches for his book off the nightstand. "And to think, it's one of the things you used to dislike about me."

"That's before I realized you're a real softie underneath."

"Well." His eyes meet mine, and I recognize the familiar fire burning in them. "I'm not entirely soft."

I let out a small giggle. "That's very true."

Okay. So maybe reading in bed has been relegated to my second favorite bedtime activity.

Ilovebeing intimate with Milo. He makes me feel so safe, so loved, so beautiful. For a girl who used to be chubby and insecure about her appearance, it's an intoxicating feeling I never want to give up.

A little while later, once we're back to reading again, I notice Milo resting his book in his lap. "I've been thinking," he says.

I put my book down, too, and give him my full attention. "What's up?"

He turns on an angle so he's facing me. "Well, since we're seeing your sister tomorrow…"

I smile. "And her growing bump."

"Exactly. It's got me thinking. You're so great with Josie and Jonah, and I know they absolutely adore you…"

I have no idea where he's going with this. "Yeah?"

He curls his fingers around mine. "I'm not saying we have to rush into anything, but I do want to put it out there."

"Put what out there?"

He pauses for a moment. "I'm open to…more."

I squint. "More what?"

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