Page 128 of Billionaire Lumberjack's Bargain

“Occupied. I’ll try to keep an eye on him while helping you in here, if you need it.”

“Thank you…”

Knowing I don’t need to worry about him is a tremendous weight off my already taxed shoulders.

He offers me the kindest smile I may have ever seen from the man who can be so grumpy at times, and I realize how much he has become the father figure I never had.

Just like he was for Dalton when he lost his parents.

“You don’t need to thank me, sweetheart. You’ve done more for us and forhim”—his gaze drifts to Dalton—“than I could ever put into words. Having you and Davey around keeps me young.”

“You won’t be saying that when you’re changing diapers and there’s a baby screaming in the middle of the night…”

He chuckles deeply. “That’s probably true.”

Another contraction ripples through me, the pain so intense the tears falling from my eyes this time aren’t simply from all the hormones and lovey feelings floating around tonight.

It’s time.

As soon as it ends, I open my eyes and meet Dalton’s concerned gaze. “I’m pushing on the next one.”

He nods, then releases my hand to go to the counter and grab the stack of clean towels, the sterilized scissors, and everything else I told them to have ready—just in case.

“I’m sorry there isn’t more I can do for you.”

I want to tell him that he’s done more for me than anyone else in my entire life. That each minute, each hour, each day he spent trying to fixmyhome only reinforced what an incredible, selfless human being he is.

The type of people Dave and I thought didn’t exist anymore after what I saw come into that ER every day.

Dalton kisses me again, but it’s cut off by the next contraction.

I grit my teeth, hold my breath, grip the sides of the tub to pull myself forward, andpush.

Pain explodes, blinding me to anything else but the agony and the need to keep going even when I want to stop and end it…

A strong hand presses against my back, helping to hold me up as I struggle to keep bearing down…

The contraction eases, and I sag back into Dalton’s hold.

“I can see her head.”

Dalton’s voice breaks slightly, his fear filling his words.

I open my eyes to see how concerned he looks, staring into the water where his other hand is poised to catch her. “It’s okay. It can take a couple of pushes.”

My reassurance doesn’t change the way the clenched muscles tic in his jaw, but he seems ready.

And I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

When this contraction hits, I bear down as hard as I can, trying to block out the pain. Both the physical and wondering what Dave would think about the fact that Dalton has stepped into his role so quickly after I lost him.

It’s the last thing I should be worrying about in this moment.

But when she finally slips out and Dalton lifts my little girl from the water,everythingelse vanishes.

All I can see is her.

He quickly cuts the umbilical cord, and Pops appears at his side with an open towel to dry off her tiny body.

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