Page 86 of Passed Ball

I'm so focused on the tiny star in my arms, her eyelids growing heavy as I sing, that I don't hear Xavier come in.

"That was beautiful," he says, his voice low, almost reverent.

"My grandmother sang it to me when I was a baby, and I sang it to Tenley." My cheeks flush as I realize I'm rambling, overexplaining why I chose that song.

"Was that Portuguese?" He closes the space between us, crouching behind the rocker, his hand landing on my shoulder. It's the smallest touch yet I feel it everywhere, connecting the three of us in this sweet moment.

"It was. How'd you know?" I crane my neck to see him, careful not to disturb Holland.

This time it's him who blushes. The soft glow of the nightlight casts a halo, it's enough light for me to see the pink spreading over the pale skin between his freckles--the ones I can't stop noticing.

"I might've, uh, read something about the vineyard's history on the website when I ordered a case of wine a few weeks ago." He rubs the back of his neck. "Your grandparents are Portuguese, right?"

"You ordered a whole case? You don't even drink."

"No, but . . ." He hesitates, then meets my gaze, his voice quieter now. "I wanted you to have something from home when you come over."

It's officially time to put this baby down.

I stand from the rocker. "Did you want to take her?" I move slowly, not daring to disturb the peaceful bubble we're wrapped up in.

Xavier shakes his head, an appreciative grin on his lips. "You're doing fine."

He joins me at the side of the crib, and his hand finds the small of my back as I lean over the crib. My heart flutters widely as I slowly lower Holland. I silently pray I haven't lost my touch.

I hold my breath, inching her closer. The transfer goes off without a hitch, her soft breaths unbroken, and I straighten.

"She really is the sweetest," I murmur, my focus lingering on her tiny face. Her lips pucker, and I can't help but smile.

"She's the best thing that's ever happened to me," Xavier says, his voice thick with love. It's not only the words, it's the way he looks at her--the raw, unfiltered adoration brimming in his eyes. It's the kind of love that changes a person, and witnessing it takes my breath away.

The man who once seemed careless and brash was misunderstood. He needed someone to believe in him. Over the last nine weeks he's blossomed right in front of me. This tiny girl has given him the love I think he's been craving since losing his mother. And in moments like this, I can't help but soak in the magic of her presence. She's stitched herself into everyone's world . . . mine too.

"We should let her sleep," I say.

He leads me out of the bedroom, his hand warm around mine, only letting go to pull the door shut behind us. The soft click of the latch barely registers before he spins, turning to face me with an intensity that steals the oxygen from my lungs.

I'm backed against the wall opposite the nursery, my mouth watering. God, the way he's looking at me--it's hot enough to make me burst into flames. One of his hands slides into my hair, the other bracing against the wall beside me, catching my weight before my body can slam against the surface. The air between us is charged, my pounding heart the only sound in the silent house.

"I'm about to sound like a caveman, but watching you with her . . . it fucking does something to me."

"How very unevolved of you," I tease, my hands going to his chest, twisting in his shirt and pulling him closer.

"You want unevolved?"

Before I can respond, his mouth is on mine, the kiss hard and consuming. As I start to lose myself in it, he pulls away, leaving me wanting more. My lips part but the words die in my throat as his hands slide to the back of my legs.

With no warning, he hauls me over his shoulder in one swift motion.

"What are you doing?" I whisper-shout, clinging to him for dear life as he strides down the hall, his grip unrelenting.

He turns toward his room, a wicked grin in his voice as he says, "Hauling you to my cave so I can have my way with you, woman."

I let out a squeal as he releases me, the room spinning before it rights itself, and I bounce on the bed with a laugh.

The sound quickly dies when I push up on my elbows, seeing the hunger in his piercing eyes. Xavier stands out of reach, looking devastatingly handsome as his palm drags down his face. I swallow, reaching out and taking the hand hanging at his side.

He comes willingly, stepping between my legs and bending to meet me. Lifting my hand with his, he places it right over his galloping heart.

---