Page 41 of Snagged By Hook

“Hmmph, say it, but only if you mean it.”

“Nova Grace Harper, with every beat of my battered heart and fractured soul. With every breath in my body, I fucking love you, not just to the moon and back, but to the moon and every star in the sky and planet in the solar system and then back. And the same goes for June.”

“I love you both to the moon and back, too,” a sleepy voice declared.

Their heads snapped around so fast it was damn near audible. Nova was the first to recover. “Hey, Bug, how long have you been awake?”

Hook held his breath, waiting for June to answer Nova’s question. The thought that his Flower may have been subjected to the disgusting topics they’d spoken of scared the shit out of him more than anything else.

“Long enough to hear you love Jeremy, Mom, and he loves us. But can we celebrate that tomorrow, I’m—” A big yawn interrupted her.

“Sure thing, Flower.” Hook strode to the bed, leaned over, then kissed her cheek.

When he turned to go, Nova groused. “Not even eight a whole day, and I’m Mom now instead of Mommy.” Hook smiled at Nova’s pouty face.

“We can all sleep together,” June sleepily suggested. Hook looked at Nova. She smiled and nodded.

Rummaging through the dresser, he found a pair of sweats and a plain tee and took them to the bathroom.

When he came out, the light was off, and Nova was in the middle of the bed, wrapped around June. Hook climbed in behind her and held his family.

His family.

Hook never expected a family outside of the club. Drifting off to sleep, he dreamed a dream he hadn’t had in years. It focused on a white picket fence surrounding a home filled with love and laughter.

Nova was stirring in his arms, so he kissed her neck. “Sleep, babe. I got you.”

“I need to pee, Hook. You have to let me go but hold fast to June.” He loosened his arms, and she slipped out. A tiny body took her place, and he held on tight. Even half asleep, he could tell it was June. Her hair smelled like strawberries.

Lips gently caressed his cheek. “I love you so much, Hook.”

“Love you too.” He mumbled before the depths of sleep reclaimed him.

There were no nightmares to wake him.

Barbara’s voice, which had haunted his sleep for years, was quiet.

The choking rose scent of her bedroom was replaced with strawberries and…cake. Ah, he smiled in his sleep. June didn’t bathe before bed and must still have frosting on her cheek. The thought started to rouse him.

If she didn’t bathe last night, she didn’t brush her teeth either. He needed to get up, get her clean and dressed so Novacould sleep in. She deserved it. She’d been working long hours and stressing about life way too much.

They were officially a family now, and he would take care of them. He would be a good dad and husband. Even though he didn’t have an example of the former, he did the latter. Since Zombie and Heidi got hitched, he saw his first functional relationship up close. What he didn’t know, he could learn.

“Wake up, sweetie, it’s time to get ready for the day,” he said without opening his eyes.

June rolled away from him, grumbling.

“Come on, Flower.” He sat up and stretched. June had been tucked in the crook of his arm, so Nova must’ve shifted to the other side when she got up in the middle of the night.

Turning to kiss Nova good morning, he froze. She wasn’t there. He didn’t panic. She was probably in the bathroom.

“Up and at ’em.” He tickled June, and she woke, vacillating between grumpy and giggling. “Go on in the bathroom and get cleaned up with your mom. I’ll grab your bag.” Nova had stashed a bag for June at the clubhouse that first time she’d been at the clubhouse.

June headed into the bathroom, and he headed to the closet.

Setting the bag outside the door, he knocked. “Nova, June’s bag is right outside the door. I’m going down the hall for coffee. Meet me out there when y’all are ready.”

“Thanks, Jeremy,” June answered back. “Mom’s not in here.”

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