Page 473 of The Tempted

“Oh, my,” I whispered, as I held him for the first time, staring down at his face, memorizing all his features. “Hi, my angel, I’ve been waiting for this moment since I found out about you.” I bent my head and kissed the tip of his tiny nose. “I love you so much,” I whispered to him.

I’ve experienced love. I love my family. I love Riggs. But I never knew the true extent of my love and how much someone could mean to me until that very moment. I glanced at Riggs as he took photo after photo with his phone.

“He’s perfect,” I said.

“Isn’t he?” he smiled and my heart grew even larger. Everything I needed was right there. Riggs and Pea.

This was where I was supposed to be.

This was the plan.

And such a sweet plan it was.

Thank you, God.

Thank you, Bones.

I nuzzled my baby, brought him as close as I could, careful of the incision on my chest, and kissed the top of his head as I looked back at Riggs.

“Thank you for telling me to take the detour, getting here, it was a wild ride but the best one,” I whispered.

He opened his mouth to say something but I shook my head silencing him.

“I know his name,” I said, diverting my eyes back to our baby for a moment, fitting his name to his face…a perfect match. I lifted my eyes back to Riggs.

“What do you think about Eric?”

He stared at me for a moment, realization settling across his features.

“That’s Bones’ real name,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

“I know, he told me the day I bumped into him at the hospital,” I said, looking back at my son. “Eric Robert Montgomery, after his uncle and his dad, the two men I hope he grows up to be just like.”

“Eric,” he whispered, kneeling down before me, reaching out to take Eric’s hand. “It’s perfect,” he agreed.

I smiled up at the nurse, tipping my chin toward the name on his incubator “Baby Boy Bianci.”

“Can we change that?”

“Absolutely,” she said.

“Kitten,” Riggs called, forcing me to turn and watch as he went from kneeling on both knees to one.

No.

Please.

Yes.

God, is this a dream.

“Count his toes,” he said, nodding toward the baby.

“What?”

He grinned, winking at me before he unraveled the blue blanket from the baby.

“Count his toes,” he repeated.

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