Page 143 of Mountain Daddy

Chleo just shakes his head, already rebuilding.

That's my son. Builder. Fixer.

The floorboards creak behind me. Soft footsteps. The scent of vanilla and sleep-warm skin.

I don't turn. Don't need to. My body knows her presence before my eyes confirm it.

Lilly.

Her arms slide around my waist from behind. Her cheek presses between my shoulder blades. Heat blooms where she touches me.

“Morning,” she murmurs, voice still rough with sleep.

I reach back, cup her hip with one hand. “Morning, Mrs. Vetrov.”

She laughs, soft and low. “Three years of marriage and you still say that like you're surprised.”

“I am.” I turn, finally looking at her. “Every damn day.”

She's wearing my t-shirt. Black. Too big. Hanging to mid-thigh. Her hair's a mess of curls around her face. No makeup. Pillow creases still marking her cheek.

Most beautiful fucking thing I've ever seen.

“Coffee?” I offer, already reaching for a second mug.

“Please.” She slides onto the barstool at the kitchen island, legs crossing. The shirt rides up. Just enough to tease.

I pour her coffee. Add cream. Two sugars. Slide it across to her. She gets some coffee on her lip.

I lean down. Kiss her clean. Taste coffee and mint toothpaste and Lilly. My wife. My life.

Her hand slides up my chest, rests over my heart. Coffee? Abandoned.

“Sleep well?” I ask against her lips.

“Mmm. Would have slept better if someone hadn't kept me up past midnight.”

I grin. Can't help it. “Complaints?”

“Not a one.” She kisses me again, deeper this time. Her tongue teases mine.

I'm about to suggest we send the kids to Rosa's for the morning when a crash from outside pulls us apart.

“Ana!” Chleo's voice, sharp with alarm.

We both move at once. Parental instinct overriding everything else.

Through the window, we see Ana sitting on the ground, tears welling in her eyes. A small cut on her knee. Nothing serious. Chleo's already kneeling beside her, checking her over.

“I'll go,” Lilly says, already heading for the back door.

I watch her go. Watch her crouch beside our daughter. Watch Ana's tears dry almost instantly when Lilly kisses her knee better.

My family.

My heart outside my body.

Walking around in the world.

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