Page 8 of A Daddy of the Heart
Eli couldn’t help the tired smile that escaped him when Willem settled down on the other pillow, his silver hair blending in with the grey pillowcases. A yawn escaped the other man, but it didn’t stop him from humming softly as he draped his arm over both Raelynn and Eli.
“She’s asleep, boy.” Willem gave Eli’s hip a squeeze. “Get some sleep. Jeremy will be up in a few hours ready to go out and play in the snow. And you promised him waffles.”
“Don’t remind me,” he groaned, not even wanting to think about the syrup mess the four-year-old was bound to make. After peeking one last time at the angel nestled next to him, he smiled, then slid his hand over to rest against Willem’s side.
“Love you, Daddy.” He whispered softly as slumber tugged at him hard.
“Love you too, boy,” was the last thing he heard as he slipped back into slumber’s embrace.
* * *
“Watch me, Eli!” Jeremy, dressed in his bright red snow suit, toddled after his sister who was appropriately dressed in a purple parka and snow pants. They were running around with several of the Ranch kids, their laughter filling the cold air as they stockpiled snowballs and chased each other around the open field next to the park where Willem had taken Eli to on their first date. It was hard to believe that it wasn’t even December yet and there was already nearly a foot of the white stuff on the ground.And it’s snowing again,he thought looking up at the sky.
“I’m watching,” he called out as Willem came to stand next to him. Dressed in a heavy sheepskin jacket and fleece-lined pants and boots, his daddy still managed to look sexy as all get out.
“How’s our boy doing?”
“Good.” Eli grinned as the boy tried to keep up with his sister as she chased a boy close to her own age with a snowball. Several kids nearby were making a huge snowman, while a few more were screaming happily as they came barreling down the gentle hill they’d picked to go sledding on.
“It makes me smile to see them playing. They’ve had too much sadness as of late. They need the chance to be kids for a while.”
“That they do. I still can’t believe that Derek thought to organize a sleigh run for the Ranch families who all wanted some good family fun.” Eli moved closer and stood just slightly behind Willem so he could rest his chin on his Daddy’s shoulder. “I mean, he didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it.”
“He knows you do. I think it was just as much Sadie’s doing as it was Derek’s.” Willem leaned back against him as a few of the Ranch hands who’d volunteered to help with the outing tugged toboggans and sleds back up the hill. Several kids, all in bright colored jackets followed Jagger, the stable master as he led the way. At first Eli hadn’t been sure what to think of living so close to the Ranch with two young children, but now he was. Even though very adult things happened at the main house and the surrounding land, here in town it was nothing more than fun and games suited for children.
“Ready for a hot chocolate, before the kids pile inside demanding theirs?” Willem looked back and up at him. They’d been outside for nearly two hours.
“Yeah. I think my nuts have frozen off, Daddy.” He’d dressed similarly to Willem but even after five years in Montana, he still struggled when the weather got cold. “Will the kids be, okay?”
“Hell yeah. Jagger for all his bluster, loves kids and…” he nodded to the mountain of a man coming out of the enclosed pavilion where they’d set up stations for hot chocolate and cookies, “…it looks like Derek is gonna go help supervise the last run. Let’s go get that drink and relieve Sadie for a bit so she can go play in the snow with her daddy.”
“Sounds good.” He followed Willem inside the pavilion, shivering in pleasure as the warmth of the space heaters hit him square in the face. Sadie, looking as adorable as ever in her bubble gum pink parka and snow pants with white piping down the side, greeted them. “Eli! Willem! You two look like snowmen! Come have some cocoa before the kids drink it all.” She ladled up two steaming Styrofoam cups, topping one with whipped cream and leaving the other without.
“Don’t mind if I do.” Willem took the cup sans whipped cream. As a diabetic his daddy could indulge in one cup of the delicious chocolatey goodness without his blood sugars going too out of whack. “Thanks. It’s chilly out there for sure.”
Eli tugged off his mittens and took the other cup from her. “Chilly, Daddy? Are you crazy? Eighteen degrees is not chilly. It’s freakin’ cold outside.”
“More like ten if you factor in the wind chill.” Sadie admitted. “One of these days, Eli, your Texan blood will thicken up.”
“Not soon enough.” He took a careful sip of the hot chocolate. The taste of real whipped cream and decadent chocolate burst over his taste buds. He seriously needed to get the recipe from Conner. The man was a genius with food.
“No worries, boy, I’ll warm you up soon enough.” Willem gave his bottom a squeeze. “We have a date tonight after the kids go to bed.”
Eli’s cheeks flushed. God, he couldn’t wait until nine o’clock. Willem hadn’t fucked him since the kids had moved in, because honestly by the time they fell into bed each night, they’d both been beyond exhausted. “Daddy!”
Willem tugged his head down and plastered a kiss on his lips, fully exploring Eli’s mouth before drawing back with a quick nip to Eli’s lower lip. “Sweet. Just like my boy.”
Eli groaned and wanted more than anything to push Willem back against the table where Sadie was giggling and have his way with him. “That’s not nice, Daddy.”
“Who ever said I was nice, boy?” Willem winked at him, as the door opened once more, and Derek stuck his head inside – his snow-covered head to be exact.
“You…” he pointed at Sadie. “…get your hind end out here and save me from these brats, Sadie Marie. I am not amused. Who told those little hellions it was okay to gang up on the adults?”
“Aw, Daddy. You’ll be fine. It’s just snow. You won’t melt.” She winked as she skipped past Willem and Eli. “But I’ll come help you get even.”
As she disappeared outside the tent, Eli chuckled. “One of these days, Derek is gonna warm her bottom thoroughly – especially when he finds out she planted the idea of a snowball fight in the kids’ ears earlier.”
“What makes you think he hasn’t already?” Willem tugged him into his arms. “Or that he doesn’t know?”
Eli frowned for a second. “Derek wouldn’t let…”
“…Sadie set him up for a face full of snow?” Willem laughed. “That man will do anything to make his girl happy – even let the kids use him as a pelting board. Not to say that she won’t feel the broad side of his hand later for the prank.”
Eli sighed. “Sometimes I think she lives for that.”
Willem nodded. “I think you’re right.” He released Eli to snag a cookie, one of the sugar free ones that Sadie had packed for him. “Almost as much as my boy does.”
Eli pretended to be outraged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Willem. I’m absolutely a hundred percent innocent this time.” He took another sip of his chocolate. He wasn’t about to admit to his daddy that he’d helped Jeremy stockpile his own set of snowballs or told the boy that the owner of the Ranch would make an excellent target. Sometimes he was as bad as Sadie.
