Page 119 of Protector Daddy

I swallowed. “Of course. I mean, I’m honored.”

“I know it took some time for us to reconnect when you came back to town, but I’m really glad you did.” He grabbed me by the shoulder, dragging me in for a hard one-armed hug.

I hugged him back, my gaze landing on Gina with the baby now up on her shoulder. She was rubbing his teeny back and patting him expertly.

Life was a damn fragile thing. I only hoped I’d be good enough for them.

A commotion at the door had Jared slipping away. My father had arrived. He was a shy man who understood plants more than people, and I laughed as he got flustered when Bonnie bustled around him to take his coat and get him fed.

While everyone was fussing over my dad, I squared up my shoulders and forced myself to walk over to my soon to be sister-in-law.

I crouched down beside her. “How’re you, Gina?”

She gave me a soft, but tired smile. “Sore. Happy. Terrified. Ready to cry at a moment’s notice.”

I lightly touched the dark fluff of hair around Caden’s ear. “He’s beautiful.”

“Want to hold him?” She must have seen the terror I was having a hard time concealing. “You don’t have to.”

“He’s so damn small,” I whispered.

“He won’t break.”

“So you say. Your hands are smaller and prettier.”

She laughed as she turned him around. His little face bunched up and his tongue was definitely looking for something I couldn’t give him. But instead of pushing him on me, she set him in the crook of her arm and the baby instantly settled into sleep.

I touched his foot and the baby flexed his little toes. I tucked them back into the blanket she had him bundled in. “He’s so beautiful.”

“I know it. I can’t believe he’s finally here.” She lifted a hand to cup my face. “Jared was just as afraid to pick him up.”

“Yeah, well, my brother is a lot braver than I am.”

“You’d be surprised.” She closed her eyes and I could tell the new mom fatigue was hitting.

Sami hopped down off the hassock and handed me her baby.

This one I was pretty sure I could handle.

I sucked back a wince—maybe. It really was freaking creepy with its hair half matted and the other half possibly stuck together with drool or something else I didn’t want to name.

I gathered her and the creepy baby up and stood. “Let’s let Mommy get some rest.”

“Okay. I’m hungy.”

“Let’s get you a plate, huh?”

“Hot dogs!”

I laughed. “I think I can handle that.”

I glanced back at Gina who held her baby securely even in sleep. I’d definitely be ready to hold the little guy when he was just a little more sturdy.

I swung Sami around until she giggled and headed back to the kitchen to get her fed.

Dealing with food was one place I never doubted my competency.

TWENTY-FOUR

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