A log structure with a huge wraparound porch that looks like every piece of it was built by hand. It definitely matches the mountain theme. And all around it are colorful lights strung up perfectly, like it was done by Santa himself.
“Daddy?” Ellie says softly.
I turn slightly to look at her as she rubs her eyes and blinks a few times while looking out toward the lodge.
“Are we here?” she asks.
“Yeah, baby. We’ve been here for a couple of hours.”
Her mouth drops open. “I slept for that long?”
“You were tired.”
She moves her gaze toward me. “You stayed in the car and waited for me to wake up?”
“Of course I did. I’m not going to leave you in here alone.”
Without asking for permission, which is usually against the rules, she unbuckles and scoots forward in her seat so she can reach me and wrap her arms around my neck before kissing me. “If I’ve never told you, you’re the best Daddy and husband in the world.”
My chest tightens as I kiss her back.
I suppose I’ll let her get away with breaking a rule.
Just this once.
5
BEAU AND EMMA
Beau
“Daddy, we’re here! I can’t believe it!”
I grin at Emma, unable to ignore how fucking happy it makes me to see her so excited about this. Hell, I am, too. I get to spend a week with my wife, giving her my undivided attention and something else I think she’s been longing for. It might even be something sheneeds.
Since we met, her editing business has taken off, and she’s also become an enormous asset to our dog rescue. We’re together physically all the time, and I’m always Daddy and looking out for her, but we both worka lot. Even though she handles it all amazingly, I know she still carries a fair amount of stress. The dog rescue takes a huge emotional toll on us. She needs an escape. And I think being my Baby Girl will be perfect for that.
I’d like to say I’m not nervous about it, but I am. I’ve never had a Little who wanted to give me that kind of control. I’ve been around plenty of Baby Girls, though, so it’s not new to me.Hell, Brynn, Ellie, Nora, and Lucy go that small. All of them wear diapers regularly, and my brothers are much more involved in their care than the rest of us are with our own girls. I’ve always been envious of them because of it.
Control is something all of the men in this family need. Some more than others. If it were up to me, I would control everything for my girl. She’d never have to worry about anything. But at the beginning of our relationship, this was newer to her than it was for me, so we eased into our dynamic. But I’m ready for this next step, and I hope she will be too, because ever since I noticed her appearing interested in it, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
“Come on, Baby Girl. Let’s get out of the cold.”
Emma looks up at the sky and smiles. “It’s snowing, Daddy. It’s so beautiful.”
I can’t help but stand and stare at her when she slowly spins around. The flurries float around her like she’s in a snow globe.
An ache forms in my chest. God, I wish Ma and Celeste could have met Emma. They would have adored the hell out of her. And she would have loved them. Celeste would be out here twirling along with Emma if she were here.
Fuck, I miss them. But I still have such a beautiful life, and I know Ma and Celeste are happy for every one of us. Including Pop and Claire. That’s why my mom was so amazing. She was the most selfless person I’ve ever known, and Celeste was becoming just like her.
Emma stops spinning and looks at me, her black hair spotted with white snowflakes. “I love you, Beau.”
A lump forms in my throat at her use of my name. Rarely does she ever call me that unless she’s being extremely serious. Even though she tells me she loves me every single day, this feels like a special one.
“I love you, too, Emma.” I reach out for her. “Come here.”
She instantly walks into my arms and looks up at me with so much adoration that it takes my damn breath away. And what she doesn’t realize is that I love her so much more than she could ever know. It’s unconditional between us.
