“I thought you were going to take her from me,” I admitted, the words physically hurting me.
“Never. Even if you and I don’t work out, and that’s not really an option, but if we ever got to that stage, I’d never take Cassie from you. I hope you know that.”
“I do,” I conceded. “I think I just needed to hear you say it. Seeing those papers…”
“Freaked you out?”
“Just a little.”
“Just a little? Kel, you took off out of here like your ass was on fire.”
“I didn’t…” I lied, knowing I one hundred percent did.
“Marshmallow…”
“Fine. I did. But, Jake, I was scared.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. And I know Mom is too. This just isn’t…”
“Easy?” I offered.
“Not at all.” Jake chuckled trying to lighten the mood.
I stepped toward Jake and automatically his arms opened for me. Moving into the space, I rested my head against his chest, feeling the beating of his heart against my ear.
“But we’ll figure it out?”
“We will. I promise. We’ll figure it out together.”
ChapterTwenty
Jake
It’d been six weeks since Kellie had spent the night. The best night of my life, mind you, but I was hoping this weekend I could top that. It wouldn’t be easy. Waking up to Kellie’s lips wrapped around my cock was something I wasn’t likely to forget in a hurry, but I was hoping a family weekend was what we needed.
Cassie and I were doing great. Last week, I’d picked her up early from day care, and we’d gone out for ice cream. She’d talked so much I wasn’t entirely sure she paused long enough to take a breath, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. She asked me if she could come back out and play with the chickens and collect the eggs, and I was powerless to say no. Sawyer and Nash gave me shit about being wrapped around her chubby little finger, and honestly, I didn’t give a flying fuck. Cassie was the best thing that ever happened to my life even if I hadn’t planned for it.
Throwing the pink comforter up in the air, I watched as it floated down and landed on the new bed I’d finished putting together in the early hours of the morning. Kellie was probably going to have my balls for spoiling her, but that was a father’s prerogative—to spoil his princess, and I was making up for lost time.
When I finished making the bed, I checked everything was as it should be before pulling the door closed and going back into my room. A room I was hoping to make ours before the weekend was over.
A new set of sheets, a fresh coat of paint, and even a new mattress were all in place and ready to go. This ranch hand’s cabin was now looking like a family home. It had picture frames on the bookshelf, a refrigerator full of food, and the television had been hooked up to every streaming service known to man.
“Knock, knock,” a voice called out.
“Come in,” I replied, checking the room one last time before pulling the door closed.
Striding back out to the kitchen, I found Mom standing on her toes, rifling through the cupboards.
“What are you looking for?” I asked, sliding onto one of the stools at the kitchen counter.
“A vase.”
“A vase?”
“Yes, Jake, a vase.”
“And you thought I’d have one?”
