He nods, understanding in his eyes. "I'd love for Max to have siblings. Another reason you should stay here, you know? Makes it easier for that to happen."
I laugh softly. "If I stay here, this—" I gesture between us, "—will probably happen every night."
"Is that supposed to be a problem?" he asks, eyebrow raised.
"I don't know," I tease. "You're older and not getting any younger. Not sure if you can keep up."
He chuckles, the sound warm and genuine. "I love this sassy side of you. Stay, and I'll prove I can handle anything you dish out."
I look up at him, standing there naked and gorgeous in his living room, offering me everything I thought I'd never have again; security, passion, a father for my son.
"Okay," I say simply. "I'll stay."
His smile is brilliant, lighting up his entire face. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," I confirm, holding out my hand to him. "At least for now. Let's see where this goes."
He takes my hand, pulling me up into his arms. "I think it's going somewhere pretty damn good."
I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"Me too," I admit. "But we should probably put some clothes on before our son wakes up and gets an early education."
Dean laughs and kisses the top of my head. "Good point. Shower first?"
"Together?" I ask.
"To conserve water," he says solemnly, though his eyes sparkle with mischief. "Very environmentally conscious."
"Of course," I agree, matching his serious tone. "It's the responsible thing to do."
As he leads me upstairs to the bathroom, slowly to avoid the creaky steps near the bedroom, I feel a lightness I haven't experienced in years. I came to Blackwater Falls desperate and afraid, looking only for the bare minimum of help.
Instead, I've found something I never expected… A second chance, not just for Max to have his father, but for me to have something I'd given up hoping for: happiness.
Chapter 9 - Torch
The steam from the shower has barely cleared from the bathroom mirror when Sidney steps out, wrapping a towel around her body. Water droplets cling to her skin, catching the light as she moves. I watch her, still trying to process everything that's happened in the last twenty-four hours.
I asked her to stay. Me—the guy who's spent years running from anything resembling commitment or emotional attachment—didn't even hesitate. And it feels right. Natural, even. Because I want her near me, want Max to grow up with a father who's present, who gives a damn.
There's undeniable chemistry between us, a connection that goes beyond the physical, beyond even our shared child. There's a sense of what might have been if I hadn't left Cedar Falls three years ago, if I'd been in a better place mentally.
"What are you thinking about?" Sidney asks, catching my stare in the mirror.
I wrap a towel around my waist and step behind her, placing my hands on her shoulders. "How quickly everything's changed. Yesterday morning I woke up alone. Now..."
"Now you have a ready-made family in your house," she finishes with a small smile.
"Yeah." I lean down to kiss her shoulder, still damp from the shower. "And I wouldn't change a thing."
She turns to face me, her expression serious. "Are you sure about this, Dean? About us staying? It's a lot to take on all at once."
"I've never been surer of anything," I tell her, and I mean it. "I want you here. Both of you."
The worry lines between her brows smooth out. "Okay. But we'll take it one day at a time."
"One day at a time," I agree, though in my head, I'm already seeing months, years stretching ahead of us.
