She began to sob.“I’m a terrible baker, and our babies are going to hate me.”
He got up from his chair, wrapped his arms around her, placing one hand around her body, while the other cupped her cheek and forced her to look at him.
“Look at me, babe, there is no way Ava is ever going to replace you.”
“She replaced Harlow.”
“No, she didn’t.Harlow left, and if you remember, even when things worked out between Hunter and my sister, she continued to work with Hailey.Ava is not going to get rid of you.You might want to start practicing your decorating skills, but most people are not good at something they are just starting.”He kissed her temple.“You’re great, please know that.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.I know you’re great, Larissa, and Ava is so damn lucky to have you.”
“Thank you.”
He looked at her and couldn’t help but glance down at her lips.With how close he was, he basked in the lemon-ness of her scent.She smelled so good.She looked so damn good.He wanted her.His cock already getting hard from the closeness of her.
“Anytime.”He kissed her on the forehead again and moved away so she wouldn’t see how aroused he was.
Being close to Larissa was a gift as well as torture.He wanted her so badly.It was never going to stop.
He took a bite of her beef Stroganoff, and it was just another reason to love her so much more.
****
Over the next coupleof days, Larissa found herself watching Big Dick more than she thought she would.He looked so sexy.So handsome.
There were some nights she would come downstairs, and he would be in the kitchen eating ice cream or having a hot chocolate, without his shirt, and memories of their past together came rushing back to her.
Big Dick didn’t push.He was there, all the time, and she didn’t hate him for it.
Every wince she made, he asked her if she was okay.He was there by her side, and she watched him hesitate in touching her stomach.He always waited for an invitation to touch her stomach.Big Dick had become a real gentleman.
He was sweet and caring.In the mornings, he was there, holding her hair back as she vomited.He would get her toast, or plain snacks that helped settle her stomach.He never had coffee near her.She knew he still drank coffee, but he always brushed his teeth to hide the smell.How was that not sweet?
Most days, he picked her up, and dinner was pretty much made.He also refused to allow her to do the dishes.
He stopped partying at the clubhouse.According to Harlow, he had become a celibate man.A devoted family man.
She loved his smile.She couldn’t get enough of that smile on his lips.Her arousal for him was going through the roof.She kept trying to be mad at him, but how could she be mad at someone for showing up?
Yes, her life hadn’t exactly worked out how she had hoped, and there had been some semblance of a plan, only life had changed.
She had gotten to know and love her mother.She had also buried her mother.Her relationship with her father was a little strained at present, which she didn’t like.This was why she came with a variety box of cookies as a peace offering for him.She didn’t want to have any strain with her father.He’d been there for her, and she understood why he didn’t want her to know about her mother.It was painful to finally get to know her and have to say goodbye.It hurt more than she wanted to think about.
Her mother had told her that when she passed, there would be no time to dwell.All she could do was embrace the future.Her mother had also told her to be a better mother than she had been.Larissa didn’t know how she was going to do that, but she was going to try.It was all she could do.
Arriving at her father’s house, she knocked on the door.She still had a key, but she didn’t want to be rude.Within seconds, Jonah Adams opened the door.
“Hey, Dad,” she said.
“Oh, Larissa, honey.”He wrapped her in his arms and immediately pulled her into the warmth.“I am so glad to see you.”
She held onto her dad, and she felt the tears once again well up.This was not supposed to be emotional, yet that was exactly how it felt.She took a deep breath.
“I’ve got you, honey,” he said.“I am so sorry.I thought I was protecting you.I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know,” she said, offering him a smile.“I know.”She looked at him and smiled.“I love you, and I am sorry for waiting this long to come and see you.”
