I finally get out of bed and pull on a pair of joggers before making my way to the kitchen and getting the coffee running. I open the cabinet that holds all the mugs and smile. She still surprises me with a mug every week. And every time I place the new one on the shelf, I find myself smiling. Although we’ll soon have to place them elsewhere, because it’s quickly reaching max capacity.
It’s strange how much someone can change your life in such a short amount of time. I now understand what Silas was referring to when he met Cecilia. How, when you meet the right person, you change without realizing it. Even when I had a crush on Cecilia, it didn’t affect my personality or make me do things I normally wouldn’t.
But with Bunny, I do. I smile and laugh all the time now, something that was a rare occasion. I buy her gifts whenever the mood strikes or I see something she would like. I want to involve her in everything I do and call her every free moment I have simply to hear her voice.
I can’t deny it anymore. I’ve fallen in love with Emma.
“Mmm, I love the smell of coffee first thing in the morning,” Em says with a happy sigh as she skips over with Gracie in her arms. It’s then I realize I’ve been standing in front of the mugs, staring into space this whole time.
“My hero, always starting my day off right. You deserve this mug today.” She reaches behind me and picks up my blue Superman mug with a red cape sticking out the back.
“So all it takes to be your hero is to start the coffee machine?” I question with a smirk and an arched brow.
“That, and a really good D-I-C-K.” She giggles and kisses my cheek before trying to wander away, but I don’t let her.
I grab her waist and pull her back to me, kissing her smiling lips, then my daughter’s cheek. “Good morning, Buttercup.”
The rest of the morning goes as planned. We have breakfast, then put Gracie in her toy room and have a very intense yet quiet quickie in the room beside it. Next thing I know, I’ve packed my suitcase and am making my way down the stairs.Ugh, I hate this part.
I drop my luggage by the door and go over to Gracie. Lifting her into my arms, I cradle the back of her head and hug her to me. “I love you, Buttercup. I’m going to miss you. Be a good girl for me, will you? I’ll call every chance I get. I promise.” I kiss her crown with my eyes closed, swallowing around the lump in my throat.
I put her back down with her toys and head to the door, knowing Emma is following right behind me. She always says bye once we’re outside. I think it’s because she doesn’t like me seeing how much it affects her every time.
Turns out, Bunny’s a really emotional woman. She just doesn’t like people seeing it because she thinks it makes her look weak. The only times I’ve truly seen her emotions on full display are when it has anything to do with the girls, but when it comes to anyone else, she pretends not to feel anything. Although she’s starting to let me see that side of her more and more.And it simply makes her more beautiful in my eyes.
I open the front door and pull my suitcase outside. The instant my hand lets go of the handle, Emma jumps into my arms. Her feet are still touching the ground, but I’m basically carrying all her weight.
“Ugh! I hate when you leave. Don’t go, stay,” she whines against my neck.
“You know I can’t, babe. But I wish. Four days will go by fast, then I’ll be back and we’ll celebrate your birthday.”
“That’s true,” she sighs.
“See? You’ll be planning the whole time and won’t even notice I’m gone.”Although I hope that’s not true.
“Impossible, I already miss you.” Em kisses my neck and squeezes her arms tighter around it.
“I already miss you, too.” I take a deep whiff of her hair, letting the flowery smell imprint itself into my mind.
Silas honks his car horn behind us, telling me to hurry up.
“No! I won’t let you go. Not this time.” She lifts her legs and circles my waist, turning into a human koala. “There, now you can’t leave. You’re forced to stay. I’ll stay glued to you forever if I have to.”
“I like the sound of that,” I chuckle, tightening my arms around her body. “But I really need to go, baby. The guys are waiting. I’ll call you when I get to my room. And when I get back, we’ll get someone to watch Gracie for the day so that we can spend time together. Alone.”
“Okay, deal. But not the day you get back, the next one. Little Tulip’s gonna miss you, too. She’ll want to spend time with her daddy.” She pulls her head back and beams at me.
Fuck, this woman. Always putting my daughter first. How could I not fall in love with her?
“Okay.” I cup the back of her head and smile with affection, letting her see how much she affects me. “Bunny.”
I bring her lips to mine, delivering a passionate kiss. We don’t need multiple kisses or a make-out session to pass our message. Just one kiss is all it takes, and I know she feels exactly what I’m feeling.
“Wolf,” she murmurs against my lips.
“Four days.”
“Four days,” she whispers back as I bring her to the ground and let her go.
