The woman I’d spent years fighting with and one mind-blowing week fucking senseless at every opportunity.
The woman who made me forget my own name when her lips were wrapped around my cock.
The woman who knew exactly how to soothe Rory when she was fussy.
I grabbed a different shirt from my closet—the green one Harper had said matched the green in my hazel eyes when she’d peeled it off me in the library stacks three days ago.
From her bouncer, Rory squealed and kicked her legs, tiny hands reaching toward me. At least one female in my life wasn’t complicated.
“What do you think, sweet girl?” I scooped her up, inhaling that addictive baby smell. “Does this shirt say, ‘I’m responsible enough to raise a human but still hotenough that Harper won’t be able to keep her hands off me?’”
Rory’s answer was a stream of drool that bubbled down her chin. I laughed and wiped it away, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Even covered in drool, she looked perfect in the little yellow dress my mom had gotten for her. It was crazy how fast she was growing. She’d already outgrown half the clothes we’d gotten for her when she first arrived.
I checked my phone. I had five minutes before I needed to pick Harper up. I didn’t know why I was a nervous wreck. I could have this woman’s legs wrapped around my waist in a practice room without breaking a sweat, but the thought of taking her on a real date with my daughter made my hands shake.
Maybe because this was kind of my first date ever.
I was familiar with sex and picking up women, but I’d never wanted anything serious. I’d never wanted to impress a woman.
But I wanted to impress Harper. I wanted her to see I could be someone she could trust and rely on—not the asshole I’d been to her most of our lives.
Fuck it. I’d be early, but I couldn’t just stand around here and wait when I was dying to see her again.
I scooped up Rory, grabbed the diaper bag I’d packed with everything I could possibly need, and headed for the door. Rory babbled happily as I made the short walk over to Harper’s and knocked on her front door.
My breath seized in my lungs when she opened it. Her hair fell around her shoulders, her red curls soft and shiny. She wore a simple blue dress, and despite its modesty, my imagination went wild knowing what was underneath.
“Hi,” she said, a slight blush creeping up her neck as she scanned down my body. I was glad I changed my shirt if thiswas the reaction. Her face lit up with a smile when she focused on Rory. “There’s my favorite girl.”
Fuck, this woman was going to ruin me.
Rory smiled a gummy smile and turned toward Harper, who easily took her from me, both of them looking at each other with matching grins on their faces.
They were picture perfect.
But more importantly, they were both mine.
My heart was fuller than I’d ever known was possible.
“You look fucking gorgeous,” I said, leaning in to kiss her properly. No more hiding. I wanted everyone to see us together, to see me with my girls.
She melted against me for a moment before pulling back, her eyes dancing. “Language around the baby, Dumontier. You keep that up and her first word is probably going to be a swear word.”
I smiled. “Probably.”
She shook her head at me, but her smile gave her away—she thought I was cute.
“So where are you taking me for this date?”
“Toscana for dinner. They have that butternut squash ravioli you mentioned wanting to try.” Her eyes lit up and I instantly felt ten feet tall. “Then I thought we could check out the outdoor concert happening at Riverside Park tonight.”
“That sounds perfect. I can’t believe you remembered my off-handed comment about the ravioli.”
I grabbed her hand as she closed the door. “I told you, I remember everything about you,” I confessed. “Even back when I pretended not to give a shit what you said.”
She laughed and the sound shot straight through me. “That explains a lot.”
Toscana was exactly what I’d hoped for—intimate but not stuffy, with warm lighting that made Harper’s hair look like sultry fire and soft enough music that we could actually talk. The hostess led us to a corner table, and I caught the way she smiled when she saw Rory in her carrier.
