“Not even a little bit. That wasn’t your fault at all. I’d go check if I woke up and heard voices too. And I wanted you to meet them. Thank fuck you weren’t totally naked though.”
I can feel him smiling now, and his body relaxes into me even more. “Sounds like your ex would have been okay with that.”
I let out a possessive growl and wrap my arms around him a little tighter.
“I’m gay, Gabe. Remember?”
“She’s not,” I say, my voice still a little growly, but he doesn’t seem to mind if his deep chuckles says anything about it. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this settled in my life. This content. “I love you,” I whisper into his ear so softly, I’m not certain he even hears it.
But the tension is back in his body as he slowly rolls over to face me.
“You don’t have to say it back. But I want you to know.” I brush a hand over his cheek. “I’m in love with you, and I want you to stay.” I lean forward and press a kiss to his lips. “And I want you to meet Amber in the morning. But only if you want to. Properly.”
His mouth parts slowly, and I hold my breath as I wait for his answer. “Okay.”
I feel like fist-pumping, I’m so damn happy, but I just kiss his lips again. “And I may have promised her blueberry pancakes.”
Finally, he relaxes again and rolls back over so I can spoon him. “I can do pancakes.”
“She’ll be the judge of that,” I say and kiss his neck.
I revel in the way his body fits against mine and the fact that I know, without even having to see his face, that he’s smiling.
22
DAKOTA
This is new.I peer through groggy eyes at the small blonde child staring at me from next to the bed. Her big eyes are staring straight through my soul. “Good morning.”
“Daddy said you make really good blueberry pancakes.”
Right. He did mention that.
“Amber, it’s early,” I hear Gabe mumble into his pillow.
“Daaadddy,” the girl whines. “It’s almost six! I have school!” That’s right, I do remember Gabe setting an alarm before we drifted back off to sleep, but I could have sworn it was for seven.
The little girl stomps and whines again.
Oh God, he’s upset her. She’s going to start crying soon, I can feel it. I don’t know if I’m ready for that. I mean, she’s a huge part of Gabe’s life, and I want to meet her. I want to be a big part of his life, so I need this kid to like me.
It’s a lot of pressure.
He loves me.
“Why are you smiling?” she asks curiously, her head tilted to the side.
Am I smiling? Yeah, probably.I don’t tell her I’m smiling because her ridiculously hot father somehow fell in love with meand I’m still a little drunk on that revelation. “I was just thinking about how much you’re going to love my pancakes.”
The little girl scoffs, one foot out in front of the other as she stares me down and crosses her arms over her chest. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Okay, my lips twitch in another smile because the kid is cute. As far as kids go, I’d say Gabe has a good one. “Meet you in the kitchen?” I ask.
She thinks about it for a moment before dropping her little arms to her sides and nodding. “Okay. Butoneminute.”
I grin at her. “Okay.”
“And go potty!” Gabe says as she bounces out of the room. His big, strong arms wrap around me, pulling me to his warm body. “Morning,” he rumbles in my ear.
