“No, Daddy wouldn’t put cold lotion on you,” he promised, rubbing the lotion over her skin. “That would feel yucky, huh?”
She nodded. “Yucky.”
Beau finished rubbing the lotion into Palmer’s soft skin before reaching for her pajamas. “Alright, pretty baby, let’s get you cozy.”
Palmer lifted her arms without being asked, still sucking quietly on her pacifier.
“So helpful,” Beau said with a warm smile as he guided her arms through the sleeves of the pink sleeper. The soft fabric rustled as he worked her legs and arms into it before zipping it from the leg to under her chin.
“There we go,” he murmured, smoothing the sleeper over her hips. “So beautiful.”
Palmer looked down at the sleeper. “Is pretty,” she agreed.
Beau chuckled and put his fingers under her chin, tipping her head back to look at him. “I was talking about you being beautiful, silly girl.”
“Oh.” Her face heated and she covered her cheeks with her hands, trying to hide her embarrassment.
“Hey, no hiding that pretty face from Daddy,” he said, scooping her up. He lifted her easily into his arms, setting her on his hip. Palmer wrapped her arms around him automatically, her cheek resting against his shoulder.
“You’re getting sleepy, little one,” Beau said, patting her bottom.
Palmer nodded. It had been a very big day for her.
“Do you think you can stay awake long enough for Daddy to give you a bottle? I got you some super yummy protein mix to go in your new babas.”
Palmer nodded so hard her curls brushed across his cheek. She would do almost anything to experience Beau feeding her a bottle.
Beau laughed.
“Good, Daddy really wants to give you a baba.”
His admission gave her the warm and fuzzies. It felt good to know Beauwantedto do things for her. Not because he had to, but because he liked taking care of her.
She snuggled closer against his shoulder as he carried her into the small kitchen. “I think we’ll try vanilla tonight,” Beau said as he reached the counter.
“Yummy!”
“I think it sounds yummy too.” Beau said with a grin as he started preparing the bottle.
Palmer watched him with heavy eyelids, her heart feeling full.
Beau scooped the vanilla protein powder into the bottle and added some milk before screwing on the lid and giving it a few shakes.
Palmer watched from where he’d set her on the counter, her legs swinging gently making her feel even smaller. “Smells yummy already.”
Beau put the bottle in the microwave for thirty seconds. Once it beeped, he pulled it out and tested a small bit on his wrist. “Perfect!” he declared. He picked her up again and carried her to the glider chair in the corner of his bedroom. Sitting down, he settled Palmer in his lap and pulled her blanket over her legs and feet. “Ready, pretty baby?”
Palmer wondered if his heart was beating as fast as hers. This was such a special moment between them! Pulling her pacifier from her mouth, she opened her lips and Beau gently guided the nipple in. Palmer latched on right away, deciding she loved the taste of the protein powder.
“There you go,” Beau murmured. “How beautiful.”
Palmer reached up to take the bottle from his hands, but he softly tsked them away. “Daddy will hold it for his baby,” he said, dipping his head and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
She hummed with happiness and Beau smiled knowingly. “It’s pretty magical isn’t it, baby?”
Palmer stopped sucking long enough to agree with him.
Beau rocked the glider slowly with his foot, his eyes resting on her face. “I could spend every night right here looking into your pretty green eyes and feeding you a bottle, little one.”
