"Can I go to the nursery to see her now?"
"Daddy will take you."
"I know where it is." He jumped off the bed and raced from the room.
"You handled that very well." Vincent scooted over to wrap his arm around her, bringing her closer to him. "You're a natural."
"I saw what was happening." She yawned delicately and closed her eyes.
"Have I told you how happy I am that you're mine?" he whispered above her head.
"Tell me again."
"I'm happy you're mine. Thank you for my daughter."
"You're most welcome. I love you." She curled into him.
"I love you more," he whispered hoarsely.
*****
"She's so damned adorable, I'm beginning to think I want one of my own." He shrugged when his sister glanced over at him. "What?"
"Would that be with Jacklyn?" she asked mildly as she folded some onesies and stored them in the appropriate drawer. Her daughter was a week old and was already growing. It was a Saturday; Vincent and David were off to baseball practice.
"You don't approve of the relationship."
Althea sighed. Putting away the last of the tiny clothing, she shut the drawer and came to sit next to him. He was cradling Danielle carefully in his arms and the baby was staring at him with unblinking gray eyes.
"She has been divorced twice, and you have a habit of jumping from one woman to the other. Besides, she's not only my sister-in-law, she's loaded and is also a friend. Not to mention the fact that if you mess up, my husband will probably kill you, which would definitely put a strain on my marriage."
"You're a riot," he told her dryly, gazing down at his niece. "Isn't she, honey? Your mommy is a riot." He looked over at her. "I'm in love with her."
"What? It's been just a few weeks."
"Four months and two weeks, but hell, who's counting."
"Four months?" she hissed. "I thought you just started seeing each other."
"We wanted to keep it a secret until we knew it was going somewhere."
"How does she feel about you? Aren't you intimidated by the amount of money she has?"
His jaw tightened. "Her money or social standing means nothing to me. The men she has been involved with are used to seeing her either as a beautiful ornament or someone to further their causes. I see her as a person. She's smart, intelligent, and witty. I have money of my own and am quite comfortable in my own skin.
"She hasn't said she loves me yet, but it's getting there. She's cautious. We have a wonderful thing going on and she's afraid of jinxing it." He touched his niece's bunched fist. "And seeing you with Vincent and the two kids makes me want what you have." He lifted his head to look at her. "It would make me feel a lot better if you're on my side."
"Always." She touched his cheek lightly. "I just want what's best for you. You know that."
He nodded. "I never thought you had a chance with him." He shook his head. "You worried me there for a minute. But I've seen the way he looks at you and that man positively adores you."
"He does." She smiled slowly. "I often find myself wondering if this is really me. If I'm finally with him." She touched her daughter's soft cheek. "She's nodding off."
"I want to watch her sleep for a while. Let me put her down." He rose with her carefully and carried her over to the cot. Althea watched as he tucked the blankets around her and stood there staring at her.
"Still trying to find some evidence of me or you on her. So far, nothing."
"She might get my dimples."
