Page 104 of One Night with Number Nineteen

“Roger that.” There’s movement at the door and Leo moves to intercept what looks to be a flower delivery.

“You want to hold him?” Lainey asks.

Looking down while she looks up at me, a baby in her arms…fuck, I want that, want it to be our baby, our family. Ollie running around with his siblings, my ring on her finger, Lainey looking up at me with love in her eyes.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

And as she carefully passes Reed over, as I feel the warm weight of him in my arms and watch her expression softening, I think maybe she feels some of what’s in my heart, that perhaps it’s not so far out of reach.

Maybe I just need to figure out how to keep the pieces glued together.

Because if I can do that…

Maybe I can have this too.

Lainey. Ollie.

A family of our own.

Reed squawks softly, and a heartbeat later, Leo’s sweeping him out of my arms. Harper wakes, and then the women are talking as Harper nurses Reed, and Leo and I—or well, really just I—give her some privacy.

Then Faye and Gray show up and we’re at the visitor’s limit, so we make our goodbyes.

But I snag Leo’s shoulder before I leave. “Hey, there’s just one more thing.”

“What’s up?” he asks, brows dragging together.

I drop my voice. “Hire the night nurse.”

Lainey unlocks the door and I follow her into her house. “Coffee,” she says on a yawn. “And then a nap. And then—” Another yawn. “We’ll get Ollie from school.”

My lips twitch. “How about we skip the coffee?” I ask, tugging the mug free of her hand. “And instead, we go straight to the nap portion of the morning?”

Her eyes dance. “I knew there was a reason I kept you around.”

“Because I have a good idea every now and then?”

“Exactly.” She settles her hand on my chest and leans in, brushing her mouth over mine. “Well, that and your gorgeous body.”

I grin. “Speaking of your gorgeous body…”

“I was talking about yours, handsome.” She burrows into my chest.

“Po-tay-to. Po-tah-to,” I tease, holding her close for a moment.

Then release her and take her hand. “Let’s get you to bed.”

“Just me?” she asks as I lead her toward the stairs. “Are you in a rush to get home?”

“Nah, love. But you should rest.”

“How about you rest with me?” she asks.

Sleep next to Lainey—her gorgeous body pressed close, her scent in my nose, her soft curves beneath my hands…fucking torture.

One I’d sign up for every single day.

“Okay, Pages. We’ll rest together.”