Page 23 of Hired By My Rich Baby Daddy 3

I finally stopped pretending to read my emails and shot Unc a text to check on him, King, and Summer. He replied a few moments later, letting me know he was good and the kids were getting ready for bed.

I put my phone down beside me and rubbed my hands together. Five minutes probably hadn’t even passed, but it felt like I had been sitting there waiting forever.

Then I heard footsteps coming down the hallway.

I sat up straighter as Noree walked into the living room with Oaklynn on her hip. Oaklynn’s head was resting against her shoulder, and she was awake but still looked sleepy. She rubbed one of her eyes with her little fist while Noree gently bounced her on her hip.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Noree said softly.

Oaklynn lifted her head and looked around the room. Her eyes landed on Miss Carolyn before she finally looked in my direction.

Noree smiled and pointed toward me.

“Baby, this is your dada.”

My chest tightened.

Oaklynn looked at me, then turned her head and looked back at her mama.

“Aww, it’s okay, baby,” Noree said. “You can say hi.”

I lifted my hand and waved at her.

Oaklynn stared at me for another second before she lifted her hand and waved back, wiggling her little fingers.

That did something to me.

My smile got so wide. I couldn’t help it. Just seeing her wave at me made me feel something I couldn’t even explain.

“Hey, Mama,” I said.

Noree walked over and sat down on the couch beside me with Oaklynn on her lap. Neither one of us tried to force anything. We just sat there, watching her and waiting to see what she was going to do.

Oaklynn looked at me again. Her eyes moved over my face before dropping down to the big iced-out chain around my neck.

That got her attention.

She leaned toward me and reached for it.

Noree laughed. “You better tuck that in because she loves flashy things.”

“I see.”

I laughed and reached for my necklace, trying to tuck it beneath my hoodie, but Oaklynn practically attacked me, trying to wrap her little fingers around it.

She stretched her whole body toward me, determined to get that chain. I caught her underneath her arms and picked her up, standing her on my lap.

“There you go.”

I kept one arm securely around her while she grabbed my chain with both hands. I looked closely at her face, still amazed by how much she looked like me.

“Who told you to steal my whole face? Huh?”

I tickled her, and she giggled while I kissed her cheeks.

That laugh put a huge smile on Noree’s face.

She sat there watching us for a moment before she stood.