Page 99 of Her Guarded Hero

She watched as Dalton’s big hand covered the whole of Jamie’s back. Her son knew he had it good because he snuggled in against his father’s bare chest. He wasn’t hungry, she’d fed him an hour ago. Nope, Dalton had heard the same snuffle she’d heard on the baby monitor and couldn’t help himself. Their boy had them both wrapped tightly around his little finger.

Jamie let out another little sound. Nothing of importance, just a sound to let his father know that he was there, that he liked the attention he was getting. Aurora saw Dalton’s thumb move up, so he could touch the back of Jamie’s head and play with a silky black curl. She’d been right, he looked like his big sister Reagan. All big blue eyes and black curls. Jamie was going to be a heartbreaker.

“So why are you up in the middle of the night my boy?” Dalton asked their son.

Jamie moved his little fist upwards and touched it against Dalton’s whiskered jaw.

“Nope, none of that. That’s too rough for you.” Dalton brought the little baby’s hand to his lips and kissed it.

Jamie let out a little cry. He never liked being told no. He was seven weeks old, and already knew that word and hated it. Dalton went over to the rocking chair and turned on the small lamp. He had to move the blue plush seal off the seat, so he could sit down.

Aurora gulped a watery breath as her husband and son settled down in recliner. Dalton took the little soft toy and put it next to Jamie, who grabbed it’s little tail. It always hit her hard when she saw him sit in that spot with their son.

She remembered when she’d had Dalton sit on that same rocking chair in their San Diego home, she’d been almost nine months pregnant.

“Don’t kneel down,” he’d admonished. “Get up.”

He’d pulled her onto his lap.

“The chair’s going to collapse,” she protested.

“It’s a rocking recliner,” he smiled. He brushed back her hair. “Why is there a package on the table?”

She fought back tears. “It’s for you. I hope I did good. I don’t want you to be sad.”

He frowned.

“Or mad,” she said. Did she do the right thing?

“What’s in the package?” he asked.

“It’s something for both you and Jamie.”

“Our son’s name is James,” he smiled. “What’s in the package?”

She handed him the present. “Just open it, okay?”

Because she’d made such a production about it, he took his time opening it. She could tell he was freaked out, but then again, so was she. Please God, say he’d like it.

He froze when he pulled out the picture frame. Reagan’s little face was smiling up at him.

Dalton’s eyes turned indigo bright and filled with tears. Reverently, he held the picture up over Aurora’s swollen belly. He spoke to their son. “I know you can’t see this right now James, but this is your sister Reagan. She’s watching over you.”

Dalton’s tears fell as he smiled and put the picture on the table. He cupped Aurora’s face between his hands.

“It’s perfect. You’re perfect,” he whispered against her lips.

It took a moment for Aurora to come back to the present and realize Dalton was whispering to her.

“I see you,” he was saying.

“You can’t see me,” she protested.

“Okay, then I can feel you,” he laughed softly. “Come help put James to bed.”

“Jamie,” she corrected.

“James,” he smiled as she walked into the nursery.