Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
A few minutes later, he’d helped Erin out of the car and placed the baby in her arms. He let her go ahead, and she slowly made her way upstairs. Although the baby had her own room, they’d agreed to keep her in their bedroom, at least for a little while.
They settled her into the bassinet, and Erin eased herself onto the bed.
Cole joined her, stretching out beside her. “Your parents wanted to be here when you came home, but I talked them into waiting until this afternoon.”
Erin grinned. “Good thinking.” It would have been too much to have people here waiting for her, even if it was her mom and dad.
Ella and Simon had been at the hospital, so they hadn’t been deprived of time with their granddaughter.
“I wanted my girls all to myself for a little while.” His eyes were alight with joy, and Erin hoped she’d never again see the bleakness that had been there nine months ago.
“Say that again,” she said, staring into his handsome face.
“What?”
“My girls.” Erin would never get tired of hearing him refer to them that way.
“You are my girls. You were mine since the day I laid eyes on you at Joe’s. I was just too stubborn to admit it.”
She smiled. He was that. “I’m just glad we were able to pull off the wedding before she was born.”
“I still wish you’d had a big wedding with all the trimmings. You deserve that.”
Erin shook her head. “I deserve you.”
They’d had a small wedding at the house on December fifteenth with Erin’s family. Cole’s mother and Brody had come—and to everyone’s surprise, so had Jed, who had been on his best behavior. He hadn’t stayed long, but he’d witnessed the ceremony, and they took what they could get from him.
“My dad gave me away, and I walked down the aisle to you. The rest would have been icing.” She loved that expression of his. “And you give me enough of that every day.” She cupped his cheek in her hand. “I love you,” she said, her voice catching. She shook her head. “Sorry. I’m still overly emotional.”
He clasped her hand in his. “You think I’m not? Never, not once in my life, did I think I’d have . . . this.” He swept his arm around for emphasis. “I didn’t think I deserved it.”
That truth never failed to upset and anger her. “You were so wrong.”
“It’s in the past.” He brushed a kiss over her lips.
“Not far enough if you can still remember it,” she muttered.
He grinned. “Did I ever tell you I love how protective you get of me?”
“You might have mentioned it once or twice.” Each time she’d put Jed in his place, she thought, and it had been more than just once or twice.
“He’s trying, and you know it. What’s that expression? You can’t teach an old dog new tricks? But he’s getting better. He catches his own slips now.”
She frowned. She thought Cole was too forgiving of Jed’s personality, but she supposed he had a point. The older man had stepped up, making an effort to be more of a father and to get rid of his bad attitude, but sometimes things slipped. That was when she couldn’t help but step in and call him on his behavior.
She’d do anything for this man just as she knew he’d do anything for her. Everything they’d been through together had been worth it to get to this point.
Cole ran his fingers through Erin’s hair. She’d been letting it grow, and he liked to wrap the longer strands in his hand. “Jed’s coming over with your folks later too.”
“So are Mike and Cara, and Sam.”
Cole met her gaze. “Umm, Nick and Kate asked if they could stop by too.”
Erin burst out laughing. “For a man who didn’t like to be surrounded by people, you sure have done a one-eighty.”
“I do love our families, but I’d much rather be alone with you. Don’t worry, I’ll kick them out in due time.”
She grinned. “I’ll hold you to that.”
A small squeaking noise sounded from the bassinet, and Cole shot to a sitting position before Erin managed to roll over. She is going to be one spoiled little girl, Erin thought, smiling.
“Is my Angel hungry?” he asked, his face and voice softening when he talked to his tiny daughter.
The squeaks turned into a full-fledged wail. “I think she wants you,” he said, laughing, as Erin unbuttoned her blouse.
He handed her to Erin. “Her name fits, you know.” They’d named her Angela, but already Cole had taken to calling her Angel, and Erin knew the nickname would stick.
He nodded. “She’s my Angel, just like you are.”
Erin smiled up at him. “And that makes us both very lucky girls.” Lucky in life, lucky in love.
Like Cole, she never dared to dream she could be this happy, or thought she deserved so much, but she’d do everything she could to appreciate her good fortune—and remind Cole every day of all the reasons he was worthy of it all too.