Austin
I walked through the front door and stopped. Every time I came home, I did the same thing. Listened. To the sound of having a family. In the living room, our baby cooed as Scarlette talked to her. Ivie Rose was six months old today. She was named after our moms. Her first name was Scarlette’s mom’s.
When we told my mom, I thought she would never stop crying. My parents loved being grandparents and stopped by regularly. Scarlette loved them like her own. After all those times spent in trenches in the Special Forces, I’d never imagined life could be this good.
I put my keys in the holder and took a step around the corner and watched my wife on the floor with our daughter. Toys littered the living room.
This was what I’d always wanted.
As if she could sense me, Scarlette looked up at me and gave me a smile I would cherish for the rest of my days. She had saved me. Every morning I woke up, I tried to put as many of those on her face as I could, and I would remain forever faithful. “Ivie, daddy’s home.”
“Hey, sweetheart.” I leaned down to kiss her. Ivie squealed as I picked her up. “Hey, princess. How were you today?”
Ivie gave me spit kisses, and I squeezed her tight.
“Our little girl was showing me how fast she can kick her legs. And we picked tomatoes from the garden today. Your mom stopped by, and we did some finger painting. Well, it was more of a paint smearing. The picture Ivie made you is on the counter.”
Scarlette got up and followed me into the kitchen. A big sheet of paper with a rainbow of colorful smudges was drying on the counter. I kissed my daughter again. “It’s beautiful, princess. I’ll hang it up at work.”
Pure fucking bliss. Scarlette yawned. “Sorry. I’ll get dinner going. I meant to have it done, but time got away from me. Ivie was a little fussy.”
Ivie wasn’t the best sleeper. And Scarlette was up a lot at night nursing with Ivie because she was teething. “I brought dinner. It’s in the truck. Let me feed Ivie while you take a bath.”
“Austin, you worked all day. I can do dinner.”
I gave her a quick kiss. “Taking care of our child is more than a full-time job. Go take a bath. Relax. I’ll bring you some dinner after I feed the baby.”
Her blue eyes shone with love and morphed into what I knew would end up as a lucky night for me. Hell yeah, I’d take it.
About a year ago, I’d started a security company. It took off. I hired a few guys who’d retired from the Special Forces to help me out, and I was able to provide a comfortable home for my family.
Ivie squealed as I kissed her cheeks. Her smile lit up the sky. “How’s Daddy’s princess doing today? Did you take your nap?”
“No, she didn’t. She’s like her daddy. Requires no sleep.” Scarlette touched our baby’s cheek. “But she’s Momma’s little angel. Yes, she is.” She gave the baby, and then me, a kiss before heading upstairs. Before she disappeared from view, Scarlette turned and winked at me.
That ass. Yeah, I’m getting lucky tonight.
Ivie let out a little yell, which meant she was hungry. “Let’s get you fed and to bed. Daddy’s got a date with your mommy.”
Later that evening, after I put Ivie to sleep, I joined Scarlette on our balcony as she watched the sun dip below the horizon. “Is she asleep?”
“For now.” I prowled toward her, enjoying the heat I saw in her eyes. Wrapping my arms around her, I brought her close to me, her body molding perfectly to mine.
She smiled up at me. “I love the life we’ve built.”
I ran my nose against hers and savored her vanilla scent. “Me, too. Every time I walk through that door, I know I’m the happiest man on earth.”
I felt her fingers flex on my hips. She was nervous about something.
“What is it, sweetheart? You still have a terrible calm face.”
She giggled but then got serious. “I want another baby.”
My mouth descended on hers. When I finished, she was nearly breathless. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
Her soft lips grazed mine. “I can’t imagine life without you.”