“Tell me what?” Capri enthusiastically asked.
“You’re going to move in with me.”
She gasped. “We are?”
“Yes, but only for a—”
I cut Autumn off, “You’re moving into my ranch in Texas.”
“Texas?!” she squealed. “Oh my God! I love it there! Are we close to Grammy and Grampy? I miss them so much.”
“Yes,” I replied. “You can see them as much as you want.”
Before I could get another word in, she threw her arms around my waist, hugging me as hard as she could. “I’m so happy! Thank you! Thank you!”
I blinked away my tears and cleared my throat. “I’m happy too.” I closed my eyes and held her as tight as I could against me too, trying my best to keep it together.
Capri was the first to pull away, and I resisted the urge to pull her back toward me and never let her go. I locked stares with Autumn when I opened my eyes. She was hugging herself in a comforting gesture, with tears in her eyes.
“Momma!” Capri hugged her next, looking back at me.
Although, my stare never wavered from her mothers.
“Daddy,” Capri said for the first time, instantly tearing my attention to her. “When do we leave?” She must have misinterpreted the expression on my face. “Oh, I mean… is that okay? Can I call you my daddy?” Looking up at me, she waited for an answer with nothing but love in her eyes.
Her mom used to look at me in the same way. I’d give anything for her mom to look at me like that again.
“Capri, baby girl, I’d…” I couldn’t form words. Never did I imagine I’d be a father. I didn’t date or do relationships, my life consisted of work and casual sex. Right then, in that moment, I’d give my soul to the devil to have the last nine years with my daughter. From the second Autumn told me she was pregnant. “I would be honored if you called me daddy.”
“Yay!” she exclaimed, jumping into my arms again. “We’re going to finally be a family!”
“Capri,” Autumn cautioned, and I recognized that tone.
There was no hesitation on my part, I tugged her into the side of my body. Holding my entire world in my arms in what seemed like a lifetime.
I gazed down at our daughter, simply stating the truth, “Yes, baby girl. We’re going to be a family.”
Chapter TWENTY-FIVE
—Autumn—
Packing was taking longer than expected and we decided to leave tomorrow morning instead. Julian invited himself to spend in the night in my house. He was going to sleep in the guest bedroom. Yesterday didn’t turn out as planned, and although we did share his penthouse suite, we steered clear of each other, both of us lost in our own thoughts.
The anxiety I felt having him in my home wasn’t as emotion I’d expected. This was my safe haven, the place I’d go to escape the stressors of life. He was invading my personal space in a way I wasn’t prepared for or anticipated. It didn’t help that he was bonding with Capri right off the bat. He was in her room, helping her pack while I cooked dinner.
It felt like we were playing house, and it was too close for comfort.
Capri walked into the kitchen alone.
“Where’s your dad?”
“He’s taking a shower and asked me to tell you he needed a towel.”
Julian clean.
Wet.
Naked.
It sounded like a bad idea to me, but I couldn’t exactly say that to Capri. I nodded, grabbing a few from the linen closet before walking across the house toward the guest bedroom.
I knocked on the door. “Julian?”
He didn’t answer, so I opened the door to find the bedroom and bathroom empty. I realized all too quickly the son of a bitch probably had the balls to use my shower. Stomping one foot in front of the other, I marched into my bedroom, and the first thing I heard was the sound of the shower in my sanctuary.
I shook my head, the audacity of that man. As soon as I opened the door, I shrieked and instantly placed my hand over my heart while my other hand was firmly placed on the doorknob. There was Julian, in all his naked glory, water glistening off his chiseled physique. He was freshly showered and stepping out onto the tile.
My gaze shifted from his face, to his chest, to the place I had no business looking.
His cock.
Jesus.
I. Stopped. Breathing.
Licking my lips, I actually envisioned myself licking from the V in between his hips and tracing my tongue down to his dick. The memories of us showering together and having sex under the showerhead immediately assaulted my mind.
When my lustful glare finally met his, I noticed the cockiest fucking grin plastered on his handsome face, and it instantly washed away all the desire I was feeling for him. It didn’t matter he was fully aware of the effect he still had on me which was more than likely the reason he decided to use my shower instead of the one in the guest bedroom. Knowing I’d walk in here with a towel in my hands to drool over his perfect dick.