I sat in the passenger seat of the squad car, laughing at the look on Noah’s face.
“She tried man, she did. But every single time she tried to say sick, she said dick.”
His face was red and his eyes shined as he laughed through the words he spoke.
“Do you know how hard it was to keep a straight face while my daughter is standing in front of me telling me over and over that she got dick three times that day?”
His eyes widened as he tried to fight his smile. “I wanted to be pissed at the thought but hell, she looked so cute holding her blanket close to her face, looking up at me with those big brown eyes of hers.”
He shook his head.
“Alena stood a few feet away hiding her smile in a damn dishtowel she held to her mouth. Had Nora been fifteen and was saying the same thing, I’d been out the door carrying my shot gun looking for the little fucker that got anywhere near my daughter,” he said with a serious tone.

Apparently little Nora had a speech impediment and the sweet girl was always stumping her parents every time she got carried away with an explanation.

You’re hopeless,” I said just before he kissed me.

“But you love me,” he whispered against my lips and I couldn’t argue.

I did love him, hopelessly and unconditionally. Chase Douglas, I believed, was the man I was meant to spend forever with. All the ugly in my life had led me to this point, right here. So if living in hell was what I had to do in order to find this man, then I would gladly suffer it over again if it meant I had this in the end. Because this right here was what I imagined perfect to be.

Nothing they say or do can ever change the man you are,” Trinity continued. “A man I love with all my heart, and Nan does too. They don’t matter; their words mean nothing.”

I stared back at her as I allowed what she said to really sink in. She was right. I knew she was right. I just got so lost in the anger I had for them that I let their words eat away at me.
“Have I told you lately how amazing you are?”
I asked as she cocked her head in the cute quirky way she did when I gave her a compliment.
“Because you are, and the way you calm me, the way you give me a sense of clarity even in my weakest of times, just confirms how perfect you are.”

“I’m not perfect, Chase,” she whispered in return and it was my turn to take her face in my hands.

“You’re perfect for me,” I whispered as I tilted my head toward hers and pressed my lips against hers. “I love you, sweet girl, so damn much.

You are so much more than I bargained for,” I confessed, which gained her attention. “I knew I wanted to know you, that I had to. There was just something about you that no matter how hard I tried to shake it wouldn’t dissipate. But never in a million years did I realize I would fall so hard.”

I let my thumb trail lightly over her lip. The wound was healing and was less sore but it still angered me that she had to face that night.
“I love you,” I said as my gaze wandered back to meet hers. I could see the unshed tears that formed in her eyes as she smiled up at me.
“Not just because you’re carrying my baby, but that was the turning point that made me realize the love I had for you. It was the moment I truly understood just how much I want you in my life. I want it all with you, the house, the babies, the growing old together and bickering about what to watch on Sunday night television.”

She laughed as she blinked and the tears ran along her cheeks.

“I love you,” I repeated. “And I love this baby,” I assured her as I rested my hand against her stomach.

“I love you,” she said in a whisper as her tears continued to fall. “And I want all those things too. But just so we’re clear, I get to control what we watch on Sunday nights.”
I didn’t argue; how could I when she wore that smile? She was happy, so fucking happy. And that was all I wanted. It was what I craved. Her smile, her laughter, it was as if those were the only things of importance with the acceptance of her safety, because never again would anyone hurt her or my child. That was a promise.

I just want to spend the rest of today and tonight with the only girl who makes my heart race.”
And that was exactly what Trinity did. She calmed me and excited me all at once. I was a tattooed, buzzed haircut, cop who gave off a badass cocky feel, but inside, this woman made me feel like a lost boy seeking the security only she could give. It was still so unbelievable how one smile or a simple touch from her could make me feel whole.
“Yes,” she whispered. “You should definitely spend the night with me.”
She tossed me a mischievous smile and I couldn’t help but feel relief that my fiery girl had returned.

She is pissed off all the time,” he mumbled and I remained silent, letting him ramble. “She wants chocolate ice cream, I go in search of chocolate, but the time I get back she’s pissed because she wants strawberry instead. I can’t win.”
He looked me straight in the eyes and I swear his expression was one of desperation.
“It wasn’t like this before. With Liam she was so sweet. But I swear the damn devil has possessed my wife and she might kill me in my sleep one night.”

It was then I laughed.


“What the hell is so funny?” he asked. “I sleep with one eye open and one leg hanging off the bed touching the floor at my side. This way if I have to move fast I feel I’m one step closer.”

He didn’t smile. There was absolutely no humor in his words.

“Weren’t you the one that said you wanted five kids?” I asked.

“I changed my mind. After this one, we’re done. I want Trinity back.”

Again, complete seriousness. Poor guy looked lost. And it was the best damn thing to witness. Within four months of having Liam, Trinity was pregnant again. And this time she was cranky as hell. Everyone noticed it, but she directed all that aggravation toward the man she said was to blame. And the rest of us loved to witness his hell.

“Go home, Chase,” I told him and he looked as if he wanted to argue. “Stop at the store and pick up every flavor of ice cream they got,” I told him. “Tell her she’s beautiful and rub her feet.”

“I do that already,” he whined. “I tell her she’s beautiful, and no other woman has ever looked as amazing as her. I tell her I love her and that she is my world, but she is like the exorcist.”

“Well it’s your job to take it. Let her growl and complain and just take it,” I told him. “Because at the end of the day you just need to remember one thing.” He looked at me like I was about to give him the best piece of advice. I almost felt bad about the fact that I had nothing reassuring to say.
“What?” he asked and I cracked a smile, almost talking myself out of taking the chance at being an asshole. Then I thought about the fact that had the roles been reversed he would have jumped at the chance.
“You are to blame for the state she is in.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “And the rest of us guys are loving that it’s you and not us being tortured.”

“You’re an asshole,” he mumbled as he turned around and walked off toward his truck. I laughed the entire drive home.