“We didn’t, but I’m sensing you don’t like the idea of Faith telling—”
“No, I don’t like the idea. Unless of course, you want our daughter’s classmates to think you’re Rambo.”
Holden took a moment to consider her question.
“I see you like that idea.”
“I do,” he admitted.
“Who’s Rambo?”
“Who’s Rambo?” Holden mock gasped. “Only the best action hero of all-time.”
“Never heard of him.”
“Charleigh, you’ve deprived our child of Rambo?”
Faith giggled and Charleigh smiled.
“Yeah. Call me crazy but I think she’s got a few more years before she’s ready for blood, guts, and gore.”
“Well, there’s something to look forward to.” Holden tousled Faith’s hair and said. “In five years you and me got a date. Rambo marathon and popcorn.”
“Try seven,” Charleigh returned.
“Six,” he countered.
“Fine, six. But only if you promise not to call Andy’s father.”
“Deal,” he gritted out because he really did want to call Andy’s father but he couldn’t wait to introduce his daughter to action movies.
“Time for bed, sweets.”
“I know, Dad already told me.”
Holden chuckled and Charleigh huffed.
Then Faith did the third best thing that ever happened to him, when she scrambled up on her knees on the bed next to him, grabbed his face, and rubbed her nose against his. “Eskimo kiss.” She bent his head forward and pressed her lips to his forehead. “Sweet dream kiss.” Then she righted his head and kissed both cheeks. “French kisses until the morning comes.”
Holden sat in stunned silence as a golden stream flowed through him.
“Your turn,” Faith declared, looking at him expectantly.
“Um…”
“Watch,” Charleigh said, and made her way to Faith’s side of the bed.
Faith moved to her mom and repeated the routine, then Charleigh did it back and his two girls scrunched their noses and giggled.
Jesus fuck. That had to be the most beautiful thing he’d ever witnessed. That was, until Faith scooted back to him, repeated the process, and he returned the gesture and saw up close his daughter’s eyes light with happiness.
That was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his whole damn life.
“Goodnight, Dad.”
“Goodnight, doll.”
“Night, Mom.”
“Night, sweets.”
Holden scooted to the edge of the bed and threw his legs over the side. He had to wait a moment for the dizzy spell to pass.
Did that just happen?
Hell, yes, it did.
His daughter had just initiated him into her bedtime ritual. A ritual she’d only ever shared with her mom.
Sweet Christ, that felt good.
Holden didn’t look back as he exited the room. On shaky legs, he walked to his room, fire pumping through his body with each beat of his heart. He stopped in the middle of the room, his head dropped forward, his hand went to the back of his neck, and he thought back over his life. This time without compunction or regret, but searching. He loved Charleigh, he knew it down to his bones, he loved that woman something fierce. But never had he felt a love so pure and sweet. Never had he loved so completely, without hesitation or pause.
“You okay?” Charleigh asked.
The door clicked shut, he heard her approach, but he didn’t move.
“Holden?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No, baby, I’m not all right.”
“Hold—”
“I just fell in love with my daughter.” He felt rather than heard Charleigh’s swift intake of oxygen. “I reckon it happened for you the second your hands wrapped around her tiny body. A moment when you and she were still one. Mine happened with Eskimo kisses.”
Holden righted his head.
“I love you, Leigh-Leigh. Down to my soul, I love you. It’s a consuming, undying, unwavering love. But that girl in there, I love her more than that. I love her in a way that I never thought was possible. Different than how I love you.”
“Good,” she whispered.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t—”
“Thank you for being such a great mother.”
“Honey, you never have to thank me for that.”
“I need you to teach me how to be a good dad.”
“You don’t need me to teach you anything. She’s happy in a way I’ve never seen her. All she needs is you.”
All she needs is you.
He hoped like hell Charleigh was right.
Unable to wait another second, he tagged Charleigh around the waist and hauled her closer, then closer still until she was plastered against him.
Then he thanked her properly.
The kiss wasn’t sweet, there was no slow gradual build-up. He went straight to deep and wild, even though Faith was still awake and he couldn’t take it where he really wanted, which was hot and wild with Charleigh on her back, his tongue not in her mouth but in her pussy.
That would have to wait.
Holden broke the kiss but kept her close and told her, “I have to talk to you about something. But first, let me go lock up the house.”
Charleigh burrowed closer, giving no indication she’d heard him so he repeated, “Gotta lock up the house.”
Her head tipped back and she pressed a kiss under his jaw while asking, “Will this talk take long?”
Fuck, he hoped not.
“It’ll go faster if you let me go lock up and get back to you.”
Holden felt her smile against his throat before she gave him another lip touch and stepped away.
He caught her before she could get too far, brushed her hair over her shoulder, and let his fingers glide through the soft strands.
So damn beautiful, his Leigh-Leigh.
“In the interest of saving time, it wouldn’t go unappreciated if you got into bed without your panties on.”
Holden watched her lips quirk before she nodded. “Noted.”
“Bra, too.”
“Your wish is my command.”
“We’ll see if you’re still saying that later when I get you on your knees.” He watched with no small amount of satisfaction when she shivered. “Not in the mood for gentle tonight,” he warned.
“Good, because neither am I.”
“Bed, baby,” he growled and turned to leave.
“You know it’s sexy when you grunt your demands.”
Fuck, now his dick was rock-hard and facing a long wait before he found any relief. His hand went into his
