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’s when she couldn’t help but step in and call him on his behavior.
Cole ran his fingers through her 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 could manage 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 w
orthy of it all too.
And now a special excerpt from Carly Phillips’s next Serendipity’s Finest novel . . .
Perfect Together
Coming February 2014 from Berkley Books
“There is no way in hell I’m going on a date with Margie Simpson.” Sam Marsden glared at his sister-in-law, Cara, from across their respective desks at the Serendipity police station, unable to believe she’d make such a ridiculous request.
“Her last name is Stinson and you know it.” Cara frowned back at him. “Come on, Sam. Her parents are the biggest donors for the Women’s Heart Health Valentine’s Fund-raiser, and the Serendipity Police Department is a co-sponsor. Do you want to be the one to tell the hospital, who will be the recipient of that shiny new medical equipment, that the Stinsons pulled their donation because one of our Finest wouldn’t escort their daughter?”
“She’s more like a pit bull,” Sam muttered. “And isn’t there another single cop you can get to take her? What about Hendler?”
“He’s too old.”
“Martini?”
She shook her head. “Too young. Besides, Margie wants to go with you.”
He shuddered. “All the more reason for me to say no. I don’t want to give her the wrong idea.” Margie was one of those women who assumed that just a look implied male interest. Sam didn’t want to go there. No way, no how.
“Are you giving my wife a hard time?” Sam’s brother, Mike, strode over to Cara’s desk and placed a possessive hand on her shoulder.
“More like she’s giving me one. Call her off, will you?” Sam asked his older brother.