“He might want to… you know?” I can feel my face heat. I’ve never talked openly about this kind of thing to anyone but Carrie. “But Madeline and I are a package deal.” I shrug as if my comment makes the most sense in the world.
I startle when all four girls throw their heads back in laughter. Not just ha-ha laughter, I’m talking “hold your belly, my baby is shaking in Aurora’s arms” laughing. I mock glare at each of them. At least I try to. Their laughter is infectious and I crack a smile. So much for the mom glare.
“Sweetie,” Aspen says gently. “There is something you should know about the Riggins men when they find someone they want. They don’t let anything stop them.”
“It’s not like that with us,” I defend, even though my belly flips at the thought of being someone Marshall would want. Sure, he wants to spend time with me and he’s kissed me a few times, and—
Holy shit.
“There it is.” Sawyer points at my face. “Recognition.”
“I’m a single mom,” I mumble as I process what I’ve just finally let myself believe. Marshall Riggins wants to date me. The truth has been there, lingering in the back of my mind, but I never allowed myself to believe it. He’s way out of my league, something he and I have discussed, even if he didn’t like me saying it. But I have to admit his attention and the kisses don’t scream casual to me.
We had dinner every night this week. Two nights at his place and three at mine. Every time he goes to leave, my heart sinks. I love spending time with him. It’s not until just now that I’ve admitted that to myself, and well, now a room full of his sisters.
“So?” Aurora shrugs.
“I have baggage. A little girl who would eventually think of him as her daddy. That’s more than he’s going to want to sign up for.” Is it, though? He’s great with Madeline, and even at just a few days shy of seven months old, she already adores him. “And she’s not baggage to me,” I add. “I love her with everything inside me, and I need a man who is willing to love her like she’s a part of him.” I get choked up saying the words out loud. “That’s a lot of pressure. I don’t expect that from him.”
Sawyer snuggles Madeline to her chest and smiles. My eyes scan the others and they’re all wearing the same expression. “I’m serious,” I tell them.
“Why don’t you let me make that decision?” a deep voice rumbles from behind me.
My eyes go wide, and this time I pull the mom glare perfectly as I shoot it at my new friends.
At the sound of his voice, Madeline turns to look for him. When she lays eyes on him, she smiles.
“I see you, baby girl,” he tells her. “Let me set Mommy straight and then I’ll be right there.” The next thing I know, Marshall is kneeling in front of me. I can’t look anywhere but at him, and I know my face is crimson. I don’t know why he’s here or if his brothers are with him. What I do know is that he’s about to say something that could change us, change me, and his family is going to hear every word of it.
His warm hands gently cradle my face. He stares at me, not saying a word. I wonder if he can hear the rapid beat of my heart. Surely, he can hear it. Right now, beat by beat, I wait for him to speak.
“I know she has a daddy,” he says, his voice gruff. “I know that he loved both of you, and if he could be here—” He shakes his head. “It would be an honor for that little girl to think of me as her daddy,” he says. His voice is strong, and there isn’t a single person in this room who wouldn’t believe that what he says is complete truth. “I’ll love both of you for both of us,” he says.
“What?” I whisper, hot tears pricking the back of my eyes.
“I never met Travis,” he says, “but I don’t need to for me to know that he was a good man. He earned your trust and your love, and that tells me all that I need to know about him. I’m sorry you and Maddie lost him. I hate that for both of you, but if you’ll let me, I’ll love you both, for both of us.”
Beat.
Beat.
Beat.
Beat.
My heart thunders in my chest. My eyes burn and my palms sweat. This amazing man kneeling before me, he’s mended my broken heart. Beat by beat, it's healing, and it’s all because of this man.
“What… what are you saying?” I ask. It’s a stupid question. I know the meaning of the words, but I’m going to need to hear them again. I’m having a hard time processing this. We’ve only known each other for a short amount of time, but here he is kneeling, telling me he wants to love my daughter and me. Not just that, but he’s going to love her for Travis. A sob breaks free from my chest.