Short Rides (Rough Riders 14.5)

As soon as Keely removed the pink hat, Jack said, “Holy shit. She’s got red hair. A lot of red hair.” He touched her tiny head. “It’s so soft.”

They looked at her fingers and toes. Poked at her chubby legs. Marveled at her long arms. Studied her perfectly round, perfectly beautiful little face. She’d mellowed out. She let them poke and prod her without fussing at all.

“Well, what do you think?”

“Honestly? I’m speechless. She’s...not an alien,” Jack said softly. “But she might as well be. She’s so little.” He stroked her cheek and she turned her head.

Then she opened her eyes.

And Jack Donohue fell completely in love for the second time in his life.

Jack wasn’t surprised when the nurse told him that Keely’s parents had remained in the waiting room.

After getting Keely settled in upstairs, and fed, he tracked them down. “Come and meet your new granddaughter.”

Carolyn practically tackle-hugged him.

Carson just grinned.

Keely was propped up in bed, looking exhausted, but absolutely serene. “Hey. I can’t believe you guys stayed after the way I acted...”

“Already forgotten, dear.” Carolyn patted her shoulder. “So, let’s see her.”

“This is Piper McKay Donohue.” Keely unwrapped the blanket and pushed the hat back.

“Good Lord, that child has red hair. Well that’s a first in the McKay family.”

Carson peered and the baby and smiled. “Hey, girlie. I hope that red hair means you’re gonna be a feisty hellion who gives your mama as much trouble as she gave me.”

“Daddy!”

“She is a beauty,” he said softly. “Like her mama. And her grandmamma.”

Keely teared up but she held it together.

“There ain’t pictures of my mom around, but she was a natural redhead,” Carson offered.

Jack kissed his daughter’s head and pulled the hat back down. “When I called my mom, she said her mother was a redhead.”

“After all the dark-haired babies born into this family...leave it to Keely to do something different.”

It’d been a long day for everyone, so Carson and Carolyn stayed about ten minutes.

Jack walked them to the elevator.

Before Carson got in, he clapped Jack on the back and choked out, “Now, son, you’ll know.”

“Know what?”

“Why I am the way I am about my daughter. Now you’ll know what it’s like to have a baby girl who lights up your entire world.”

The doors closed, leaving Jack feeling like he and Carson McKay had finally found common ground after all.

All Knocked Up: Chapter Three

Two months later...

“Keely, I think she’s hungry.”

“Again?” Keely put the lid on the potatoes and walked over to where Jack stood, holding Piper. The man was always holding Piper. If he was home, their daughter was in his arms. He was a doting father absolutely smitten with their child. They both were just giddy about their girl.

They’d adjusted to parenthood much quicker than expected. Mostly because Piper was a ridiculously good baby. She slept for a few hours at a time and only had one fussy night feeding. And Jack insisted on handling that one.

Keely peered at Piper’s face as she wiggled and made snuffling, working-up-to-a-big-cry noises. She stroked her chubby cheek. Immediately Piper turned and rooted around looking for food. “Poor starving girl.”

“Get settled. I’ll bring her to you.”

She planted herself in the middle of the couch and lifted her shirt. She hadn’t been sure how she’d do nursing, but so far so good. And her boobs were huge, which caused more discomfort, and less look at my huge hooters! pride than she’d imagined.

Jack handed Piper off to her, but sat on Keely’s left side, snuggled close to watch their baby feed.

Keely breathed a sigh of relief as the tiny mouth latched onto the nipple and her milk let down.

“I can’t believe how big she’s getting.”

“Gavin said she’ll be asking for the car keys before we know it.”

He shuddered. “I can’t even imagine. Let’s enjoy every second of her being entirely helpless.”

Later that night, after Piper had been tucked into her bassinet, Keely lingered in the bathroom, psyching herself up.

So they hadn’t had sex in eight weeks. Getting back into the swing of it shouldn’t be hard, right?

Keely’s image in the bathroom mirror didn’t answer her.

She sucked in her stomach, but the pouch of fat didn’t budge. But if she was lying down, then her stomach would look flat. Maybe even sort of close to her pre-pregnancy size.

She fluffed her hair into the just-tumbled-out-of-bed style Jack loved. Although lingerie would hide the curvier aspect to her ass and hips, getting it on was too much trouble. Her husband tore the lace and satin off her in record time anyway.

Hand on hip, she practiced a “come and get it” smile. Then she opened the door and sauntered into the bedroom.

Jack sat on the edge of the bed. Her gaze tracked his body. He had the sexiest back. Wide shoulders, rippling muscles tapering into a narrow waist. He’d maintained his drool-inducing physique with the same rigorous attention to fitness as he gave to his business.

So what will he think of her extra softness?

Call it what it is, Keely. Not extra softness. Extra pounds.

Man, her body image was for shit today. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.

But when Jack glanced over his shoulder at her, gifting her with his sexy grin, she was pretty much toast.

She crawled onto the bed and followed the curve of his spine with just one finger. She spread her hands over his back, from the bottom of his shoulder blades to the top.

“What are you up to, wife?”

Her damp lips touched his right ear. “Just admiring the view.” She let her mouth connect with his nape as her arms twined around his torso.

Jack released a soft groan when her thumbs brushed over his ni**les.

“I love that noise,” she murmured. “I love touching you like this.”

He hissed when she sank her teeth into the arch of his neck.

“I want you, Jack.” Her hands slid down the front of his body to the drawstring on his sweatpants. “I want you in my mouth before you pin me to the mattress and f**k me.”

“The doctor gave you the green light?”

“Uh-huh.” Keely blew in his ear. “Last week. But we’ve been so baby preoccupied or tired, or the timing has been off.” She tugged on his earlobe. “So are we in synch tonight?”