Possessive Daddy Next Door

Just like talking to flowers helps them grow, so does talking to my baby. Or at least I think it does. I’m really just making this stuff up as I go along.

I put the watering can down and rub my back as I head inside. The kitchen is clean and shining, all thanks to my obsessive need to have something to do. I start on lunch and just as I’m nearly finished, the front door opens.

“Del?”

“In the kitchen,” I call out.

Max comes into the room. He grins at me and takes off his belt, draping it over the back of a chair. I turn to him and he kisses me, letting it linger for a long moment. He’s wearing his police uniform and I have to admit, the man looks insanely good. Every time I look at him, I feel a little shiver down my spine.

“How’s my favorite girl?” he croons.

“We’re doing great,” I say.

He laughs and puts a hand on my belly. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. We’re so close, you know. Excited?”

“Nervous. Excited. Can’t wait to meet her.”

“You know Mom is going to make us stay at the manor for a while when the baby’s here, right?”

He shrugs. “I guess it won’t be so bad. Might be nice to have the help.”

“It will be.” I put a hand on his cheek. He hasn’t exactly gotten along with my mother these last two years, but they have a sort of understanding now. They both love me, and want what’s best for me, and that keeps them off each other’s back.

“I do miss the cooking,” he admits. “Not that yours is bad,” he says quickly as I glare at him.

“Good save.” I shove a plate at him. “Sit down and eat, idiot.”

He laughs and sits down. I sit across from him, picking at my plate, while he devours his food in two bites. “Nothing like having lunch with my wife every day,” he says and leans back in his chair

I can’t help but laugh at him. “You really love it?”

“I really do.” He stands and stretches. “Come here. I gotta show you something.”

I cock my head then stand. He leads me into the living room and boots up the laptop. He opens a web browser and pulls up a news website for Philadelphia.

The headline reads, GANGSTERS GO TO PRISON.

I look at him and frown. “What’s this?”

“Just read it.”

I start on the first paragraph but before I can even get three sentences in, he’s already talking.

“Remember the money we paid those guys?” he asks.

“Uh, yeah, I remember the most terrifying night of my life.”

“Second most terrifying.”

I shudder. “Good point. Thanks for that.”

“Anyway, the money we gave them was marked, right? I tipped off my friend Taylor and he’s been tracking that money all through Philly, and he uncovered this massive bribery and extortion scheme. Even caught the bastards in the act.” He laughs, his eyes wild.

I shake my head at him, grinning huge. “So you got them.”

“I set it up, at least.” He pulls me into his lap and kisses me. “That’s what happens when you fuck with my family.”

I kiss him nice and slow, letting it linger. God, he tastes so good, so, so good.

“I can’t wait for Tab to have a little sister,” I say. “Do you think she’ll be happy?”

“I think she can’t wait. And you’re already a good mom, you know,” he says. “This baby is pretty damn lucky.”

I lean my head against his chest. “Yeah. We all are.” I look down at the ring on my finger and remember the wedding last year, the honeymoon in Paris, coming back and buying this house in Loftville, a house all for us. And of course, Tab, and becoming closer and closer to that little girl. She calls me Del and I hope she thinks of me as her mom one day.

Max’s radio crackles in the other room. He kisses me and stands up, lifting me into the air and setting me down like I weigh nothing. He hurries into the kitchen and I can hear some muffled talking. I skim the news article, shaking my head.

He comes out a minute later. “Gotta go,” he says.

“Anything bad?”

“Just routine Loftville bullshit.” He kisses me again. “I love you. I’ll be back later.”

“I know you will.” I touch his face and he holds my hand for a long moment before leaving again.

I watch him go with a smile on my face.

My man, my world.

And soon, it’s going to get bigger.