Page 100 of For Fox Sake

About eight months ago we were sitting on a bench in the early spring sunshine, enjoying ice cream cones after school when she asked if she could call me Daddy, since I was marrying her mommy. I told her yes, of course, and then had to change the subject so I wouldn’t burst into tears like an infant.

I saved the crying for when Ryan came home and I was able to tell her the story in private and then sob on her shoulder.

Ryan and I aren’t getting married until she’s done with school. But I couldn’t wait to ask her. I proposed one lazy morning in bed, shortly after we moved into our new place. Probably the least romantic proposal, since we were both naked at the time, but for some reason it was just... perfect.

“I’m sure Santa will find you. He knows when you’re naughty and nice, he sees you when you’re sleeping and all that, so clearly he must know you were sleeping here.”

“Hmm.” She purses her lips at me.

She’s getting old enough to start questioning the whole Santa thing, but maybe we can squeeze out one more year before we have to break it to her—or the kids at school will.

I grab a couple mugs full of coffee. “You good?” I ask Ari. “I’m going to check on your mom, get her to start moving.”

She nods. “I’m good.”

Padding into the bedroom, I nudge the door with my foot, leaving it open a scant inch, and set our coffees down on the nightstand. Then I slip under the blankets, still warm with Ryan’s body heat.

She immediately turns into me, one arm slipping around my waist, the other tucking between us. “Hmm,” she murmurs, half asleep, her face settling into the crook of my neck, her nose brushing against my skin. “Jake.”

I tighten my hold on her. “Merry Christmas.”

Her lips slide against my neck. “How much time do we have?” Her voice is husky with sleep.

Within a split second, my cock hardens into a rock.

Damn. I will never get enough of this woman.

I stifle a groan. “Ari is awake. She’s in the kitchen drinking hot cocoa.”

“We need to soundproof these walls.”

“Agreed. You should tell Finley that.”

She chuckles, her laugh vibrating through me. My heart squeezes inside my ribcage. I didn’t know it was possible to be this deliriously happy.

“Can we go now?” Ari calls out from outside the door.

Ryan pulls back slightly. “Are you ready for this?” she asks, her voice low.

There’s only one possible answer. “Yes.”

Thirty minutes later, we walk into the main house using the side door that opens directly into the kitchen and I’m immediately struck with the scents of pine and cinnamon undercut with cleaning products. It smells like home. Laughter and the low hum of conversation drifts in from the living room.

“We’re here!” Ari skips ahead of us.

Finley and Piper are both sitting on the floor, near Benjamin. The baby is standing at the coffee table in his flannel onesie, holding the edge and bobbing up and down. He’s not walking quite yet, but he’s getting the hang of moving around a bit while hanging on to something stable.

Oliver sits on the couch behind him next to Archer, his eyes focused on his son’s every movement.

Luke and Mindy are in the recliner, Mindy snuggled into his lap.

“Where are Taylor and Ace?” I ask.

Ryan takes a seat on the couch next to Oliver and Archer. Ari settles on the floor between Finley and Piper.

“Taylor and Atticus should be here soon, they just woke up,” Finley says.

I roll my eyes. “Shocker.”

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