Page 168 of Blackout-

A whisper of a cry sounds, pulling my attention away from one beauty to another. Jack stands, gently rocking my baby as he moves to stand in front of me and I get my first glimpse of heaven. My chest tightens as I stare at the single most perfect little human ever to grace this Earth. She squirms in her grandpa’s arms and I watch in awe as she scrunches her button nose. Her lips part and a yawn escapes her. It’s such a simple act and yet my fucking heart explodes at the sight of it, making me very aware of how deep a father’s love runs. Every breath I take, every beat of my heart, are hers from this point forward. A man doesn’t realize how much has been missing from his life until he stares at the child he created and suddenly becomes complete. He doesn’t know how vulnerable he is until he looks at his daughter for the first and realizes he will never share such emotion with another soul.

Blinking away my tears, I welcome them as they slide down my cheeks and silently hold out my arms. With a gentleness I never knew he was capable of, Jack eases my little girl into my arms and we’re a perfect fit. These arms of mine were made to hold her.

“Hey, there, sweetheart,” I say huskily. “It’s Daddy. God, you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on,” I whisper, bending my head to kiss the tip of her nose.

Mynose.

A little bit ofleatherin a tiny package full oflace.

“You look just like your mommy,” I murmur. “My two girls.”

Just as I utter the words, I recall Jack’s promise to me.

They’ll be there waiting for you when you get out, I promise. Until then just know I’ve got them. I. Got. Them.

Always, a man of his word.

Lifting my eyes, I meet his gaze.

“Thank you,” I rasp. “For taking good care of my girls.”

“Always, son,” he winks.

“She’s named after you,” I add.

“Poor kid,” he teases but there is no mistaking the emotion in his voice or the gratitude in his eyes.

“I don’t know,” I say. “I think she’s pretty lucky.”

Patting me on the shoulder, he stares at me thoughtfully.

“Yeah, she is,” he agrees before drawing out a heavy breath and turning to Reina and Connie. “I think our job here is done, ladies. What do you say we leave the happy family?”

Connie stares at the baby longingly for a beat before Jack mutters a curse.

“For fuck’s sake, Connie, I’ll give you and Reina free rein with my credit card. Go buy baby shit and let the man bond with his daughter. They’ll let you hold her again. I promise.”

“To be fair, you’re the one who has been hogging her since she was born,” she fires back. “And don’t curse in front of her. I don’t want my granddaughter’s first word to be fucking shit.”

“That’s two words,” he says, throwing one arm around his ex-wife’s shoulders and the other around his Sunshine’s. Cradling Jacqueline closer, I laugh as the three of them exit the room bickering.

“They’re an odd bunch, aren’t they?” I whisper to my daughter. “But they’re the best. You’ve got a whole lot of people who love you, sweetheart. Especially me and your mom,” I say, looking at Lacey. “Let me tell you something about your mom…” I pause, taking time to make my way towards Lacey. Carefully I take a seat on the edge and position Jacqueline in my arms so that if she opens her eyes her mom will be the first thing she sees. “When God was handing out mother’s he gave you the best. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever known, a real warrior. She’s compassionate, and she loves with everything in her, but I bet you already know that.”

Jacqueline releases another yawn and this time she opens one eye. I smile in awe as she slowly opens the other and looks at her mom.

“She’s pretty too, isn’t she?” I whisper, nuzzling the side of her face. “You look so much like her.” I breathe her in, memorizing her scent before pressing a kiss to her chubby little cheek. “I love you, Jacqueline, and I promise you, I’m going to be the best dad to you. I may mess up from time to time, but I think the greatest thing I can do for you as a father is love your mother and baby girl, I love her with my all I am and all I can ever hope to be.”

“I love you too.”

At the sound of Lacey’s voice, my head snaps up and I meet her gaze.

“I see you’ve met our daughter,” she whispers.

“You mean I’ve met the second great love of my life.”

“Oh, yeah, who’s the first?”

“I’m looking at her.”

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