Page 24 of No Regrets

“Put it on.”

“Kaden, what if I lose it?”

He groaned, situating the baby to the side of him. “Your momma is a pain in the butt.”

“I am not—” He grabbed her hand and the ring to slip it over her finger, then inspect it.

“It was my grandmother’s diamond. I had it remounted and set according to your style. White gold instead of yellow and no baguettes since you hate the things.”

He sat back, satisfied with the ring, then kissed her briefly. “That’s only half your present though. Shiloh and I got you this.”

He picked up the baby again resituating her on his thigh. He shoved another present in front of her a bigger box this time, though not by much. He grinned, nuzzling Shiloh to hide his smile.

She opened this one faster, though when seeing it too was a jewelry box, she stopped. “Kaden.”

“Just open the damn present.”

She popped the box open and saw a beautiful silver locket with her name inscribed on the front. “Oh, Kaden, it’s beautiful.”

She pulled it out of the box and slid it around her neck. “Perfect fit, huh, Shiloh. Mommy’s pretty in her new jewelry.”

Brianna smiled, looking at her child and the man holding her, seeing how they were most definitely two peas in a pod. There was no way Kaden could deny Shiloh, because right down to her feet, the little girl was the spitting image of her father.

“Okay, now for your present.” She reached for the box toward the back of the tree. It was a larger present considering she didn’t buy him jewelry, and she handed it to him, trading it for her baby.

He pulled the paper off, and opened the box. “Oh, babe, this is great.”

She smiled as he inspected the brand new leather laptop case he said he wanted the day they went shopping. Shiloh evidently wanted his present as much as she wanted the paper—or maybe it was her dad. She reached for him, grunting again, but Brianna held to her tight.

“It has an R on the front buckle and a personalized nameplate on the inside.” He came to her faster than lightning and kissed her hard and long, pressing her back into the couch behind her.

Shiloh squealed, reaching for Kaden, but he was preoccupied, teasing her mouth with his own. Brianna felt breathless when he pulled away, licking her lips and tasting his unique flavor.

“Thank you.” He smiled at her before leaning down to kiss Shiloh’s head. “You two mean the world to me.”

The phone rang interrupting their moment, and Kaden rose to answer it. Brianna hugged Shiloh to her body when she squealed for her father’s attention. She couldn’t help but understand her need for Kaden. Brianna was starting to feel as if she, too, should scream for Kaden’s attention.

“Bree, it’s for you. Your mother.”

She stood with Shiloh in her arms and reached for the phone as Kaden offered it to her. “Hey, Mom. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, darling. How’s Shiloh?” Regina sounded happy as she spoke, making Brianna smile.

“She’s perfect as usual.” She smiled as Kaden made faces at the baby making her laugh. “She has a billion toys, and I’m not sure they’ll all fit in her room, but she’s had so much fun.”

“His people bought her presents?”

“Mom, they are her family. Of course they bought her presents.”

Kaden stopped playing with Shiloh and frowned at Brianna. She shook her head, handing the child to him as she continued talking to her mother.

“Oh, yes. Your arranged marriage. I trust he’s keeping his hands to himself this time. You’re not going to turn around and tell me tomorrow that I’m going to be a grandmother again, are you?”

Brianna closed her eyes and licked her lips, thinking about the right response and getting it past her lips. “Mom, please don’t do this at Christmas. Shiloh’s happy, I’m happy, please don’t do this right now.”

Kaden kissed his daughter, made his way around the kitchen bar to Shiloh’s highchair, and situated her in place. Brianna watched as he took out a banana popsicle, and peeled the paper back, and gave it to their daughter to eat. He chuckled when he seen her face and pulled it back, nibbling on it himself.

“Brianna, I don’t trust that boy. He left you when you needed him, after all those years you’d done nothing but be there for him through every crisis of his life. He broke your heart, sweetie. Why don’t you remember that?”

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