Page 47 of The Hottest Daddy
River’s voice began to sound as if it were coming from inside a tomb, or from the end of a very long tunnel. “Please, help us, she’s been shot … she’s been shot …”
The last thing she remembered was his beautiful green eyes, full of tears, and his voice, begging her to live.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Mommy?”
Sunday thought she must be hearing voices. Her entire body was aching, her head throbbing with pain. And she knew she wasn’t a mommy. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
“Mommy?”
She opened her eyes to see a gorgeous, dark-haired child with bright green eyes being held by the most beautiful man she had ever seen. “Am I dead?”
“No, baby, no.” The beautiful man was choking back tears. “No, my darling, you’re going to be okay.”
“Mommy.” The little girl reached out and Sunday held her arms out. He put the girl into them.
“Careful, Berry, don’t hurt Mommy.”
But I’m not her mommy. I wish I was, I wish, I wish… But Sunday held Berry close, breathing in her comforting smell. “Hello, baby, baby, baby.”
“I love you, Mommy.” Berry’s hot little breath on her cheek as she kissed her.
“I wish I was your mommy,” Sunday began to cry, “I wish I was.”
“You are my mommy,” Berry said fervently. “I prayed and asked my Mommy Lindsay if she would mind if I had a new mommy. I said I would never forget her, I promised. Daddy said I could have two mommies if I wanted.”
Sunday started to cry in earnest then. Red-eyed, River sat down on the edge of the bed. Sunday looked up at him. “What happened?”
“Scanlan got off a shot before they killed him. It hit your ribcage and bounced off but broke your rib. They were worried the broken rib had pierced your heart but you were lucky. We were lucky. God, Sunday, I love you so much … I was so scared I lost you.”
“Never,” she said, “You’ll never lose me.”
He bent down and kissed her mouth. “This is us. This is our family.”
“And we are unbreakable,” she said fervently.
Berry looked at them. “Daddy, Mommy … when are you going to get married?”
River grinned, looking at Sunday. “The minute Mommy says …”
“Yes,” Sunday finished for him and they laughed. “Hell, yes.”
Berry looked delighted but also, she made a face. “You did a swear.”
“So I did … forgive me?”
Berry nodded and they laughed. River stroked Sunday’s hair. “You have some other visitors. Carmen, Daisy, and Aria are outside.”
“Well, bring them in! I’ll need some maids of honor to go along with my flower girl, here.”
Carmen, Daisy and Aria all hugged her gently, and Sunday found herself overwhelmed by the love of her friends. Her family.
River excused himself a little while later and came back an hour later. “Sweetheart, there are some people here who want to see you … can I ask them to come in? You’re not too tired, are you?”
She shook her head, curious to see who it was. Carmen, Daisy, and Aria were clearly in on the secret because they all grinned and made room next to her. River poked his head out of the door. “You can come in now.”
The first person through the door took Sunday’s breath away. Rae, her assistant from New York, gave a cry and threw herself at Sunday, who burst into tears, hugging her old friend back hard. Her old boss and some of the old team were next, and then, lastly, a visitor who Sunday—or Marley—had never expected to see again.
