Page 109 of Reckless
“I wish I’d been there.”
God. My chest caves in on itself in a Theo-shaped hole.
“I feel like I’ve missed so many moments that I’ll never get back.”
My hand squeezes in a pulse on his wrist. “You won’t, but you’ll get new ones.”
“I’m trying hard not to overstep with her or be overbearing. You two feel so established, like this tight little duo. Teammates.”
“You might even say...business partners?”
Theo snickers, bumping his shoulder against mine.
“You and your damn business partners.” He gives her knee a soft rub before turning thoughtful again. “No, I just don’t want to come between you two. I feel like an interloper in this private world you’ve created. But I just...I could stare at her forever. You know? I keep going back to my place at the end of every day, but I feel like I’m in the wrong house.”
When I peek down at Vivi again, she’s nursed herself to sleep. Her tiny hands have gone soft, fingers falling open.
“I feel the same way,” I whisper. “Here.” I lift her carefully as I turn to Theo and gently put his daughter into his arms. “I have an idea.”
His head quirks, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he sits on the edge of my bed, holding our daughter, wearing a suit, looking so damn good it hurts. Literally, the back of my throat, my chest, my stomach—they all ache.
I head to the en suite bathroom where I wash my face, brush my teeth, pull out a spare toothbrush for Theo, and change into a pair of gray jersey Calvin Klein shorts with an oversized matching crewneck.
When I come back to the bedroom, my body thrums at the sight of Theo. I get up on the bed and kneel behind him, hands on his broad shoulders as I stare down at Vivi’s perfect little doll face.
On the one hand, I feel like I barely know Theo. On the other, there’s this comfort with him. This sense of knowing. I can’t explain it. All I know is I’ve never felt it. Maybe it’s because we made a whole new human being together, but I think it’s more.
I think even without Vivi, we might have ended up back in each other’s lives.
I think he would have made sure of it.
And that thought warms me from the tips of my toes to the little fizzy sensation behind my ears. Theo Silva barely knew me but never forgot me. He never gave up on me. He was coming for me with a single-mindedness that I can’t understand.
And maybe I don’t need to.
Maybe now it’s my turn to let him in.
“She’s perfect, right?” I rest my chin on his shoulder.
“Perfect.” His finger traces her nose, over her pudgy cheek, and around the shell of her ear.
“I put a toothbrush out for you in the bathroom.”
“Okay,” is his quiet reply, but he makes no move to leave his spot on the bed. We stare at her for I don’t know how long. Then I watch him lift her and get a close-up view of him dusting a soft kiss to her forehead.
My mouth goes dry, because an hour ago he bent me over and made me blush harder than I ever have. And now he’s all bulging muscles and sweet kisses while he dotes on our daughter.
And it isthemost intoxicating combination.
He twists, handing her over to me, not failing to kiss my forehead. And then he pads away quietly, appearing introspective.
Sad and happy.
I keep thinking this entire thinghasto feel overwhelming to him, but he’s given no sign of that being the case. He just keeps showing up with a smirk and a wink. Every damn day.
Carefully, I turn on the bed, lying Vivi down in the center before putting my head down on the pillow with a deep sigh.
Today was...a lot.
