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“Who did you think it was?”

“No one … I just got nervous when I saw the lights.”

Walking toward her, he said softly, “You can’t worry like that every time, Alyssa. He’s locked up and can’t hurt you. Plus, you’re hours away and he doesn’t know it.” John leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

He stood in front of her, tall and strong. He made her feel safe, like he would throw himself in front of a train before he let a thing happen to her. His presence commanded attention. Strong, fearless, powerful. And in that moment, Alyssa wanted to wrap her arms around John and never let go. They hadn’t had any contact and she needed to feel secure, whole, one … and John had always given her that.

“You alright?” he asked, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

Alyssa nodded. “I am now.” She couldn’t stop herself from leaning into John. She needed his touch no matter how much she told herself she didn’t, or couldn’t have it. Resting her head on his chest, she sighed quietly. In this moment, life was just right.

Until Brooke started fussing again.

“What’s wrong with my little cupcake?” John cooed, pulling back. Her body screamed for him to not let go.

Alyssa pulled Brooke off of her shoulder when her daughter tried to turn around at the sound of John’s voice. Her eyes widened and she began crying incessantly. Alyssa looked confusingly at Brooke, then to John who shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t have a clue. Brooke extended her little arms toward John and reached for him. Without a second thought, Alyssa handed her daughter over to John who began laughing and crying at the same time. The mixture of sounds caused Alyssa to chuckle. She didn’t know whether to cry or laugh herself.

“Huh.”

“Huh, what?” John retorted, rubbing Brooke’s back.

“It’s just that she stopped fussin’ the moment you held her.”

“I must have the special touch.” If he only knew …

“Maybe she just wanted you,” Alyssa emphasized.

John pursed his lips for a moment. “Maybe,” he said with a grin. “Is she hungry?”

“I could nurse her … she’s always hungry.”

“Do you have a bottle I can give her?”

“I do. Let me thaw the milk and get it ready for you.”

John left the kitchen to sit on the couch. Sitting back, he viewed the room before him. For someone who didn’t have anything, Alyssa sure had a lot of boxes to unpack.

Holding Brooke, John bounced her on his knee while she laughed, slobber going all over him. He didn’t care. She wasn’t able to sit up on her own yet, so he held her under her arms. It was adorable, and he couldn’t help but laugh at her round, dimpled face. Brooke was the world to him. She had been since the moment he met her.

“Hey, baby girl. What’s goin’ on with you?” he cooed. “Why are you so fussy for your mama? Can’t you give her a break?” Brooke reached for the silver ball chain around his neck, feeling the beads slipping through her wet fingers. He pulled the chain from his shirt and she stared at it trying to figure out what it was.

“Got nothing to say?” He angled his head playfully to the side and stuck his tongue out, but she was much more interested in the tags hanging from the ball chain. Her aqua colored eyes glanced up at John and she smiled brightly, pulling him in and wrapping him around her finger. His little cupcake was the cutest thing in the world. He loved her and wished he never had to leave her side. There was something about her soft expression that caused John to fall more for her each time. She made him forget all the little things, and all that mattered was her and her mother.

“I guess she just wanted you …” Alyssa trailed off.

John kissed Brooke’s cheek and laughed. “Maybe she did. Everyone wants me except for you.”

Alyssa chuckled and rolled her eyes as she plopped down next to him. She handed John a warm bottle and realized he was wrong. It didn’t help that he cared for Brooke so much, that he cuddled her like fine crystal making sure not to hurt her. Something as simple as John feeding her daughter was all it took for Alyssa to let down her defenses. Not to mention, he looked pretty damn hot all buff holding a baby.

“I had an extra set of keys made to my truck. I want you to have something in case of an emergency and figured you could use my truck during the week since I really don’t need it.”

She melted at his thoughtfulness. “John, you didn’t have to do that. I was going to get a job soon and use the rest of my savings to get a car.”

“I know I didn’t have to, I wanted to.” He winked.

John was so content with everything that she couldn’t help but wonder what was going on inside of his head. She didn’t understand his way of thinking, or why he was so eager to help her. And as much as she wanted to poke, she didn’t. A single, hot, young marine willing to step in and be the father of a daughter that could possibly not be his? That never happened. And if it did, it took a special kind of person to step up to the plate.

Alyssa rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling in close. He leaned over and dropped a kiss to her head.