Page 144 of Love Me Like You Do

“It’s because I care. So, so much.”

She was right about that. The reason they worked so well, that they were in sync, was because they both tried so hard to hear and understand—to learn—each other.

He kissed her again, deeper this time, letting her feel his whole heart.

After a moment, she gently pulled away. “The candles are melting.” She nipped his bottom lip. “More of that after the girls go to bed.”

Fuck, yeah.He couldn’t wait to get his hands all over her.

As they slowly made their way to the table, they started singing, “Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us, happy birthday to our family, happy birthday to us.”

The girls joined in, and when he set the cake down, Evvie crawled from her chair onto his lap. He hooked his arm around Hailey who had Paisley sitting with her, and the connection between the four of them warmed him to his bones.

My family.

He would never get over the way his life had changed. The way these girls had brought him a happiness he never could have imagined.

Before them, he’d lived for hockey and surrounded himself with people who wanted to party on a yacht or hang out at his penthouse. People he could impress.

Now, he got to spend his life with two little girls and a woman who wanted nothing but him. He didn’t have to take them on exotic vacations or push for more. He just had to show up.

And he did. Switching to the Renegades had given him more time at home, but mostly, it gave his family the peace of mind that he was there for them. Always nearby.

Raising these girls wasn’t easy. He’d spent plenty of time talking to the therapist and getting advice on parenting forums, but through it all, they’d grown closer.

“Ready?” Hailey asked.

The girls nodded, and then they all leaned in to blow out the candles. Smoke drifted lazily in the air, and they clapped.

“Yay.” Paisley pumped both fists in the air. “Happy Family Day.”

“Happy Family Day.” Hailey kissed all three of their cheeks before cutting thick slices.

Just as they picked up their forks, ready to dig in, Cole said, “Whoa. Not so fast. This is our second birthday as a family, so we’re starting a tradition. Let’s go around the table and say our favorite memories of the past year. Who wants to start?”

“I do.” But it didn’t look like Paisley had anything to say. Her lips pressed together, and her cheeks went bright red.

“Overachiever,” Hailey said.

The seven-year-old covered her mouth with a hand to hide her grin.

“How about we let—” Hailey began.

“No, I’m ready. I liked when Papa won the trophy and looked right into the camera and said, This is for you Paisley.” She lowered her voice to sound like him, and they all smiled.

“Hey, I mentioned Evvie, too.”

“Oh, I didn’t hear that.” Paisley giggled.

And that made him crack up. Yes, she’d pushed their boundaries, but she’d also come to trust them enough to let her true personality show. And this girl was funny. Clever, too. They’d wanted to honor Lindsay and Darren by never taking away their titles, so Paisley had come up with Papa and Momma for her adoptive parents. And he loved it.

Loved being her papa.

Evvie was quiet, so he wrapped an arm around her tummy and said, “You know I said your name, too, right?”

She gazed up at him with a loving expression. “Can I eat now?”

He chuckled. Guess she hadn’t been hurt that her sister excluded her. “Not yet, baby. Do you want to tell us your favorite memory this past year?”