Page 34 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

“You’re absolutely right, Luke.” She leans up on her tippy toes and kisses my lips.

After our kiss, her eyes go wide. “I am so sorry!” She covers her mouth and steps back.

“I shouldn’t have kissed you in front of Sadie.

I—I am so sorry.” I pull her back in by the loop of her jeans, bringing our bodies closer, “Come here.” Framing her face with my hands.

“She asked if I was going to marry you and if you were going to have a baby. She didn’t sound opposed to being a big sister, so that’s working in our favor.

” I can feel how hard her heart is pounding in her chest with how close our bodies are.

I give her a chaste kiss to her lips to calm her thoughts.

“SHE WHAT??” Dayna responds in a loud whisper. Her whiskey-colored eyes are comically wide. “Apparently Ariel and Prince Eric get married and have a baby.” I told her.

“Yes, I’m familiar with the plot. But what made her think that we— I— what?” Dayna is really sexy when she’s flustered like this. Her cheeks are a rosy pink. “Oh my god, is that why she called me Ariel earlier?” I can’t help but laugh.

“Get in the truck, Dayna. You’re going to make yourself dizzy.” I close Sadie’s door and open Dayna’s. With us in the truck, we head home.

Sadie and Dayna are on the sofa talking to each other while I’m cleaning up the kitchen from our lunch. The way those two are laughing together, I honestly never thought I’d hear the pure joy of Sadie’s laughter again.

“Daddy can we have cookies?” She’s been eyeing the cookies I set out earlier. Bringing the tray of sweets to the living room, I set it down on the ottoman.

“I’m going to need to find a Dentist soon to keep up with you!”

“Have you found a doctor and pediatrician yet?” Dayna asks.

“As a matter of fact, I have. We both had our annual physicals a couple weeks ago. We are both healthy.” I say. She nods her head. “That’s good, I have mine in a couple weeks…” Her voice trails off as if she didn’t mean to talk about it.

“So, Sadie, have you picked out your Halloween costume?” Dayna changes the subject without skipping a beat.

“I’m going to be Vanellope and Daddy is going to be Wreck-It Ralph .” Sadie says gleefully as she bites into the chocolate chip cookie.

“No, freaking way! That is going to be so adorable!” Dayna says with such amusement in her voice.

“Yeah, I got our outfits the other day and Nina made some of the candy hair clips.” I would never wear maroon overalls and spike my hair, but for my daughter— I’d do anything.

Heading back to the kitchen to get us milk, I hear hushed giggles and I seriously love the sound.

“So Luke, are you going to stomp around barefoot and scream ‘I’m gonna wreck it?’” Dayna is now in a full giggling fit with Sadie.

I round the corner to put the glasses of milk down.

“Oh you think you’re funny, huh?” I stalk towards her as if I’m Ralph.

She’s laughing hard now. Jumping to her feet she rounds the sectional to put between us.

“Run Dayna! He can’t catch you!” We ran around the sectional twice before I picked her up in a bear hug.

Her back is against my chest and her legs are swinging.

Sadie has doubled over in a fit of laughter.

Dayna’s shirt bunched up as I was setting her back on her feet. Her soft warm skin feels nice underneath my touch. I tease her subtly by grazing her skin above her jeans with the tips of my fingers. I kiss the side of her head and she fixes her shirt.

“I can tell Daddy was looking at you because your face is red like those tomatoes we had for lunch!” Sadie calls out Dayna. “Oh you noticed that too.” She says shyly .

I take a seat next to Dayna and I get a rush of her strawberry shampoo.

“Daddy, can I go play upstairs?”

“Yes, I’ll put your plate away for you.”

Sitting next to Dayna, I swing my arm over her shoulders.

With her arm draped over my chest it feels so natural to be here with her.

The afternoon turned into something that Sadie and I both needed and we have Dayna to thank for that.

Healing my damaged heart one laughing fit at a time.

We sat on the sofa for a while before I broke the comfortable silence.

“What are you dressing up for Halloween?”

“I’m going to be Wendy from Peter Pan and Cara is going to be Tinker Bell .

” She replies. That is a perfect description of the two of them.

Dayna has always been the more reasonable one whereas Cara liked to push her limits and try new things.

“That fits you both to the tee.” I kiss her forehead and she holds me tighter.

“Thank you for inviting me today.” She said softly.

“Of course, Baby. I’m happy you’re here with us.” She looks up at me and I lean in to kiss her. I turn towards her and with my other hand I cup the side of her face. Her breathing quickens just as our kisses slam into each other.

“If we keep going this route, I’m going to have to turn your jeans inside out and take you right here on this sofa.

” I whisper in her ear and she lets out a gasp that I silence with my tongue.

I trace her top mouth and she sucks on the bottom of my lip.

My zipper is painfully uncomfortable. I can feel how hard her nipples are when I slip my hand under her shirt.

Before things go too far, we both heard Sadie upstairs stomping around saying “I’m gonna wreck-it! ” And that got us both chuckling.

With the mood change, I adjust my cock in my jeans.

The living room grows dark when the clouds begin to roll in as the afternoon sun starts to set.

I want to spend more time with Dayna. She looks down at my zipper and bites her lip.

“I’m trying to be a gentleman here, but I can’t help the thoughts I have when you look at me like that.

” I kiss her cheek. “I’m going to go ask Sadie if she wants to watch a movie with us and snuggle on the sofa. ”

“Can I go ask her?”

“Sure, I’ll get the popcorn started, what movie do you want to watch?”

“Why don’t we let Sadie pick it. I like anything.” Dayna said as she’s jogging upstairs.

A short while later, I got a bowl of popcorn and I brought out some sodas. I place them on a tray for the ottoman for us. Sadie and Dayna are snuggled up together and I take my seat next to Dayna with my arm around her shoulders. She leans into my side and gets comfortable.

Sadie picked Tangled , and we have been passing the popcorn bowl back and forth. I pull down the throw blanket for Sadie and Dayna. I find myself staring down at the two of them. I see Sadie’s eyelids getting heavy as Dayna absentmindedly brushes through Sadie’s hair.

The guilt settles in.

Juliette used to do that when Sadie slept. How do I navigate through these feelings? I should be happy things are so organic with Dayna and Sadie but I can’t help these triggering moments.

I try to compose myself well enough to look at Dayna and I see both of them with their eyes closed.

I lower the volume and make sure they’re covered.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Everything is going to be okay.

As if she knew I was feeling anxious, Dayna grabs my thigh with a gentle squeeze and that simple touch grounds me.