Page 148 of Resisting Isaac

I make a mental note to thank my kid later for not makingme suffer through watching my wife marry another man. Even it was fictional.

Kid has great timing already.

Rayne Isabella Loganis born at 6:56 that evening. She weighs six pounds and eight ounces. She’s a tiny thing but when her eyes open and lock on mine, I see it. The same ferocity her mother possesses.

I’m a girl dad.

Which means all the years I didn’t take women as seriously as I should have are coming back to me tenfold. Somewhere they’re all laughing together having a drink and toasting to the fact that I got what was coming to me.

Because these two women, Elena and Rayne, already dominate every aspect of my life.

I am one lucky man, and I don’t intend to forget it. Not for a single second.

“Okay,” Ivy breaks in from where she’s parked herself on the hospital room couch. “Can I start planning your real weddingnow?”

Elena smiles from where she’s propped up in her hospital bed holding the bundle of blankets that contains our daughter. “I think now is a good time.”

Elena wanted to wait for filming to wrap and the baby to be born so we could have our Logan family extravaganza wedding and go on a honeymoon while she was on maternity leave. She doesn’t have another role lined up yet so her maternity leave will be as long as she needs it to be.

Ivy’s phone rings and she hops up quickly. “It’s my agent.I’ll be right back. I call next for baby cuddles,” she says on her way out the door.

Wyatt stands beside me, clapping me on the shoulder. “You did good, brother. Dad would be proud.”

That’s extremely high praise from him. “Damn, dude. You’re going to make me cry.”

I’m not serious but then I see the wistful way he looks at Rayne. Far as I know, he and Ivy are still trying. My heart breaks for them.

“Your day’s coming, Wy. I know it is.”

He smiles warmly at me. It’s still a weird sight to see. The man is not a smiler. “We’re having plenty of fun practicing.”

“Yeah, I try really hard not to walk in on your practice sessions.” I mock a shudder.

Elena’s laughter chimes between us. “Like you have any room to talk.”

I lean over and kiss her forehead then gaze at our daughter. “I’m very much looking forward to getting back to practicing with you.”

Elena shakes her head. “Maybe we’ll be a little more prepared next time.”

Wyatt clears his throat, reminding us he’s still in the room. Ivy bursts back in with a huge grin on her face and her phone in hand.

“Good news,” she says, wiggling her shoulders in some type of happy dance. “The studio saw the first edited footage of the show and they greenlit the filming of season two. So, after your maternity leave, we’ll get back to filming.”

“That’s fantastic,” Elena says and I hear the relief in her voice. I know she was worried about what her next role would be and where it might take her.

“Guess you’re stuck with me, spitfire,” I say.

She shakes her head and glances down at our daughter. “I think I’ve been stuck with you since day one, cowboy.”

I climb into the bed beside her and nuzzle her cheek with my nose. “Would you have it any other way?”

Her eyes meet mine and the world around us disappears. “Not even a little bit.”

I kiss her then, slow, soft, then deeper.

“I can’t wait to marry you,” I whisper.

“I think you’re stuck with me either way,” she whispers back.