“Okay,” she says, and then she squeezes my hand hard as another contraction hits.
Eleven hours later, Breanna Rose is born weighing 5lb 8oz. She’s tiny but perfect, with a small smattering of fair hair and a rosebud mouth. My heart is full and bursting with love for both her and for her mother. I have never been so happy in my entire life.
While they clean up mum and baby, I go outside and phone Jack to tell him he’s become an uncle. He and his parents had left once they’d known the birth would take hours.
“Congrats, man. You sure they’re both okay?” Jack asks.
“They’re perfect but staying in a day or so for observations.” As I put my phone down it rings again and it’s the police telling me that the Harper guy had been drinking and had been arrested for several offences. I explain that Reese has had the baby and I’m offered congratulations along with assurances that he’ll be prosecuted.
In another life I would want to rip his head off and stuff it up his arsehole, but there’s no room in my mind for that lowlife. Not now I’m reassured that my baby mama and baby are safe.
I make my way back to the room that holds my world.
One week later
The awesome sounds of laughter and chatter fill the air of our home. Reese is in the living room, talking away to her childhood friend Sarah who has come down from the Lake District. So much for my having tidied up my act and Reese having got rid of her clothes and shoes; the house is filled to the brim with gifts for the baby and the new parents, along with opened packets of nappies, bibs, and all the other paraphernalia that goes with having babies.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I watch from the doorway as Sarah coos over the bundle in her arms and Reese watches over protectively.
I wink at Sarah as she looks over at me and she nods.
“Reese, honey. Sarah’s got Bree there safely. Can I borrow you to come check on this box I found in the nursery?”
Reese’s brow crumples with consideration. “What does it look like?”
“It’s hard to describe. It’s easier to show you.”
She rolls her eyes at Sarah. “Men,” she exclaims. “I’m glad I’ve had a girl.”
I fold my arms as I look at her. “And who’s to say we’ve finished? Maybe next time it’ll be a boy.”
“I just gave birth a week ago. If you value your testicles, you’ll shut up right now.” She stands up. “Let’s go see what this goddamn box is.”
“Ooh is it getting a tad chilly in here, almost icy?” I mock, receiving side-eye from Reese as she moves past me.
I follow her up the stairs to the nursery.
“It’s in the cot,” I tell her.
She walks over and then turns around to look at me.
“What are you up to, Brandon Weston?”
I smile and walk over to the cot where I pick up the hand-carved wooden box that has Reese’s name engraved on it.
Then I drop to one knee and open the box.
Inside, the lid is hand-carved with the words ‘Will you marry me?’ and the bottom of the box has a diamond solitaire resting on silk.
“Reese Connors. You have brought the most precious jewel into my life. Our daughter. It’s only fair you get a precious jewel in return. I love you. Will you marry me?”
“Y- yes. Yes, I will. Oh my god, yes. When I’ve lost the baby weight though, okay?”
“You are perfect, Reese, just as you are. Perfect… for me.”
I place the ring on her finger. It’s a little snug, but then she just gave birth and I had to go on the sizes of old rings. It’s all fixable and hell, I’d buy her another in a heartbeat. She moves her hand this way and that, beaming. I sweep her into my arms and lower my mouth to hers, crushing her in a passionate kiss.
When I let go, she’s fidgeting. “You’re dying to tell Sarah, aren’t you?” I laugh.
“Yup.” She giggles. “Was she in on it?”
“Of course.”
She sets off downstairs, “Sarah! I’m engaged,” she squeals.
I turn back around looking at the nursery and then I head in the direction of the shrieks coming from the living room and I think how much my life has changed since Jack and Aiden staged my intervention.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
Epilogue
Reese
With my baby in my arms and my man by my side, I walk into the private room at InHale where we’re celebrating our engagement.
I wasn’t all that bothered about being the centre of attention and having a party, but Brandon insisted that he wanted to show both me and Bree off. I couldn’t really argue with that.
He stands aside and allows me to enter first and I find everyone I love staring back at me.
My mum comes rushing over first so she can get her hands on her granddaughter. Bree is whipped out of my arms and I watch as Mum coos at her.
I always thought women who claimed being a mother was a fulfilling job were talking crap. I thought I needed the pressure and the stress of a courtroom to feel fulfilled, but shit, was I wrong. Looking after my daughter is by far the best and most gratifying thing I’ve ever done in my life. The love that pours from her little eyes every time she stares up at me fills me with such joy. She might only be two months old but already I can’t recall what my life was like without her. And Brandon for that matter.
Maybe one day I’ll return to work, but I don’t intend to return to law, not after I nearly lost my baby. Clive sent some flowers around when Bree was born, along with an apology: a note saying Rich had had to be sacked for making a pass at Chantelle and they hoped I’d consider them if I ever worked in family law again. I sawed the whole lot up using Brandon’s power saw.
I make my way around the room, greeting everyone and accepting their congratulations. More than a few of them delight in telling me that they never thought they’d see the day I settled down. I must admit, I was one of them. But the life I never expected has turned out to be a million times better than the perfect one I thought I had.
I just turn to say hello to Scott who’s serving us tonight when someone walks through the door that I wasn’t expecting to see.
“Sarah!” I squeal, rushing over to wrap my arms around her shoulders. She told me she wasn’t going to make it because of work. She was lucky to get away to come and see Bree after she was born so she thought asking to come back for a party was pushing it. “You’re here.” Tears sting my eyes that she’s done whatever she has to be here to celebrate with me tonight. I never admitted, or even really accepted, how much I missed her when she moved away. But since Brandon has thawed my cold heart, I tell her how much I miss her every time I talk to her.
It’s not until I pull back that I see she’s not fully looking me in the eye and I note she has tears welling.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just happy for you. This is your night and I’m so happy that you got your man and your baby. Now let’s get on with celebrating. I put your engagement gift on the table over there, but I have something for Bree. Where is she?”
“Don’t bullshit me. I know you. What’s wrong?”
“Okay, fine. But please don’t make a big deal about it. We’ll talk about it properly once tonight is over.” I nod at her, desperate to know what has tears pooling in her eye. “I lost my job.”
“Oh fuck. I’m so sorry why?”
“A misunderstanding.”
I narrow my eyes at her, but she just shakes her head. Following her wishes not to talk about it, I link my arm with hers and drag her into the room.
We’re halfway to the bar when she freezes.
“What’s wrong?” I ask when I turn to her and see all the blood drain from her face.
“It’s n- nothing.” I don’t believe it for a second and my doubts are confirmed when I hear a familiar voice.
“Sarah?” Scott asks, his brows drawn together before his eyes drop to take her in.
“Christ, could my l
ife get any worse?” she mutters. “I need a drink. Now.”
Her arm tightens in mine and she drags me towards the bar and away from Scott without saying a single word to him.
“Don’t,” she warns when I open my mouth to ask. “Add it to the list of things to ask me about tomorrow.”
Sarah manages to turn the conversation towards Bree knowing that it’s probably the only thing that will distract me from asking the many questions that are currently filling my head.
“Can I borrow my girl?” Brandon asks, coming to stand behind me and wrapping his hands around my waist.
“Of course.”
Pressing his lips to my ear, I can’t help my eyes fluttering closed. “Dance with me?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
He takes my hand and leads me to our makeshift dance floor. He pulls me tight up against his body. His hard lines press against what’s left of my baby weight. I thought it would bother me, but with Brandon both telling and showing me daily how much loves me and my body, it’s not bothered me one bit. Plus, it’s the result of our gorgeous daughter who’s now in the arms of Brandon’s mum. I’ll carry around a few extra pounds for the rest of my life for her.
“The next time we do this you’ll be my wife. Who’d have imagined the Ice Queen and the Slob having a happy ever after?”
A wide smile spreads across my face at the thought.
“I can’t wait, snookums.”
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Also By Angel & Tracy
Hot Daddy Sauce
Baby Daddy Rescue
The Daddy Dilemma
Single Daddy Seduction
About Angel Devlin
Angel Devlin is the sexy alter-ego of paranormal, rom com, and suspense writer, Andie M. Long. Check out Angel for stories of heart and heat.
She lives in Sheffield with her partner, son, and a gorgeous whippet called Bella.
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About Tracy Lorraine
Tracy Lorraine is new adult and contemporary romance author. Tracy is in her thirties and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy springer spaniel. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
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The Daddy Dilemma: A Brother's Best Friend Enemies To Lovers Romance (Hot Daddy Book 3) Page 13