My doctor crouches down beside Zoey’s carrier and strokes the top of her head. “She is adorable.”

Gideon and I lock eyes and smile. Now with the threat of Derek behind us, we can finally relax and fully enjoy moments like these. “Thank you. We sure love her.”

She stands and offers me her hand. “This cute and somewhat sleeping through the night? You should buy a lottery ticket on the way home.”

I clasp her hand with both of mine. “Thank you for everything.”

She winks at me. “You’ll be seeing me again. You need to schedule your next annual check up on your way out.”

“Thanks again,” Gideon says, picking up Zoey’s carrier.

Zoey still has her monthly check-ups with her pediatrician, but now I’m all done with needing to see a doctor myself for a while.

Gideon offers me his other hand as soon as I’m done checking out. “Where to now, want to head straight home or stop somewhere for lunch?”

I twist my neck to look at him. “You’re not going back to work?”

His thumb brushes over the back of my hand. “I took the day off.”

Warmth creeps up my neck as I blush. It drives me crazy that five innocent words from Gideon can have me reacting like a horny teenager. I’m almost thirty years old and a mother. I should be able to control myself a bit more by now.

If I say let’s go home will he assume I want to jump him? Six weeks seemed a million years away when Zoey was born. Now it’s here and I’m a bundle of nerve endings, no matter what he does or says, sets them on fire. “We could eat out or pick something up on the way home.”

He pulls out his key fob and unlocks his truck. “Let’s pick something up since Zoey will need to nurse soon.”

I climb in and turn to watch him lock Zoey’s carrier into the base already anchored in the backseat of his truck. Gideon Thompson, a guy with a love them and leave them reputation, willingly installed an infant car seat into his truck.

Despite what his reputation was when we first met, he has proved to be loyal and loving. He puts Zoey and me first every day, like his not forgetting she’ll need to nurse soon and also knowing I am more comfortable doing it at home.

“That sounds perfect.”

My heart clenches when he leans forward to kiss the top of her head. Gideon is sexy, and has been sexy since the moment I first laid eyes on him. Gideon taking care of Zoey is a whole other level of sexy I had not known was humanly possible.

It shows what a natural nurturer he is and as I get to learn more about these different sides of him, I fall in love with him even more. He’s rewritten what love means to me. Before when I stupidly assumed I was in love, I get I was actually talking myself into it.

With Gideon, being in love is as instinctual as being sleepy or hungry. My mind and body don’t need any convincing of what it is.

He pulls into the lot of one of my favorite restaurants and asks, “The usual good?”

I nod, lost for words. He knows how I take my coffee, that I love freshly laundered sheets, what I watch on TV when I don’t feel like watching anything at all, when I try to hide if I’m embarrassed for being emotional, that I prefer the side of the bed closest to the bathroom and that I have to pee before I go to sleep even if I went recently, and my favorite dish from the restaurants we go to.

To distract myself, I move into the backseat so I can look at Zoey. She’s passed out, lulled by the movement of the car.

I trace her chubby little cheek. “My sweet little bumblebee sleeping?”

Connie, Gideon’s niece had given her that nickname because she’s a round little butterball like a bumblebee and when you say Zoey you can drag out the Z sound like a buzzing bee.

“Daddy is getting lunch and then we’ll go back to the house.”

She sleeps peacefully while I continue to talk to her.

A short while later, Gideon opens his door and asks. “Is she okay?”

I run my gaze over her sleeping form. “She is. I just wanted to watch her.”

He doesn’t question it since we’ve both wandered into her room in the middle of the night to make sure she was breathing or just to watch her sleep. Returning to the front seat, I take the bags of food from him and set them on the floorboards between my feet.

“Thanks for buying.”

Abby listed Gideon’s house last week and he moved over the rest of his stuff. We haven’t had the money talk other than him not letting me pay for things when we’re out and point blank telling me I would no longer be paying rent. I get him wanting to take care of us, but I need to figure out a way to contribute. If he’s stubborn about it he’ll just have to get used to ridiculously expensive Christmas and birthday presents.

Zoey starts squawking when he parks, so I take her right in to change and feed her while he brings in the food. With her car ride nap to and from the doctor’s office, Zoey is wide awake even after a full feeding.

I carry her out to Gideon. “Will you work your magic?”

He grins and reaches for her. “Is my baby girl going to burp for Daddy?”

After less than twenty seconds of rubbing her back she lets out a loud satisfying burp. Gideon Thompson is officially the burp whisperer.

He gives me a smug look, knowing it annoys the crap out of me that she’ll burp for him but not for me.

I point at them. “Traitors.”

Gideon grins and I have to restrain myself from throwing myself at him. Never in my life did I imagine a good guy taking care of my child would be hotter than any famous male underwear model out there. Not that every designer with any sense wouldn’t sign Gideon the second they saw him shirtless.

He gently transfers her to the bouncy chair that lives in the living room. With bright eyes, she bats at the air and makes happy grunt noises while we eat. There’s a TV in front of us but Zoey is all the entertainment we need. Once our food is done, I peek at him out of the corner of my eye. Is he going to make a move? Am I supposed to make a move?

Zoey is happy as can be and we got the go-ahead to be as physical as we want. Wouldn’t now be the perfect time?

“I can hear the gears turning from here.”

I blink. “Huh?”

Gideon tugs me into his lap. “What are you thinking about?”

Somehow, I melt against him and tense up all at the same time. What the heck is wrong with me?

He leans in close and tickles the shell of my earlobe with his nose. “You can tell me.”

No, I most certainly cannot. “Um.”

His lips find the sensitive spot on the side of my neck, beneath and behind my ear. “You smell good.”

My mouth waters as I shift in his lap, away or closer I’m not sure. With his fingertips on my jaw, he turns my head to take my lips with his. My body follows instinctively, turning to press my front to his as our kiss deepens.

One of his hands slides up into my hair, cradles the back of my head. His other hand moves down to my lower back and presses me closer. All the questions that plagued me only moments before evaporate under the steam of our kiss.

The mood is broken by the sound of Zoey loudly filling her diaper. Breaking our contact, with wide eyes we stare at each other. Then we both shout. “Not it.”

Gideon presses his lips to my forehead and stands, taking me with him, before setting me back onto the sofa. “I’ll change her.”

Sinking back against the cushions, I have a front row seat to Gideon kneeling beside Zoey, and saying, “Does my little Zo need a change?”

Her arms wave around happily as she gurgles at him. Heaven knows I can’t blame her. Apparently we’re like mother, like daughter when it comes to turning to mush around him. I wait until they’re out of the room to fan myself.

New questions fill my head. Will we pick up where we left off when he gets back? If Zoey hadn’t interrupted us, would our first time together have happened on my couch? And, since I’m not sure I want Zoey to watch us, how can I nonchalantly put her in her crib, or at a bare minimum turn her around?

I’m no closer to answers for any of my new questions when Gideon returns. One look at his face has me asking. “Was it bad?”

He nods solemnly and I giggle before I can help it.

Claiming the spot next to me on the couch, he keeps Zoey in his arms. “You had a stinky diaper, a full stinky diaper, didn’t you?”

She blinks up at him and purses her lips.

“I’ll get the next one,” I promise.

Gideon shifts her in his arms so that they’re both looking at me. “Zoey, do you think we should let mommy take a nap?”

I straighten, wondering what happened to making out. “I’m not tired.”

While she has on occasion been sleeping up to six hours at night, last night wasn’t one of them. I was up with her at three and then again at six. I exist in a constant state of semi-tired and afternoon naps are a precious commodity.

Gideon looks at Zoey. “Do you believe her?”

With his fingers, he tenderly moves her head so she’s shaking it. “Zoey says no.”

Wetness stings my eyes at how lucky I am. “I guess I better go take a nap. Will you be okay with her?”

He gives me a shocked look. “Okay? We’re going to be great. Right Zo?”

He moves her head again, this time so she nods yes.

I kiss them both before I make my way out of the room. Stretching out across our bed, I wonder if I’ll be able to sleep at all. I don’t wonder long and contentedly drift off.

“Babe, it’s time to wake up.”

I burrow further into my blanket. It’s not until I hear Zoey’s soft cry that I blink open my eyes.

“Hi Mommy,” Gideon smiles, a mildly annoyed Zoey rooting around on his chest. “I think she’s hungry and she’s not happy I don’t have boobs.”

My gaze moves back to her, sure enough, she’s gearing up to nurse. “Come here baby.”

Turning onto my side, Gideon shifts her off his chest and onto the bed in front of me. Tugging down the loose neck of my top, I unhook the front flap of my nursing bra. Even half-awake, I’ve got feeding her down to an art form.

She stares up at me and I smooth my palm over her soft tufts of hair. “Hi baby.”

My gaze moves to Gideon as he relaxes back against the pillows. “How long was I asleep?”

He puts his arm behind his head. “About two hours.”

My eyes widen. “That long?”

Giving me a lazy smile, he nods.

“You should have woken me up sooner.”

He smirks. “Like I’d disturb your sleep.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever been so sexually attracted to a man. “You could have.”

He presses a finger to his lips. “Shhh.”

I don’t argue, mainly because I’m grateful for the nap and it’s not like he can go back in time to wake me up. “Thank you.”

“Zoey and I have a surprise for you.”

I tilt my head. “A surprise?” Then I look down at Zoey and ask, “What were you two up to while Mommy was sleeping?”

She just continues to stare up at me so I shift my attention back to Gideon. He gives me a Cheshire-like grin but doesn’t elaborate. “Oh come on, tell me.”

With a shake of his head, he gets up. “Sorry, no can do.”

In the position I am with Zoey nursing, all I can do is grumble as he walks out of the room.

As soon as he’s out of sight, I look back down at Zoey. “Any hints?”

I hear Gideon’s burst of laughter from the hallway.

Smiling to myself, I say, “Drat him.”

When feeding time is over, Zoey is over half asleep so I carefully manage to get a burp out of her before transferring her successfully to her crib. I flip on the monitor and make my way to the living room in search of Gideon.

He has his phone to his ear and when he sees me says, “Hang on. Let me ask her.” Then he lowers his phone and says. “It’s Abby, she offered to take Zo for a few hours tonight. What do you think?”

I can’t help but wonder if this is somehow part of the surprise he mentioned earlier. “Sure. It’s so nice of her to offer.”

Gideon puts the phone back to his ear. “Want to come by around six to pick her up?” After a pause, he says. “Great. We’ll see you then.”

Once he’s off the phone I rub my hands together mischievously. “What should we do?”

His gaze travels slowly up my frame. “I can think of a few things.”

I flush from head to toe, possibly thinking of the same things he is.

Taking my hand, he pulls me toward the kitchen and lifts me up onto the countertop. Moving between my legs, he gives me a hard and fast kiss before leaving me. I start to pout, until I realize he’s getting me a drink.

Bringing it to me, he asks. “Want to go out to dinner, or stay in?”

Oh, I want to stay in, preferably in bed with him.

I take a sip to wet my throat. “Let’s stay in.”

His eyes warm as if he can read my thoughts. “Let’s.”

I’m so going to change out of my nursing bra and into something sexier.

The afternoon passes quickly, as I change into something nicer and throw on some makeup. Then I nurse Zoey one more time before Abby arrives to pick her up.

Gideon is more nervous than I am. “I packed her diaper bag. There are plenty of diapers, wipes, two changes of clothes, some formula just in case and a bottle.”

Abby stares down at the bag. “I’m only going to have her for three hours Gid.”

He ignores her. “If she gets too fussy call us and we can come pick her up.”

Abby rolls her eyes. “You’re acting like I’ve never watched a baby before.”

I link my arm through his, surprised that he’s the one freaking out and not me. “She’ll be fine.”

Zoey grunts from her car seat and he bends down to pick her up. “Do you want to take one of our cars so you can click the carrier right into the base?”

It sounds like a question, but it’s more of an order.

Abby shoots me an exasperated look before saying, “Fine. I’ll take your truck.”

We walk out with her to give kisses and say bye to Zoey before she drives away. Standing in the driveway, we wave until his truck is out of sight.

Then Gideon pulls a strip of fabric out from his pocket and blindfolds me.

“Should I be afraid?” I joke.

He takes both of my hands in his and guides me off the drive toward the side of the house. “Yes, very, very afraid.”

I laugh and grip his hands tighter. What I don’t do is remind him that as long as I have him by my side, nothing scares me.

“There’s a step up,” he says and I can tell we’re now on the back patio.

There was an early morning shower, that didn’t last long, but the clouds remained. On sunny days, we’re out here all the time but not today.

He lets go of my hands and slowly removes the blindfold. “Surprise.”

I turn, not knowing where to look first. Fairy lights are strung from the house to the pergola, and then throughout the trees past the patio, making a canopy of soft light. Beneath the pergola, our wrought iron patio table seems transformed with a white tablecloth and centerpiece of candles. The table is set for two, and I laugh when I see the bottle of sparkling grape juice. Our backyard looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Spinning, I turn to Gideon and gasp when I see him kneeling before me, a jewelry box in his hand. “Lucy Olson. I love you and Zoey more than I knew a person could. You both have my heart in a forever kind of way. Will you be my wife, and if you let me, adopt Zo so I can officially be her father?”

My eyes sting with tears as I bend forward, clutching my middle. I’m happy, so happy that for some reason I can’t stop crying.

Speaking is not an option, so I nod. Gideon’s face transforms as his nervousness melts away replaced by pure joy. He looks as happy as I feel which makes me cry even harder. Shaking his head, he reaches for my hand and slides the ring onto my finger. Even in the dreamy fairy light, I can tell it’s stunning, and like him, perfect for me.

He stands, and crushes me to his chest for a kiss that is so hot it makes my toes curl. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on tight as we kiss.

Then, lifting my head, I tenderly cup his jaw and say, “Why don’t we take this to the bedroom?”

Gideon’s gaze goes from hot to molten and without a word, he carries me through the back door and right to our bed. There we strip each other bare between hungry kisses. Then, when the only thing left is the ring he placed on my finger, we make love.