I ran my hand over Monroe’s ass before reaching for her leg and pulling it over my own. “Morning, sugar.”

I’d been awake for a good hour or more, but I hadn’t wanted to wake her too soon. She needed her sleep after last night. Not waking her had also given me time to get my head together.

I’d woken with a million thoughts. Most of them dark. Many of them about finding the closest bottle of whisky. I had a long road ahead of me to win this battle—the drink, the family shit, my relationship with Monroe—but she’d made me understand I didn’t have to do it on my own. And for the first time in my life, I was ready to share that fucking burden.

She angled her head so she could look up at me, hitting me with a smile. “Morning.”

“You hungry?”

She rolled so her stomach met mine, her pussy teasing the fuck out of my dick. Reaching her hand around my neck, she pulled my lips to hers and kissed me. “Sorry about the morning breath, but I needed those lips of yours.”

I gripped her ass. “Fuck morning breath. Give me back that mouth.” When she hesitated, I ordered, “Now, red.”

A sexy smile spread across her face, and she gave me what I wanted. Waking up with her was the best fucking way to wake up. When she ended the kiss, she said, “I’m impressed.”

“What, with my kissing abilities?”

“No, with your restraint. You’ve got your hands all over me, your mouth on mine, your dick almost inside me, and yet you’re offering me food.”

“Jesus, woman, don’t tempt me.”

She grew quiet. “I know you’re doing it because it’s the first morning we’ve woken up together in your home, and your daughter is close. And that impresses the hell out of me.”

“How do you know all of that?”

“It’s the only explanation that makes sense, because you’re not a man to walk away from a sure thing like this.”

I struggled against the desire to flip her on her back and fuck the hell out of her. That pussy of hers called to me. But she was right, Charlie being in the house changed things. I dropped my lips to hers and gave her one last kiss before smacking her ass. “Time to move this ass, sugar. You’re gonna make me bacon and eggs.”

She arched a brow, an amused look crossing her face. “Oh, am I? You’re fucking dreaming out loud this morning, tiger.”

I chuckled as she rolled off me and watched as she reached for her clothes. I’d never get enough time with my eyes on Monroe’s naked body. Her curves drove my dick wilder than it ever had been.

Once we were dressed, she came to me and took my hands in hers. Looking down at my bruised and cut knuckles, she asked softly, “How are you this morning?”

That she didn’t ask about my knuckles or my face, but simply accepted that shit had gone down, meant the fucking world to me. “I’m fucking lucky to have you, Roe.”

She looked up at me. “Well, yeah…” She paused with a smile before continuing, “But that doesn’t tell me how you are.”

I slid my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I know that you know I’m in a dark place, and I’m fucking grateful that you’re in the corner with me, fighting for me to be a better man. I’m done with yesterday, and I’m moving forward.” I bent my face to hers, and my lips grazed her ear when I murmured, “Thank you.”

Her eyes misted with tears. “I’m always here for you.”

I wiped away the few tears that escaped. “Don’t cry, sugar. We’re gonna beat this shit. And we’re gonna get that paternity test and prove that Charlie is mine.”

She smiled and nodded. “Yes, we are.”

We.

I fucking loved it more than I ever thought possible.

Smacking her ass again, I said, “Right, kitchen, now.”

She bit her lip. “Umm, is Tenille gonna be out there?”

“Fuck no. I kicked her out yesterday.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Roe, there’s something you need to know about me. I’m loyal to a fucking fault, but I’m not a man to be crossed. Tenille will always be the woman I loved first, and it’ll take me time to move past that shit, but I had to remove her from my home for her safety more than anything else.”

She let out a long breath. It was like she’d been holding it for a long time. “Thank God. I didn’t like her. And honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold my tongue if I saw her again. Maybe even not my hands.”

My lips twitched. “Going to battle for your man, huh?”

She fired up. “You fucking bet. No one messes with you and gets away with it.”

Fuck.

She really was something else.

We found Charlie in the kitchen a few minutes later, pulling eggs out of the fridge. Guilt flooded me as I watched her. She’d been awake when I’d arrived home last night, and we’d spoken briefly, but the fact I hadn’t stayed with her yesterday proved to me that I had a long fucking way to go while learning how to be a good father.

Her gaze met mine and she jerked her chin at me. “This shit ain’t gonna cook itself.”

Monroe laughed, and I grinned. Fuck, she had to be mine. She’d even started talking like me. “Monroe’s ready to get acquainted with our kitchen.”

Charlie paused and gave me a look that said I had to be kidding. “Our kitchen is a little dirty for Monroe to cook in today. Someone didn’t clean it up when he came home last night.”

My heart thumped in my chest. This was Charlie letting me know we were good. Hell, it was her letting me know we were better than good.

I jabbed my finger at Monroe and then pointed at a stool. “You sit your gorgeous ass there.” I then jabbed it at Charlie. “And you get me the bacon and some plates. You can also set the table.”

She frowned. “Hate to tell you, but there’s no bacon left. I ate it all for dinner last night.”

I ignored the guilt that reared its ugly head again. I’d lived with guilt over Charlie for a long time, but she’d signalled that it was time to move on, so I would.

“Scrambled eggs are good,” Monroe said, watching Charlie and me with a happy expression.

I rattled off a list of ingredients for Charlie to grab, and a minute later, I started preparing breakfast for my girls. After fourteen years of living on my own, I hadn’t thought I’d ever want to live with anyone again. I’d thought wrong. I wanted to move them both in today.

“What are you thinking there, tiger?” Monroe asked while I watched her, contemplating that thought.

Charlie burst out laughing. “Tiger?”

Monroe grinned at her. “Yeah, he’s very growly when he’s being bossy. Have you noticed that?”

“God, yes! I guess that name kinda suits him.”

Monroe looked back at me. “So? Your thoughts?”

I met her gaze as I stopped chopping onions. Placing the knife down, I said, “I’m moving you in, red.”

She stared at me, surprised. I couldn’t tell if she liked that idea or not, but whether she came willingly or kicking and screaming, I’d make damn sure it happened.

“Really? Just like that?” she finally asked, with the attitude my cock liked.

“Yeah,” I growled. “Just like that.”

She glanced around the kitchen before looking back at me. “Well, we’d need to get rid of some of these old appliances and stuff. And we’d need to move mine in. I hope you’re ready for some colour in this place. And candles. And bras hanging in the shower. And my toys.” She frowned a little. “Might have to rethink that last one with Charlie living here, too.”

“Geez, you people don’t move slowly, do you?” Charlie said.

“Life’s too short to move slowly, kiddo,” I said.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Monroe turned to her. “Your dad told me you’re moving to Sydney. Are you okay with me living here with you guys?”

Charlie thought about that. “Yeah, I’m cool.” Looking at me, she said, “But do me a favour, Aiden?”

If I’d thought my heart thumped before, it fucking ricocheted around in my chest at that. We hadn’t discussed getting a paternity test yet, but she seemed to accept that I was her father as much as I believed she was my daughter.

I held my cool. I’d figured out teens weren’t so much into parents being excited about shit. “Depends what this favour is.”

“Don’t call me kiddo again. If you must call me something every now and then, you can call me baby. But don’t make a habit out of it, okay?”

Fuck.

Did she have any idea that what she’d just said to me was everything?

I jerked my chin at her. “Noted. Now fill the sink with detergent. You’ve got shit to wash up before we eat.”