9 months later

 

Jack stared down at the sleeping infant, the world seeming to slow until there was nothing in the world except the two of them. His heart threatened to explode every time he saw that baby. Her tiny mouth moved, suckling on something in her dreams.

It was far worse than anything he could have dreamed up. The baby didn’t look anything like him. Oh course, she didn’t look anything like Sam either.

“Is baby girl asleep?” Sam yawned as he stepped into the nursery. “Or is she hungry again?”

“She’s finally out for the count,” Jack whispered, not wanting to risk waking her again. It was one in the morning and Abby was exhausted. Infants were a lot of work even when three parents were involved.

He made sure their three-week-old baby girl’s swaddling was in place. Olivia Barnes-Fleetwood was a master of escape. Every time he made her into a tiny baby burrito, she wriggled until her arms wound their way out with a triumphant cry. It had become his favorite thing in the world, watching her get her way.

“God, she’s so pretty.” Sam’s blue eyes studied the daughter they shared.

She was beautiful, and that was the problem. She looked exactly like her mama. She had pretty red hair and alabaster skin. Jack had to pray she wouldn’t have her mama’s figure, but he didn’t hold out much hope. He was going to have to kill a bunch of teenage boys one day. No doubt about it. Little Olivia wouldn’t be allowed to date until her father was dead.

“She’s beautiful,” Jack agreed, watching her breathe. He loved to watch her sleep. He adored all the faces she made while she dreamed her baby dreams.

The last nine months had been a revelation for a man who thought he’d never have a family. Now, everywhere he looked his life was full of people he called his own. His wife and Sam were always there, the cornerstones of his world. He’d watched his brother become the type of man he was proud of. Lucas had worked hard and earned his place on the ranch. Unfortunately, he was leaving soon. His brother was starting law school at the University of Texas in Austin a bit earlier than they’d planned, but it was time. He was surprised at how much he knew he’d miss his brother.

Lexi had moved home for the summer to be with her mom. Now she was home for winter break to help with her little sister. Lexi was well on her way to becoming a lovely woman. She was open and kind. She’d also gotten awfully close to Lucas, and that was a problem. She had a boyfriend, and a serious one at that. Jack was worried Lucas was getting in over his head. It was easy to see the way Lucas lit up when Lexi walked into a room. But Aidan O’Malley was someone Jack liked despite his own misgivings. He didn’t see Lexi leaving him any time soon. In fact, he rather thought those two would get married one day and it would break Lucas’s heart.

He had his eye on that situation. He was surprised at how much he loved his stepdaughter. His heart was a huge thing, he’d found. It was capable of all sorts of love.

“Come to bed,” Sam urged, taking his hand. “She’s asleep. We have to take advantage. It’s the only time she’s not in charge.”

“Baby girl is always in charge, and I don’t want to wake up Abigail.” His gorgeous wife was being supermom. It was tiring her out. Between their baby and the clinic she was about to open, she was one overworked mama.

Sam’s mouth lifted into a brilliant and incredibly sexy smile. “Abby is not asleep. She’s awake, and she’s frisky. You need to talk to her. The doctor told her to take it easy for six weeks. She’s rubbing all over me, telling me she feels fine. She’s making me crazy. I haven’t been inside her for a month. I can’t stand the teasing.”

He bit back a laugh. His subs were misbehaving again. He pulled Sam into the hall. “Well, we have to fix that, don’t we?”

He opened the door to their bedroom. Abigail was sitting on the bed pouting. She looked beautiful wearing nothing but one of his T-shirts. He knew she was worried about the baby weight, but he thought she’d never been more lovely. “Sam tells me you’re horny, darlin’.”

She smiled his way, that hot expression that let him know what she wanted. “Sam is a tattletale.”

Unfortunately, she wasn’t getting exactly what she wanted tonight. “No sex, Abby. The doctor said no intercourse for six weeks. But that doesn’t mean we can’t put on a show.”

She sat up straighter, clapping her hands together. “My own personal porn stars.”

Sam was out of his pajama bottoms in a minute. It was a talent of his. Sam was on the bed, kissing their wife, asking her which scene she wanted to jump to. He looked up at Jack.

“Here you are, Jack, performing on command,” Sam noted with a smirk. “What does that make you?”

“Happy,” Jack replied. He jumped on the bed to Abigail’s playful squeal.

He jumped in the middle, and that was a good place to be.

 

* * * *

 

Julian Lodge and the whole Texas Sirens gang will return in Siren Enslaved, coming spring 2018.