I carefully touched my daughter’s face with my hand, glad to feel that the fever was gone, the crisis over. I had never been so fucking scared in my life when Amelia had been handed to me with that fever, unsure of what to do and trying to tell myself there was nothing to panic over. I hadn’t listened very well.

But the woman currently hogging all the comforter had handled it like a pro, knowing exactly what to do at the moment. And for that, I was going to be eternally grateful. I hated the fact that we had been interrupted, but of all the people I could think I wanted there at that moment, Danielle was the only one that made me feel calm. She had that effect.

Shifting, I withdrew my arm from under Amelia and climbed out of bed, looking down at the both of them in my bed. An unexpected tightness burst in my chest, everything feeling so fucking right at that moment in time that I would have moved heaven and earth to make it last a lifetime. How had both of them gotten under my skin so quickly? I had been a loner before the both of them, enjoying the fleeting encounters I had with women but none of them holding my attention for every long.

Until Danielle.

She had fucking turned my world upside down and even without Amelia in my life, I felt like it would still be the same way. Or would it? After yesterday, I doubted it. She had made me feel like a kid again wanting to get to first base. I had rounded those fuckers with amazing speed, and if Amelia hadn’t arrived when she did, I would have hit that damn home run again.

But the next time was going to be even sweeter. Now we knew what was capable between us and when we did get a moment alone, she and I were going to burn up those sheets together.

I groaned as I looked down, seeing the tent I had made in front of my shorts. Damn. I hoped that was sooner rather than later or I was going to suffer or get used to cold showers. Running a hand over my face, I took one last look at my girls in the bed before walking out of the bedroom. We all could use some coffee and breakfast.

* * *

I was nearly done with the eggs when Danielle appeared in the kitchen, a smile on her face. “Breakfast?”

“And coffee,” I grinned, handing her a mug.

“You are a godsend,” she said, taking the cup and pouring the black stuff until it nearly brimmed the rim of the cup. “I’m not normally up at this time in the morning.”

“Nightshift, right,” I said, scooping the eggs out of the pan and sliding them onto the plate, pleased that I could throw together a decent breakfast. “When do you work again?”

“Tonight,” she said with a frown before taking a sip. “There will be a nap in my foreseeable future.”

I cut off the stove and turned to face her, a grin on my face. “You can nap all you want here if you would like.”

She blushed prettily, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I doubt I would get a lot of sleep.”

I laughed. “You’re right. Amelia would be keeping you up.” I reached for her, pulling her flush against me so she could feel my pain this morning. “And I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t either.”

“Benji,” she breathed as I kissed her neck. “I can’t.”

“Can’t what?” I said on her skin, breathing the scent of her. If I knew Amelia was going to remain asleep, I would take her right here and now, amongst the coffee and eggs, but I didn’t want to be interrupted the next time I had Danielle writhing against me.

“I can’t think when you do that,” she finally said.

I chuckled and released her. “Is that necessarily a bad thing?”

“No,” she said, her eyes shining with the same heat I felt in my body. “It’s not.”

I gave her another grin as I turned back to the cabinets above the stove, pulling down two plates and one for Amelia for later. Something told me she was going to have an appetite when she woke. “So, working tonight. What about tomorrow night?”

“I’ll be off,” she said as I piled her plate high with eggs and bacon before handing it to her. “Are you plotting your arrest?”

“Only if you are doing the arresting,” I said, winking at her. “No, I want to do something for you, for us.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she answered as I fished around for a fork in the silverware drawer. “I’m more than happy to help out.”

I found one and handed it to her, looking into her eyes. “I think we need to finish what we started Danielle and this time, there will be no interruptions.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but a cry filled the air, causing us both to laugh. “But not today,” she said cheekily as I rounded the hall, finding my daughter sitting up in the middle of my bed.

“Hey sweetie,” I said, reaching for her and glad to find her skin still cool to the touch. “Is someone feeling better today?”

She rewarded me with a toothy smile, and I felt some of the worry ease from my body. Another parenting lesson learned and I doubted this was going to be the last of them. “Come on, let’s get you some food.”

Danielle was still standing where I had left her, her plate nearly empty as I strapped Amelia into her high chair and placed some eggs on her tray, not caring if she got them all over her. As long as she was eating and not throwing up, I was more than happy to go through some dirty clothes.

“She looks better,” Danielle said as she set her plate in the sink.

“Thank God,” I said, watching Amelia eat. “How can you be so calm when they are sick?”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “It’s not like I had any practice.”

I turned toward her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to stay.”

She waved my words off with her hand. “No, I’m fine, really. I was glad I could help. Seems those parenting books know what they are talking about.” She then drew in a breath, her smile not quite reaching her eyes and making me feel like an ass. “Well, I better get home. Thanks for breakfast.”

I didn’t apologize, but instead pulled her close, pressing a kiss on her lips. “Tomorrow night. Me and you. No one else. No interruptions.”

Her fingers trailed over my collarbone lightly, sending a shiver down my back. “I, okay. I’m in.”

I didn’t like the fact that she had to hesitate, but I wasn’t going to address it right now. All that mattered was that she had said yes. We could deal with the rest later.

“Good,” I said, grabbing her fingers. “I need for you to do something with me first.”

She eyed me, probably scared to ask. “What is that?”

I swallowed hard. After receiving Marcie’s stuff the other night, it had been on my mind to exactly what kind of life Amelia had come from and how it was probably my duty to find out. “I got her mom’s stuff,” I explained, seeing the softness radiate in Danielle’s eyes. “I think I should at least ride to her place. Will you go with us?”

She hugged me tightly, her warm body infusing with mine. “Of course I will. I think that it’s good to at least check it out.”

“Thank you,” I said, inhaling her scent. I sure as hell didn’t want to do it by myself. I needed some support with whatever we might find.