I wake up to a hand running softly down my cheek. I open my eyes, and I am face to face with Lane. His eyes on mine, his hand stroking my cheek softly. His expression soft and filled with love. The way he is looking at me right now is something I will never forget; if I doubted he loved me, it is gone in a split second.

You can say a lot of things to people, but actions mean more than words.

“Good morning, Doll.”

I smile at him sleepily. “Good morning, Lane.” I touch his cheek and scoot a little closer.

“You know I love you―right, Amelia?”

I nod my head, my heart full. “I love you too, Lane.”

He smiles and touches his forehead against mine. His hand snakes its way into my hair. For the next thirty minutes we don’t talk; we just bask in each other’s presence, enjoying each other.

He breaks the silence. “I am going to start breakfast. Tiffany will be waking up any second.” He slides out of bed.

I slip out of bed and pull on a pair of his sweats, which I had on last night. Lane slips on a shirt; he already has sweats on.

Together we walk down the stairs, and I toss my hair into a bun at the top of my head. I will make some eggs, you fry the bacon?” I suggest.

Tiffany walks downstairs as I am plating the food. Her hair is sticking up on one side of her head.

“Good morning.”

She looks at me sleepily and climbs up on the barstool. She stares into space, and when I slide her plate in front of her, she looks down at it, completely zoned out.

“Tiffany isn’t a morning person.” Lane laughs at her, and she slowly pierces a piece of egg with her fork.

A song comes on the radio, “Stay” by Black Stone Cherry. Lane takes my hand and pulls me into his arms. My head goes to his chest, my arms around his middle, and he wraps his arms around my body.

I have never felt love and happiness like this before, ever.

Once the song is over, I pull back and tilt my head back. Lane takes his cue and kisses me softly on the lips.

“Now it’s time for my baby girl’s dance.”

Tiffany laughs and hops off the barstool. Lane picks her up and twirls her around the room. It’s such a beautiful sight: him smiling and her eyes lighting up with happiness as laughter fills the room.

This is the life; how did I get so lucky? A family is something I always wanted but, deep down, thought I would never have until this very moment. My family is in front of me. Lane and Tiffany.

* * *

“How about we go out to dinner tonight?” Lane suggests.

Tiffany and I are taking the cookies out of the oven to cool. We have spent the last two hours baking. We spent so much time laughing that it took three times as long as it should have.

“That’s fine with me, Honey.”

“Me too, Daddy.”

I smile at her as she sneaks a cookie into her mouth. I peek at Lane and see that he noticed it too. She wasn’t supposed to eat any until after dinner, but Lane and I don’t have the heart to remind her.

“We need to leave in an hour. I will clean this up as you ladies get ready.” He winks and helps Tiffany off the counter.

“Come on, Amelia!” Tiffany pulls me behind her. She leads me up to her bedroom, which is pink overload with so many toys it’s like a toy store has exploded in here.

I don’t blame Lane for spoiling her; I would too if I were in his position. He didn’t even know about her until a year ago, and this little girl had a bad life until the moment she was with Lane. She deserves to be happy, and she didn’t have that before. How could she if her own mother was going to use her for ransom?

“So what do you think of this?”

I break free from my thoughts, and I see her holding up a white sundress and a pair of cute sandals. “Oh, I love it!”

She grins at me happily and runs into her bathroom. Every time she smiles, I am hit with how much she looks like Lane, but I can also see his sister, Shaylin, in her.

A few minutes later, she steps out of the bathroom and spins for me.

“You’re gorgeous, Tiffany.”

“Thank you.”

“I am going to get ready myself.”

“Can I watch you put on makeup?” she asks me hopefully.

I nod. “You sure can, let me get dressed first. Give me five.”

I walk into Lane’s bedroom and put on a pair of skinny jeans with small holes down the legs and a striped button-up mid-sleeve top that is slightly longer in the back than the front.

I open Lane’s bedroom door and Tiffany runs in. She hops up on the counter, and I pull out my makeup bag. I take out my primers, foundation, and moisturizer. Her eyes widen as she watches me put on makeup.

“I wish I could wear makeup.” She sighs wistfully.

I look at her in the mirror. “You will someday, Tiffany; enjoy being young and carefree. I wish I were young again sometimes.”

She eyes an eye shadow palette. “You do?”

“I do.”

She looks up from my makeup. “Do you love my daddy?”

I set my brush down and turn to her. “I do, honey—a lot.”

She grins. “Good, because I like you, Amelia.”

Not able to help myself, I lean over and hug her tightly. “I really like you too, Tiffany.”

She hugs me back and I let her go. “Maybe we can sneak you wearing some lip gloss?” I hold a clear lip gloss. Her eyes widen with glee she swipes it on her lips.

We spend the next forty minutes joking around and having fun. Tiffany is like a little woman in a small body. It shocks me that an eight-year-old would know some of the stuff she says. She is an old soul—that’s for sure.

I fall more in love with her every second that I am with her. I find myself amazed at the small things she does.

Tiffany and I walk into the living room hand-in-hand. Lane whistles at us. “You girls look amazing.”

Tiffany flutters her dress out. “Thanks, Daddy, we know.” I burst out laughing at her confidence.

“Come on, ladies.” Lane motions for us to move to the front door. Tiffany walks in front of me, and I take that second to look Lane up and down. He is looking mighty fine in his jeans, black shirt, and leather vest.

Lane catches me ogling him and smacks me on the ass. “Behave,” he growls low enough only I can hear.

“Like that will ever happen,” I whisper back. I couldn’t take the smirk off my face if I tried. I live to torture Lane, because I can get a reaction out of him.

“Let’s get my girls fed.” He holds the door open for me and I walk to the truck.

* * *

We have an amazing time eating together, but I’ve decided to go home tonight, leaving Tiffany and Lane to spend tomorrow together. I don’t want to leave, of course, but I feel like they should spend some time alone.

“You will be back—won’t you, Amelia?” Tiffany asks, tugging on my shirt to get my attention.

“Of course. I will see you Thursday at your ball game!”

She grins happily and wraps her arms around me. “I will see you then!” She lets go and runs upstairs to her bedroom.

Lane’s thumb and forefinger touch my chin, tilting my head up so I am looking at him. “Be safe on the way home, Amelia. I love you, Doll.”

I close my eyes at the sound of him saying, “I love you.” I will never get tired of that. Lane kisses my forehead.

My hands go his chest. “I love you too, Lane.” I raise my head and he meets me, kissing me softly on the lips.

“I will see you tomorrow night.” He winks and I pinch him on the ass.

“Behave, Doll.” He kisses me one last time.

I wave as I walk out to my car and away from my heart.