Looking out the window of the small plane, I watched the mountains pass by underneath us. The sky was clear today and the sun high, casting its rays over the snowcapped peaks. The ocean was visible in the distance, telling me we were close to Willow Brook.

For me, Willow Brook was home now. I loved the little town, but that wasn’t why it felt like home. It was home because Susannah and Wayne were there. They were my life, the sun in my universe now.

I’d been gone for three weeks, three weeks too long. I still loved my job. Yet, whenever we had to fly out to the backcountry to deal with a fire, I missed them the whole time. On the heels of a deep breath, I leaned my head back against the seat, rolling it to the side to see Beck checking his phone. He glanced up, catching my eyes.

“Lemme guess,” I said. “Checking in with Maisie?”

He flashed a grin. “Of course. You know what it’s like now. You’ve got a family waiting for you.”

I had no trouble admitting I’d do anything for them. I returned Beck’s grin. “I sure do know. Being away is the only thing I don’t like about our job.”

Beck nodded. “Completely agree. But it keeps everything in perspective.”

* * *

Later that night, or more specifically in the middle of the night, I rested against the pillows while Susannah nursed Wayne. A lamp in the far corner of the bedroom caught the soft gold in her hair. I looked over at her, thinking I’d never ever get tired of the sight of her.

Her strawberry curls fell in a tousle around her shoulders, and her eyes looked tired. She was so damn beautiful. I ran a fingertip down the side of her neck and over the curve of her shoulder. Her gaze caught mine, her mouth hitching at the corner in a sleepy smile. “I keep hoping he’ll sleep through the night.”

“Well, he’s only waking up once a night now. He’s hungry. At least he goes right back to sleep after you nurse him.”

She nodded, glancing down at his dark curls and sifting her fingers through them. We fell into quiet while she nursed him, and I rested beside her. The silence was comfortable. But then, I was always comfortable with her.

After a few minutes, Wayne fell asleep, his mouth finally releasing her nipple. She stood carefully and stepped into the small room off to the side where his crib was. Within minutes, she returned to bed. I figured whoever designed this house must’ve had a baby in mind because that little room right off the main bedroom was perfect for a baby.

Sliding back under the covers, she looked over to me as she curled against my side. “You know, you don’t have to wake up every night with me. You need your sleep.”

Shrugging, I shook my head. “I want to. I hate that I have to miss a few weeks every so often. So when I’m here, it’s a team effort. I’d nurse him if I could, but he likes you better.”

Susannah smiled softly. “Okay, I just didn’t want you to think I expected it.”

Because I was that bad when it came to her, I lifted a hand, trailing it down the silky skin of her neck to trace around one of her nipples. Major bonus, her already lush curves were even more full now. I fucking loved every inch of her.

When her breath hissed, I glanced up, catching her eyes as they darkened. I thanked God for the thousandth time—at least I wasn’t alone in how much I felt for her. Reaching for her, I tugged her into my lap, groaning at the feel of her slick folds over my cock.

“Wow, you’re ready,” she observed with a giggle.

“It’s been three weeks too long.” Staring at her, my heart clenched tightly reminding me, yet again, I would do anything for her.

“Did I forget to tell you I loved you today?”

She shook her head, a grin teasing at the corners of her mouth.

“Oh good,” I murmured as I tugged her down to me, catching her lips in a kiss.