“I know, baby girl. But sometimes, scary things need to happen to show you just how strong and brave you are. You took care of your brother. You both huddled together to keep warm. You did all the right things. You were both so, so brave. I’m so very proud of you.” Her little eyes glisten as she squeezes me tighter.
“Jovie…” Lucas murmurs.
She runs her hand through his hair. “Yeah?”
Lucas sniffles, pulling back and wiping his face. “Will you be my best f… f… fwend?”
Jovie’s eyes well with tears as she quickly blinks them away. “Of course, Lucas. It would be my honor.”
He slides back down, getting comfortable in the bed again like he’s ready to go back to sleep. My body radiates with warmth that my kids are welcoming Jovie in so easily.
They adore her.
I adore her.
Shit! This all might be hard for a while as my kids settle back into some semblance of normal, but with Jovie here by our sides, I think we’re all going to be okay.
At least, I hope so.
Tomorrow, though, I’m going to need to take action.
In the meantime, let’s hope we make it through this night.
Though somehow, I don’t think I’m going to be sleeping another wink.
KEVLAR
The Next Morning
The rest of the night was thankfully uneventful, and while I’ve never slept with my kids at this age in bed with me before, I have to say it was actually comforting. It’s probably not the best parenting, but I needed them last night as much as they needed me. So, fuck the critics. I’m going to comfort my kids after their trauma. They’ll go back to their own beds, but last night we needed to be a family—a family that included Jovie.
This morning everyone’s a little brighter.
Lucas slept through after his event, and Sadie is her usual peppy self. She’s in her room with Jovie playing while I’ve been down discussing business with Neon. He doesn’t have any leads on who the fucker with the burned face tied to the Baron is either.
Damn, if I’m not furious.
Because Ethan’s at a dead end.
But we’ll find a way.
We always do.
Walking up the stairs to the kids’ room, I hear the giggling from the hall. It fills my heart so fucking full. Moving to the door, I gently open it. Sadie and Jovie are sitting at the tiny table. Jovie’s a small thing herself, but on Sadie’s pink seat, she can barely fit. Her knees press up toward her gorgeous fucking tits as she sips on a make-believe cup of tea.
I stand back, leaning against the doorframe, arms folded across my chest while I watch them.
Tea parties are something Sadie did with her mother. Not for a second do I think Jovie is replacing her mother, but it’s cool that Sadie can share this with Jovie.
“Jovie, would you like a rainbow cookie?” Sadie asks.
“That sounds delightful. I would love a rainbow cookie,” Jovie replies.
Sadie hands her a small plastic plate with nothing on it. Jovie puts down her tiny cup, taking the plate, then pretends to pick up the imaginary cookie. She takes a bite, moaning out in delight. I chuckle, which makes Jovie turn to me. She smirks but spins back to Sadie, who’s smiling so wide I bet her cheeks hurt.
“Sadie, did you make these?”
“I baked them myself… I made them with one hundred percent rainbows.”
Jovie moans again.
Jesus! She needs to stop doing that.
“Mmm… I can tell, I can really taste the purple you put in there.”
Sadie burst out laughing. “No silly, it’s indigo.”
Jovie puts up her finger as if she can’t talk because her mouth is full. “You’re right,” she mumbles through her invisible cookie, then gulps like she’s swallowing. “I totally taste the indigo now you mention it. How could I ever have thought it was purple? You know, Sadie, these are probably the best rainbow cookies I have ever had!”
Sadie stands taller, moving from side to side in her excitement. “My mommy taught me to make them with love and a little bit of happiness.”
My smile falls as I watch Jovie, but she doesn’t falter, taking another bite while bobbing her head. “Well, I tell you what? Your mommy taught you just right!”
Seeing Jovie not even bat an eyelid when Sadie talks about her mom is refreshing. She’s not awkward around my kids. She’s so fucking good at this. She came here to get away from her dramas and walked right into mine.
Without hesitation.
No uncertainty.
I don’t know anyone who would do that.
My skin prickles, like the air in the room fluctuates just thinking of Jovie and how my life has changed in the short time she’s been in it.
Clearing my throat, I gain both their attention. “Sadie, baby, can I borrow Jovie for a minute?”
Sadie walks over to her little Easy-Bake oven, placing a baking tray inside. “The cookies will be ten minutes… the tea can wait.”
Jovie places the pink plate on the table, then stands. “I’ll be back soon. I want one of those cookies straight from the oven.”
Sadie exudes excitement. “They taste like a waaarm cloud.”
I roll my eyes, then I head out into the hall with Jovie making her way toward me. “Honestly, Sadie, I can’t wait to try them.”
As Jovie walks out, I move back from the doorway. Then I grab hold, pulling her down the hall. Jovie’s eyes widen as I take her possessively, thrusting us back against the wall. Pressing my body to hers, my hand snakes up into her hair, the other gripping her hip. I press my mouth against her silky lips.
I just need her.
My lips tingle while her hands slide up under my cut, pulling me closer. My cock jerks against the seam of my jeans, grinding in against her pussy. Kissing Jovie is all I’ve wanted since she comforted Lucas last night. Seeing her be so fucking protective over my kids means more to me than anything I could have ever prepared myself for.
I wasn’t ready for this.
I wasn’t ready for her.
But now she’s here, in my life, and I don’t want to give this up.
I need her to know that.
Kissing her like I fucking mean it, a soft whimper escapes her mouth. If I don’t calm this down, I won’t be able to, and I know I have to. Jovie has some more cookies, which taste like warm-fucking-clouds, to pretend to eat, and I chuckle against her.
She pulls back dramatically with the biggest grin on her lips. “Are you laughing while kissing me?”
I bring my hand up, caressing her cheek. “Warm clouds? Sadie really does have a vivid imagination.”
Jovie leans in, planting a chaste kiss on my lips, then lets out a long exhale. “That kiss was nice, but… was it for a reason?”
“Just for coming into our lives and being so damn accepting. Though, I do want to stipulate if this is too much for you… the club, the instant family, I completely understand.”
She wraps her arms around my neck, planting another chaste kiss on my lips. Pulling back, she stares deeply into my eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, Liam.”
Elation soars through me. The thought of her leaving the kids or me right now is not something I can even bear to think about. So, I grab her, bending her over, Hollywood style. She squeals as I lean in kissing her again. Jovie giggles when I press my lips to hers. Even if this is corny, the mood right now is festive and happy, so I want to show her I have a playful side to me too.