She swallowed heavily and sniffled. “I swear I’ll always do my best to take care of you, too.”
Frozen in time, they stared at each other, their gazes locked until slowly, very slowly, Brogan’s mouth began to curl. “You’re amazing.” He nuzzled her lips, playfully at first and then with more sensual intent. “Pixie Nolan, with the beautiful spirit, the sexy body, and the sweetest way with words I’ve ever heard.”
“I can’t get over that you like my body.” Before he could protest, she said, “At the moment, with you kissing me, it doesn’t even matter. You matter.Wematter.”
Like a family.
To Brogan, it felt as if they’d just exchanged vows. For now, that was enough for him.
CHAPTER15
The next morning, before the kids were awake, Pixie again snuck from the bedroom through the kitchen. She hadn’t done much sleeping in her own bed. She and Brogan had dozed on the couch, but he was far too large for both of them to sleep there comfortably. When they heard Shayna wake up, he insisted she should go on to bed.
She’d wanted to stay, to get a bottle for Shayna, or change her diaper, or do anything to lend him a hand. He’d touched her chin, kissed her softly, and said, “I’ve got this. Andy will be up in a few hours. You need some sleep.”
Reluctantly, she’d gone to her room, wishing with her entire heart that they could sleep the rest of the morning together. Still, the moment she’d gotten under her covers, she’d faded into a deep sleep.
The second she’d awakened, she remembered why she’d gone to him last night in the first place. Instead of conversation, she’d gotten so much more. It was difficult to sigh and smile at the same time, but she managed.
Andy was still sound asleep, curled up on his side in his footed pajamas, his chubby little cheeks smooshed and his lips open. Looking at him always filled her with tearful gratitude. He was her own little miracle, born on her birthday.
He was the greatest birthday present she’d ever received.
She’d understood what Brogan meant when he’d said Shayna had saved him, because Andy had done the same for her. Not that her life had been anywhere near as difficult as Brogan’s. Not at all. But during the worst of her illness, when she’d hurt all over and weakness had seemed to permeate her every muscle, even her bones, she knew she would have given up and just faded away—except that she already loved Andy.
From the moment she’d found out she was carrying him, she’d known the most indescribable love, the kind of love that made anything and everything possible, even survival under horrible health issues.
Easing from the room, she went through the kitchen and into the living room. Stopping to listen, she detected no sounds, but a moment later, Brogan came from the enclosed porch. He wore his jeans, unbuttoned and unzipped, and carried a shirt and socks. His hair was too short to get messy, but it was somewhat smashed on one side, like velvet nap brushed the wrong way.
She smiled at the sight of him. “Good morning.”
He strode right up to her, kissed her mouth, and ran his hand over her disheveled hair.
Unlike him, her hair was badly tangled. “I didn’t even think to brush it.”
“You’re too beautiful for words.”
Loving him more by the second, she said, “Maybe coffee will kick-start us both.”
Around a yawn, he nodded. On their way back into the kitchen, he said, “Shayna’s back asleep. Andy?”
“Still sleeping, too.” In a cabinet beside the sink, she got down the coffee and a filter for the basket.
Brogan looped his arms around her from behind. “Right now, I’d like nothing more than to strip you naked again, this time in the morning sunlight.”
That sounded both amazing and terrifying. Despite what he’d said, she still had reservations about the changes in her body. “Um …”
“I need you to know how gorgeous you are, that every inch of you is perfection.”
Now shereallyneeded the coffee. “These days,” she whispered, “my hips are a little wider.”
Brogan growled near her ear. “Your hips … mmm.”
Her lips twitched. “I used to have a flat stomach, but not anymore.”
“You have a woman’s body.” He opened his mouth on the side of her neck and grazed his teeth over her sensitive skin.
Talking wasn’t easy. “I have a few stretch marks.”
