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Everything around Jig seemed to freeze except for the little bundle of energy hurtling toward him. Time stood still, the busy clubhouse disappeared, even the air calmed. Jig’s lungs stopped functioning, and his breath caught in his chest. It wasn’t the first time she’d run to him, but it caused a temporary freak-out each time.
One second the red-haired three-year-old was speeding his way, a broad smile on her round face, and the next second, her toe caught, and she was flying toward the ground. Pure instinct kicked in and Jig lunged forward, catching her under the arms milliseconds before that adorable face hit the hardwood floor.
“Weee!” Beth squealed as she was swung into Jig’s arms, still smiling as though she hadn’t been a heartbeat away from a very different outcome.
“Shit, princess,” he said, holding her close, hoping it would calm his runaway heart. “You almost bit it there. Don’t run faster than those shrimpy legs can carry you, huh?”
Beth’s eyes grew wide, and she grabbed his face with both her hands. “You said shit,” she whispered. “Mommy says it’s a bad word.”
He winced. He’d never had to watch his mouth around his child because he hadn’t swore back then. As the image of his beautiful little girl filled his mind, he braced himself for the onslaught of pain.
It never came.
Sure, there was a twinge of sadness and regret, but Beth’s scolding grin took up the majority of space in his head at that moment. He could breathe, his gut wasn’t churning, hell, he could even smile.
He flicked his gaze to Izzy and Shell who wore twin looks of worry. As though the attention from Beth would send him spiraling. One wink in their direction, and their eyes widened so in tandem that it looked like they’d rehearsed it.
Jig chuckled and gave Beth a squeeze. Holding the slight weight of a wiggling child in his arms was having the complete opposite effect that he’d always feared. It felt nice, electrifying…right. “You’re right, squirt. I shouldn’t have said that. Guess you hear a lot of bad words around here, huh?”
Her nod was so solemn he couldn’t help but laugh again. “Mommy says Copper has a potty in his mouth and that’s why he says bad words the mostest.”
A potty in his mouth? Shit, he’d laughed more in the past thirty seconds than he had in years. The kid was a trip. “I’ll try to be more careful.”
“Good. Mommy will put you in the timeout chair if you say the bad words. Timeout is no fun. What’s a squirt?” As she spoke, she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He’d overheard something about her missing her nap and Shell expecting a meltdown at any point. Maybe she’d just pass out on his shoulder. If it’d spare Shell some grief, he’d take one for the team. Had nothing to do with the fact that he was falling in love with a kid he’d been terrified of from the moment he met her.
“A squirt is a super cute little girl that everyone loves.”
“I always thinked you was scary, but mommy said you was just sad. Are you sad right now?”
He glanced at Izzy again. She and Shell had sat back down and were chatting again, but Izzy’s eyes kept flicking in his direction and she had a bit of a goofy grin on her face. Jig had a feeling his own smile matched hers.
“No, squirt, I’m not sad at all right now.”
“HOLY SHIT,” SHELL whispered in awe. “This is only the second time I’ve ever seen him hold her, and last time he looked like he wanted to die. Usually, he finds every excuse in the book not to be near her.”
“You’re kidding?” Izzy found herself just as fascinated by the big man holding the little bit of a child.
“Nope. But it’s not surprising if the rumors are true about his own daughter.”
It wasn’t Izzy’s place to confirm what Shell thought she knew, so she just hummed.
“Gets you, doesn’t it?” Shell asked with a knowing smirk.
“Huh?” Izzy tore her attention away from the sight of Jig holding a drowsy Beth. His expression had started as one of terror, then uncertainty, and now he had a dreamy look people got when snuggling a sleeping child.
“Right here”—Shell patted her stomach—“in the ovaries.”
Izzy leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. Stupidly, she’d worn a sleeveless dress and could have used a sweater or maybe a Snuggie right about now. “What the hell are you running on about?”
Laughing, Shell pulled her oversize black cardigan snug around herself as though Izzy’s chill was trying to reach out to her. “Don’t even try to pretend you don’t feel it. There is nothing that makes a woman’s ovaries stand up and dance like the sight of a hot as hell man holding a sleeping child. Especially one that’s usually all growls and scowls.”
