Page 139 of The Golden Hour

“I wanted to ask if that was okay for her mouth?” Honey says, her brow furrowed with worry as she glances at Daisy. “She loves the ear for some reason, and I looked it up online, and people say it’s okay, but I just wanted to ask you and make sure that it won’t harm her.”

Mason’s heart softens at the pure concern and worry in Honey’s eyes, and how fucking seriously she takes Daisy’s safety. He’s continually in awe of her as a mother—glowing, beautiful, and strong.

They’ve made new ground in the last month. Laughing together more, spending every meal together, and taking over Daisy’s care to give Honey some time to herself.

Yesterday, Marlene and Melissa took Honey out for a pedicure. It was the first time Daisy and Honey had been separated.

His wife had been so anxious, her hands shaking as she held Daisy and said goodbye. His own eyes stung when he saw the tears glistening in both of his girls, but Honey needed—and deserved—some time to pamper herself.

“Go have fun, Honey,” Mason told her, holding Daisy in his arms and bouncing her.

Daisy, thankfully, giggled at that, and it smoothed some of the worried lines of Honey’s face.

“We’re going to have a blast, aren’t we, baby girl?” Mason blew a raspberry on Daisy’s cheek. “We’ll do tummy time, and we’ll watch the Eagles, and then I’ll take her out and teach her how to drive, and then⁠⁠—”

Honey’s laughter cut off his joke, and she brushed a hand down Daisy’s soft hair.

“Maybe we wait like fifteen more years for the driving thing?”

Mason’s heart flipped a little at that—the future, the potential, the certainty in her words

“Deal, baby,” he winked. “Go have fun. I got it.”

The trust made him feel ten feet tall.

It was something he thought he had lost forever, but he seemed to be earning it back. He would never stop earning and fortifying the precious, fragile trust she placed in him.

“It’s perfectly fine, as long as it’s cleaned regularly and there are no loose pieces in her little elephant,” Dr. Adonis says. “Gum away. When she starts teething, you can switch to teething toys, which will be soon.”

“Oh my Gosh,” Honey says, surprised. “I can’t believe she’ll be teething soon.”

“Time flies,” Adonis chuckles.

Mason looks at Daisy and silently mocks a laugh with an exaggerated face, making her giggle. Honey sees him and shoots him a scolding but amused look.

Mason sighs.

He is not jealous of this pediatrician… because that would be ridiculous.

Dr. Adonis is a very competent doctor—with a very ridiculous name—who has been taking wonderful care of his baby girl, soothing all of his wife’s worries.

That’s great. He’s very happy with that.

He is also simply aware that Dr. Adonis has no business being that handsome while smiling at Mason’s wife.

Dr. Adonis then reaches out and tickles Daisy’s belly, making her laugh.

Okay, maybe Mason hates him.

And Dr. Adonis might know it from the twinkle in his eye and the humorous smirk on his lips.

“I’ll tell Fia that her elephant is pediatrician-approved to gnaw on,” Honey says to Mason with a bright smile as she takes a reaching Daisy from his arms. “Guarantee she’ll get a kick out of that.”

“Fia?” Dr. Adonis asks.

“My cousin, Fia,” Honey nods. “Daisy’s godmother, actually.”

Dr. Adonis’ smile changes at that. Softens.