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Now Ryder really does smile, showing me all the love he feels for his new family.
“Dahlia’s making lunch and Faith is asleep, but will no doubt be awake soon.”
I follow him through the bar toward the stairs that lead to the apartment they live in.
It isn’t ideal, especially having to lug the stroller up and down the stairs all the time, which is why my brother is already on the hunt for a house. He wanted it to be a surprise but Dahlia ended up coming home with realtor brochures the same day as Ryder had.
Ryder looks at me over his shoulder with trepidation when we get to the stairs. If I weren’t as fit as I am, then we’d have a problem. With my upper body strength, getting to the top of the steep stairs isn’t a problem, which I prove.
“I’m proud of you, bro,” Ryder blurts out, choked with emotion and leaving me stunned.
Those are words that I’ve told him but never heard them out of his mouth. I know he’s always been in my corner and always will be, but hearing his words leaves me speechless and causes a tumble of emotion to roll through me.
Ryder grips my arm. “You struggled to get to where you are today and I know I had something to do with getting you here, but hell, you’re one strong fucker.” He laughs.
“Thanks.” That’s not really an adequate response, but with it being unexpected, for once, I’m left floundering.
“Okay, mushy shit over with.” Ryder scowls as he lets us into his apartment while I can’t wipe the grin off my face.
My grin spreads when I see Dahlia slowly walking around the living room with Faith snuggled against her.
Dahlia is an awesome mama, and looks so damn cute cuddling Faith.
I love how her face lights up whenever Ryder walks into a room. It’s as though he’s been away from her for months…years, when in actual fact, she’ll be lucky if he’s away longer than an hour.
“Hi, gorgeous,” Dahlia says with a wink.
“Hey, stop encouraging him, babe,” Ryder counters, smacking his wife on her ass.
Dahlia rolls her eyes. “I’m not telling him anything he doesn’t already know.” Her eyes drop and focus on the crutches under my arms. “Oh, shit. What happened?” She gently passes Faith to Ryder before running over to me, and wrapping her arm around my waist. Her gaze searches my body for an injury before I can even reply. I glance at my brother, who has a smirk on his face before he turns away and heads toward his favorite chair, a brown leather recliner.
Turning my attention back to my sister-in-law, I kiss her on the top of her head before pushing her a bit away from me so I can see her face. “I’m fine.”
She frowns.
“Seriously, Dahlia. I’m good. I just need to keep the prosthesis off a day or two until the swelling has gone down. I’ve just over done it with work.”
“Then come and take a load off.” She leads me to the sofa, where I drop my ass down into the soft cushions.
I’ll be lucky if I can get up from this thing with how deeply I’ve sunk into the large cushions.
Dahlia drops down beside me, and turning, she curls her legs under and rests against me. “So, tell me why you over did it.”
“It’s not just a case of overdoing it.” I sigh. “I may have jumped out of my truck and twisted my knee.” I wrap my arm around her neck and pull her tightly against my side. “Please don’t worry about me. I promise, I’ll be fine in a day or two. It’s already feeling better.”
“Now that you know he’s fine, will you get away from him?” Ryder grumbles.
I grasp Dahlia on her hips and swing her over me so she’s sitting across my lap. “I like her where she is just fine,” I tease.
His eyes go into a tight line of ‘game on’, an expression I know well from our childhood. “Faith wants her mama.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “I can’t believe you used your daughter.” Shaking my head, I push Dahlia up so she can go and sit with her husband and child.
Watching them now, I can’t help but notice what a gorgeous family they make. Reaching into the side pocket of my shorts, I bring out my cell. “Hey, guys. Smile.” Dahlia sits on the chair arm and wraps her arm around Ryder’s neck while my brother snuggles Faith in his arms. I snap a few pictures. “Okay.”
“Oh, let me see.” Dahlia tries to jump up but is held back with Ryder’s arm around her.
“You’ve snuggled against him enough for today,” Ryder grouches. “He needs to get his own woman.”
