Lottie was a cute kid, but my eyes were all for Holt as I pulled him into my arms and gave him a squeeze.
“Hey, kid,” I said softly into his ear.
“Dadadada,” he repeated, just like he always did when he saw me.
Fuck.
It made my heart physically ache to hear him call me that.
“Copper?”
I looked up and the breath exploded from my lungs at what I saw.
Baker’s hair was curly and wild, just like I loved it.
She had on a hip-hugging, knee-length skirt that left nothing to the imagination, a black top that blended into the black skirt, and gold jewelry that I’d bought her.
Not that she knew that I’d bought it for her.
It was yet another one of those special deliveries.
Big gold hoops that I’d caught her admiring in a shop window on her walk to the park with Holt.
Gold chained necklace that dipped down low, almost to her belly button.
And gold bangles at her wrist, something that I’d also noticed her check out, though only because she’d noticed it on a post and clicked on the website and left it up on her computer.
She looked fucking beautiful.
But the icing on the cake was the black heels with the red bottoms that I’d observed her admiring on a woman who was at the park with her kid during a lunch break.
She’d oohed and awed over them for ten minutes to herself.
“You look beautiful,” I said, unable to stop myself.
Baker’s face flushed. “Thanks. You look handsome yourself.”
Holt took my face and plastered his entire mouth over my nose, causing me to laugh and pull him gently away. “That’s kind of gross, Holt.”
He babbled some more.
“Can I see him for a minute?” she asked.
I handed her son over to her, and watched as she smothered him with affection, so different from the woman that I’d met just a few short months ago.
It was refreshing and real, and the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my life.
“Be good for Uncle Audric, Holty,” she ordered. “He’s new to this two baby thing.”
“He’ll be good,” I said as I took him from her again and whispered in his ear. “Don’t make me a liar, Holt Matthew.”
He squealed in delight and threw himself at me, once again going for my nose.
I grinned and placed him down on the ground next to Lottie and gave her a little belly rub which elicited a smile.
When I stood, it was to see Baker watching me with an intensity that I couldn’t quite read.
“You’re good with him,” she said, eyes taking me in. “Like you’ve done it a thousand times before.”
