Grabbing her hand across the table, I gave it a squeeze. “It’s just unlucky this all happened on one of the nights you had class. Don’t be getting in your head over it.”
Daisy’s lips twisted to the side. “Hard not to.”
“Right now, it feels like a big deal that you missed out on this milestone with our girl, but it’s more important for you to show her she can be strong, smart, and independent in chasing a career.Ifthat’s something she wants, of course. A part of me hopes she’ll want to stay here with us forever, but I know she’s destined for bigger things than this ranch has to offer, and you’re the one out there blazing a path that she’s sure to follow.”
“You’re right. It’s just hard, you know?” Her lower lip trembled.
“Can’t appreciate the easy days if you never have to fight through the hard ones.” Chair legs scraped against hardwood as I stood. “Come here.”
Daisy burrowed her face into my chest, and her arms tightened around me, our embrace serving to bring us both comfort.
Peeking up at me through wet black lashes, she said, “You know what this means, don’t you?”
“That I need to have my shotgun at the ready for all the fools who think they can get within six feet of our daughter?”
“No.” My wife rolled her eyes.
“Then what?”
She grimaced. “You should probably havethe talkwith Tripp.”
Stepping back suddenly, I shook my head violently. “Nope. No way.”
Daisy threw both hands on her hips, her eyes narrowing. “It falls to you as his father, Jett.”
My eyes drifted shut, and a rumble rolled through my chest. “Fine. I’ll take him out the next time we bring in the studs.”
“Jett!”
“What? Can’t beat a real-life demonstration of where everything’s supposed to go. It’s a hell of a lot more than I got from my father.”
She scoffed. “Don’t remind me that your own sexual education was so lacking you didn’t know I could still get pregnant if you pulled out.”
“Hey!” I pointed a finger in her direction. “That kid wouldn’t even be here if I’d known.”
“Make sure you lead with that.” Her voice deepened as she tried to imitate mine. “‘Listen here, Tripp. The only reason you exist is because someone didn’t properly explain to me how babies can be made. But since I’m a coward who’s too uncomfortable to share those details with you, go ahead and spread your seed all over town and hope nothing comes of it.’”
“I don’t sound like that.”
A loud snort sounded. “Sure, let’s fixate on that instead of the part where you’re refusing to sit our son down to discuss the changes that are about to happen to his body, and how to be safe when he inevitably ends up in bed with a girl.”
Both of my hands came up to scrub my face. How in the hell had this gotten turned around on me?
Exhaustion settled deep in my bones. “If I promise to take care of it, can we go to bed? It’s been a long day.”
She shot me a sharp look. “You gonna keep that promise?”
Did I want to? No.
Would I? Yes, even if the mere thought of discussing the intricacies of sex with my son was enough to give me hives.
“We’ve been together for seventeen years. Have I ever broken a promise in all that time?”
“No,” Daisy grudgingly admitted.
“And I’m not about to start now,” I vowed, closing the space between us.
Sliding an arm around her waist, I guided her toward the steps as she murmured, “Even if you’re a stubborn ass sometimes, I still love you.”
