Chapter 7
Lily
We were leaving the Tavern to head over to the Christmas tree farm when Cammie started to fuss. I unstrapped her from the carrier and snuggled her to me. A warm sensation hit my shoulder and ran down the front of my shirt.
“No, no, no,” I whined.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas asked.
“Your daughter just threw up all over me.”
To his credit, he tried not to laugh. “We can probably just wipe it off.”
I glared at him. “I am not picking out Cammie’s very first Christmas tree covered in puke. I’m trying to document everything this season so she’ll be able to look back some day and experience it all for herself.”
He smiled and pulled me into an embrace even though our daughter was squished between us and he probably got a little spit up on himself too. He didn’t seem to notice or care as he kissed me right there in the middle of Collier Street for the entire Pack to see.
“So, pass on the tree tonight. Why don’t we just get you home and you can take a long hot bath while I get some Cammie time?”
He seemed to be holding his breath waiting on my response, as if he expected me to turn down his offer. I considered that for a moment. This big tough Alpha was nervous asking me if he could watch his own kid. Had I done that?
I thought back through the last few months and my face fell.
I had. It had all been my fault. It was no secret that I was borderline neurotic about my child.
After my miscarriage, she seemed like such a miracle to me that I didn’t want to miss a single second of it, but I hadn’t meant to hog her from her own father in the process.
“Hey, what’s with the sad face? It was just an offer Lil. Come on, we’ll get you both home and cleaned up. I have some work to do tonight anyway.”
“Don’t do that,” I told him.
“Do what?”
“Placate me. I’m so sorry, Thomas. She’s your daughter too. You should never feel like you have to ask me for permission to spend time with your daughter.”
He shrugged like it was no big deal. “She’s lucky to have such a fierce and protecting mother.”
“But not from you. Oh no, what have I done?”
He laughed. “Lil, it’s fine. Really.” He reached down and offered the baby his hand as she grabbed it in her tiny fist and cooed. He did that often and it melted my heart.
When we’d first brought Cammie home, I thought Thomas was a little uncomfortable with babies. He seemed to love and dote on her, but usually only when she was in my arms.
Because she’s always in your arms, my subconscious reminded me.
I immediately thrust the baby into her father’s arms and made a personal vow to do it as often as possible.
I watched to see how he would react to the sudden change, but he just stared down at her and grinned from ear to ear.
“We’re going to get mommy home, and all cleaned up now and some fresh jammies for you too, Cammie whammy,” he said in a voice I’d never heard him use before. She cooed and squirmed in his arms happily as if she knew she was safe there.
He carried her to the car and then put her back in her car seat. I watched over his shoulder ready to assist, but he handled it like a pro.
With a quick kiss for me, he held my door opened until I was settled and then closed it and walked around to climb into the driver’s seat.
In some strange way I was seeing Thomas, the father, for the first time. Sure, he had been there with us every step of the way always loving and assisting whenever I needed him. I sighed. Whenever I let him.
I stayed quiet for the rest of the ride home. When we got there Thomas got out and grabbed the diaper bag but waited for me to take care of the baby. It was breaking my heart and not what I had ever intended for us.
“Can you get her?” I asked.
He genuinely looked surprised. “Yeah, of course.”
I didn’t wait to see if he needed help. He was her father, if he didn’t know how to unlatch her car seat already, then he could figure it out.
Much to my surprise he had her out in record time and even beat me to the door as he juggled to open it. His muscles were corded along his arms as he held her carrier tightly to ensure Cammie was safe as he opened the door. There was something seriously sexy about seeing him like that.
The heat that had started to build earlier was back with a punch.
He held the door for me and then walked in behind me.
Thomas was always doing that, which I knew went against his Alpha instincts.
Alphas led the pack. They didn’t hold doors or allow anyone to enter a room ahead of them unless there was a security concern that required it.
Only for a true mate could an Alpha allow such a thing.
I was a lucky woman. I may not have always thought so highly of him, but my man was the best of the best.
I walked back to the bedroom, leaving him standing there with Cammie and a confused look on his face.
“Okay, I can do this,” I heard him say to himself. “Come on whammy, let’s get you cleaned up and ready for bed.”
I had the baby video monitor with me as I drew myself a hot bath and lit a few candles. I hadn’t relaxed like this since well before Cammie’s birth and I knew I was way overdue. If Thomas needed anything he would holler for me. It was time for me to let go… just a little.
It had taken me a lot to realize that and ask Peyton to watch her for the night. I didn’t know if I was ready for that, but even a few baby free hours alone with Thomas would do us both some good.
As I sank down into the hot water, I noticed Thomas wasn’t in the nursery. I tried to stay calm but he had been there just a moment ago so where was he?
Even the water wasn’t helping to relax me as I attempted not to worry.
A few minutes later he walked into view shirtless with a squirming baby bundled in a towel.
“There we go. All clean. Just don’t pee on me this time Cammie whammy. We can do this.”
He quickly diapered the baby and then dressed her in a sleeper.
He picked her up in his arms and started dancing around the room with her.
“I told you we could do it. I know mommy does it better, but we can manage for a little while to give her a break, huh, whammy.”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when he broke into the running man.
He froze and looked around the room and frowned at the camera.
“You’re supposed to be relaxing. We’ve got this,” he said.
“I know,” I hollered back.
He had no idea how sexy it was watching him bond with our precious child.
After their spontaneous dance off, he sat down in the rocking chair and held her close to his chest as he sang softly and rocked her to sleep. I couldn’t believe how quickly she settled for him as she snuggled up to his bare chest and sighed contentedly.
There was nothing sexier than watching Thomas and Cammie together. I could definitely get used to this.