Chapter 15
Levi
The kid is goddamn gorgeous. Just beautiful.
Perfect skin and hair, and the way that she stares at me, it's like she's sending me subliminal messages from her angel world.
I can't stop looking at her. It's like looking into the eyes of a cherub.
And she's not screaming or puking or shitting or doing anything disgusting.
Well, not yet, anyway. I know that will come.
I walk over to Lennie and stand next to her, letting her take a closer look. "Gosh, she's perfect."
"She is." I agree. "Why don't y'all sit there and I can put her in your lap?"
Her face softens. "Okay. I can try that."
She sits, and I carefully place the baby on her lap. "There. That's not so bad, now, is it."
"No. Not at all."
I'm careful not to say anything more, and kneel, so that she can enjoy the baby, without worrying about reading anyone's lips.
"Uh oh." Nash states, but I don't look up. I'm sure that he doesn't have anything constructive to say, by the tone in his voice, and I don't want to distract Lennie. She goes by my cues sometimes, when she knows that someone is talking. "I thought y'all didn't want anything to do with babies."
"That was just when I thought I was having one with the devil."
"Ah. Okay, who's next to pop out a kid?" Nash teases.
"Sure as hell ain't going to be me." Crystal states. "I've paid my dues. Someone else can go next."
"I am good." Piper says with a scoff, lifting her brows.
"Same." Jade says, lifting a finger.
"What about Braylynn?" Crystal asks, addressing Nash.
"No idea there. We haven't discussed anything like that. We've got her nephew, anyway, for now." He comes over to the baby. "Okay, you twisted my arm. I want to hold her."
Lennie lifts her head and sees that her time is up. I help her give the baby to Nash and she smiles, still looking at the infant. "We should go and let Crystal rest."
"Yeah. I've got a shit ton of work to do for school, too." I add.
Lennie goes over and gifts Crystal a hug. "Congratulations. We'll come by later with a gift for you and the baby."
"Trust me, darlin', I am not sitting my ass in here any longer than I have to. As far as I'm concerned, I'm going home as soon as that doctor comes in and gives me the okay that my innards aren't going to fall out or anything."
Lennie snuffles a laugh. "We'll see you later."
"Let me give you a ride back to the ranch." Billy says, as Cassidy tosses him his keys.
The ride back to the ranch is quick, and we mostly talk about the baby, and how this is going to positively impact the ranch, having a baby around.
Billy doesn't even get out of the truck when we arrive at the ranch; he just drops us off.
I help Lennie grab her camera equipment, and we head back home, where I help her bring her stuff inside.
She's going through her photos in the special camera, when I sit next to her.
We go through the photos together, and I go grab us something to drink in the kitchen.
I watch her edit one of the pictures lightly, just shading an area that's too bright and too close to crop out.
I can't stop looking at her. Lennie is the most beautiful woman in the world.
I love her with all my heart. Living with her has been something else.
She's kind, generous, flexible, and she hasn't yelled at me once for making a mess.
I was raised in a strict household, taught early on to keep the toilet seat and lid down, and never leave my shoes on my feet beyond the front door.
Also, you'll never find a scrap of my dirty clothing anywhere except the hamper.
"So, what's your next photo session, Lennie?" I ask her, taking her attention away from the screen for a moment.
"I don't know, actually. I haven't done a photo session in a while. This was just a favor."
"Well, you're very good at it."
"Thank you."
"Have you ever photographed weddings before?"
"Yes." She nods. "When I was in high school. And I've done a few as favors since then."
"Did you ever meet any good wedding photographers while you were doing them?"
"I met a couple, yes. Why do you ask? Is there a wedding coming up?"
My fingers are itching. I lean back and pull the box out of my back pocket. "Yeah. Ours, if you say yes." My eyes are dancing.
Hers bulge, but her smile matches mine.
"I asked your mama and daddy first, so it's okay if you say yes."
She smiles wide and nods. "Yes." She says, cupping her mouth with her hands. "Yes." She repeats.
"Well, you ought to give your wedding photographer a call then, seeing as you can't photograph your own wedding."
Her eyes are on mine. "It would be a lot of selfies."
I chuckle, placing the ring on her finger. "And a really long selfie stick."
My forehead goes to hers. "I love you with all my heart, Lennie."
"My heart belongs to you, Levi."
I kiss her long and hard and thank God for this precious gift that I've got. She sure can't hear anything, but as far as I'm concerned, she doesn't need to. I'll make sure she always feels the love that I've got to give.
As she's always made sure that I feel hers.