Page 154 of Scarred

“You have nothing to feel guilty about,” I breathe into her hair as pain lances through my heart. The last thing I want to do is have her feel anything but the happiness she deserves. “I think…I think that if Jules had any say in it, she would have found a way to make sure Scarlett and I were taken care of. She’d be the first one to send us a rainbow after the storm.”

She hugs me tighter and sniffles into my shirt. “Thank you,” she finally whispers.

“And as for your earlier question,” I smile, lifting her chin so our eyes meet.

Swiping away the last of her tears, all I want to do is give her the world as I stare into those endless emeralds. “I think it’s time that Scarlett has a proper birthday party. If you’re up to it, I’ll leave you my card, and you can plan away,” I chuckle. “Lord knows, I don’t know the first thing about what three-year-old girls would want for parties, let alone how to decorate for one.”

“Really?” She grins when I nod my head. “Oh, this will be so much fun,” she says, clapping her hands. “I have so many ideas that I think she will love.”

Laughing at her joy over a kid’s birthday party, I walk over to my wallet sitting by my keys and toss a credit card on the counter.

“Get whatever you need. You only turn three once.”

She shakes her head at the card and smiles.

“I’ve got this. It will be my gift to Scarlett.”

“Take the card.”

“I don’t need it.”

Picking up the card, I walk over to her and place it in her hand. “Take the card, little moon,” I murmur. “It’s nonnegotiable. And while you're at it, order yourself some more lace panties. The last pair seemed to have ripped.”

“Seemed to have ripped?” She asks, raising a brow.

“Bad manufacturing,” I grin. “You might want to order a lot more. Just in case it happens again.” I lean down and kiss the spot behind her ear. She sighs softly, and my heart skips a beat at the sound.

“I guess it’s a good thing then, that I’m not wearing any now.”

Groaning, I slide my hands over her ass and wish I had more time to see if it’s true.

Scarlett comes running in, and I reluctantly pull away.

Cockblocked by a two-year-old.

“Luna, come see Stormy!”

Seems like I’m the second choice now when Luna is around. She wants her attention just as much as I do.

Laughing, Luna takes Scar’s hand as she leads her to the playroom. “What is Stormy up to now?”

I watch the two disappear down the hall, their fingers curled around each other and talking like they’ve been each other’s favorite for years.

Eyeing my phone on the counter, I pull up the photo of the house again.

I study the images and can already picture Scarlett running barefoot across the wooden floors…can already see future birthday parties by the pool.

My gaze stops on one of the bedrooms, its windows overlooking the blue water below. Images flash through my mind of what could be.

Something real…a life my heart already recognizes.

Scarlett and Luna’s laughter down the hall has me lifting my head toward the sound. I’ve given my daughter a place to feel safe in. Now it’s time to give her a home.

A pull stronger than I can fight has my thumb hovering over Noah’s number. Every fiber in my being knows that Jules is somehow helping me find my way to where I’m supposed to be.

Before I can convince myself I don’t deserve any of it…my thumbs fly over the keys.

And hit send.