Page 87 of Untroubled Heart

I shouldn’t panic right now. Sam said she was onto it. It probably won’t even be an issue by the end of the day. She’ll tell his lawyer to talk some sense into his client and just sign the damn paperwork, then I can tell Mason the good news and save him from worrying.

“Yep.” I press onto my toes and kiss him. “Everything’s great.”

I’ll make sure of it.

Chapter thirty-one

Callie Baby,

Do you remember the letter we read where Greyson told Florence there was something he needed to do to ensure they stayed together? We’ve always felt his love through the pages, but now I think I understand the depth of his longing. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to call you my girl. I want to give you everything you want in life—you and Navie. I want to be everything to you both. I might not get everything right, but never doubt my love for you is boundless. Unyielding. Eternal.

Yours, Mason.

I’ve always loved expensive things, so it’s a good fucking thing I’m rich. I don’t hesitate to buy the newest model on the market, whether it’s a watch, a car, or a boat, but I think this particular catamaran will be passed down to my children’s children.

It’s only a few months old, having had a few day trips with my family so far, but one thing I’m grateful for is that the bed remains unchristened. Now that I see Callie and Navie standing in my space, looking so firmly a part of my world, it’s like they always belonged here, and I don’t like the thought of my old life ever touching them. I can’t possibly get rid of this boat now, because it’s the place where I stood, looking at the girl of my dreams and thought, fuck, I’m so in love with her.

I should have seen it coming. She had a hold of me from the start, but it probably took root when we walked through the house together, and I bought it without realising I had already made it my mission to make her dreams come true.

Callie stands in the shallow water, holding Navie high enough that she can watch her little feet splash. They’re wearing matching bathers. Navie’s has cute little ruffles, and Callie’s is cut high on her thigh, showing off her dreamcatcher tattoo.

We’ve been out all morning. Navie should be ready for a nap soon, so we decided to anchor somewhere private and calm for a final swim before we put her down and have the picnic lunch I made for us. I don’t mind cooking. Grams taught all of us kids how to cook when we were growing up—feeding people is her love language. I haven’t had the opportunity to do it much because there was no one to cook for—but I love doing it for Callie.

I take the stairs off the boat and step into the crystal blue water. Navie looks up when she hears me coming, her arms and legs cycling to get to me, and my heart clenches. I never really gave much thought to being a dad, but I can’t deny the way Navie unlocks something protective in me. Some wholesome kind of love that’s built on a foundation of wanting her to have everything and being the one to give it to her.

“Hey, Blue.” She gives me the brightest smile as I take her from her mum, lifting her above my head. Her tiny toes curl in as she giggles, so I bring her into my chest, then lift her up again—more toe-curling giggles.

I laugh with her as I do it a few more times. The final time I bring her down, she tucks her head into my neck.

My stomach feels warm and tight at the sweet gesture, my hand rubbing up and down her back as she snuggles into me. The same caramel smell I recognise from Callie floats off the top of her head, mixed with the coconut sunscreen put on her earlier.

“I think it might be time for her feed now,” Callie says, smiling softly as she watches us. “This little girl’s tired.”

“I could use a nap too,” I say, wading through the water with Navie still in my arms. I offer a hand to Callie so she can jump onto the stairs before handing her daughter over.

“Doing nothing but sunbathing has a funny way of taking it out of you,” she says, but that’s not why I want to go to bed.

My eyes trail up her bare legs. Her skin looks like it’s glowing against the neon pink swimsuit, and the water droplets slipping over her hips have a direct line of communication with my cock.

“Ohhhh, I don’t plan on sleeping, Trouble.” I pull myself onto the boat, eager to forego lunch so I can eat her instead.

Callie’s cheeks grow pink, and her eyes shift around us. There’s no one close to where we’ve stopped, and only a handful of boats have passed by in the hour we’ve been stopped here.

“Mason,” she says my name with a gasp, and I know I’ve affected her.

I chuckle as she spins on her heel, heading to the dining table. I keep moving past her into the top-of-the-line kitchen, heating up the pumpkin and sweet potato gnocchi I whipped up last night as she sits down and starts feeding Navie.

I cut up some watermelon to go with the salad, along with slices of fresh sourdough I picked up at a market stall this morning when I stopped by Callie’s favourite cookie stand for our dessert.

By the time I’ve set everything on the table, Callie’s finished feeding Navie and changed her into dry clothes so she’s ready to go to sleep.

“This looks amazing,” Callie says, seated next to me.

“I hope you like it. I’ve not made vegan stuff before.”

“You made this?”

I nod and steal Navie from her so she can eat with two hands. I’d rather watch her enjoy my cooking and embrace the way she lets me look after her, knowing it’s becoming my favourite thing to do.