Page 152 of For Your Consideration

“How are you feeling?” Jaxson asked as he slid up to me.

“I’m really happy and relieved that it’s all behind me. Is it weird to say I’m glad it happened?”

He looked down at me, his eyes almost gold as they locked on mine. All these men were so damn tall. “Why do you say that?”

“She’s so little.” I looked at my daughter’s smiling face, her cheeks flushed from all the excitement. “She won’t remember any of this. If he popped up two or five years from now, she might have been more aware. At least now I can just make sure she knows how loved she is.” My gaze moved over to Asher. His grumpy glare softened instantly when his eyes landed on my daughter.

That was the kind of love I wanted for her. Someone who would protect her, care for her, and make sure she had everything she needed. The way Asher cared for her was special. I mean the man spent a whole afternoon looking at daycares with me, practically interrogating the owners at each one and then providing me with detailed reports from Jaxson on every single employee that worked there.

“We all give him a hard time about being an asshole, but he’s one of the best men I know. Without a doubt, if I called him because I needed something, he would show up. He might grunt about it, but he would be there. You make him really happy, Sutton.” Jaxson’s hand landed on my shoulder, giving me a light squeeze. “That man hasn’t had a lot of happiness in his life, but you guys are perfect together.” With a wink at me, he went to join Quinn on the couch.

The song came to an end and Noah gently set Sophie down on her butt. When she looked over at Asher in the chair, her face lit up and she lifted one of her chubby little fingers and pointed at him. “DADA!” she screamed.

The room went silent. Someone turned off the music and everyone looked over at me. Even Asher had a bit of a panicked look on his face.

I smiled at my daughter, tears in my eyes, having just heard her first word in a room full of people that loved her.

“I’m so sorry—”

I looked over at Asher with a smile as Sophie started to crawl to him. “Dada, Dada, Dada.”

I let out a laugh as he scooped her off the floor. “I’ve been using it to refer to you.”

“What?” His voice was gruff and low as Sophie tapped his face.

“I maybe should have asked you.” I sent him a sheepish smile. “But I say it when you’re coming in the door or when we go find you in your office or when I’m getting her ready in the morning.”

“Sutton.” His voice broke as he said my name, a very uncharacteristic show of emotion from him.

“Okay. This is really getting me.” I heard Noah clear his throat.

“You said we were yours, right?” He nodded quickly, passing Sophie over to Quinn without taking his eyes off me. “You earned the name, Ash. I’m not at all upset that those were her first words.”

He swept toward me, his hands going to either side of my face as he pulled me into a kiss. There was nothing gentle about it. It didn’t start slow. Our tongues met and it was like our mouths were fucking. I just held back my moan.

“Get a room!” Oli yelled, followed by a smacking noise. I’d gotten lost in the moment and forgot everyone was here.

“Stop it,” Quinn laughed.

It was all kind of a blur with how much happiness there was around me. I pulled back from Asher but he didn’t move his hands from my face, looking at me so lovingly.

“Thank you,” he whispered, eyes still on me. “You and Sophie have given me everything.”

“You’ve shown up for her in ways I couldn’t have ever asked for, Ash. If you want the title, it’s yours.”

“Of course I fucking want it.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I will never do anything to hurt that girl. She is the most precious thing in the world to me.”

“DADA!” Sophie’s scream had us pulling apart. She was still in Quinn’s arms but was wiggling to try and get to Asher.

Everyone laughed, although I could see Jane and Iris both wiping tears from their eyes as he went and scooped Sophie up. He pressed a kiss to her neck as she let out a shriek of laughter.

I’d gotten Sophie to sleep and then slipped outside on the patio on my own. Iris and Jane had gone home a few hours ago. The men were still inside, all relaxing with beers. Quinn was curled into Knight’s side with a smile on her face.

Instead of sitting in one of the chairs, I went to the steps. Sitting here, I could look up and see the stars in the sky. It was one of my favorite things about Asher’s house. How quiet it was at night. How the light pollution from the city wasn’t as strong so I could see the sky so well on a clear night.

Taking a breath of fresh August air, I pulled out my phone. It was nine at night in Rossland but I knew it wouldn’t be too late for him. He’d told me before he never went to sleep before the eleven o’clock news.

The ringing had nerves building in my stomach.