Deliverance snickered and held out his hand for money. Storm mined his pocket and slapped a hundred dollar bill in the demon's hand. "Tell them to put the Alfredo sauce on the side. She's very particular about how much and likes to put it on herself. And don’t think you’re fooling anybody about the money. I know you’re not going to pay for that."
Litha's dad glanced at her, snickered again, and vanished.
"You want to hold her while I set the table?"
Litha's eyes lit up and that was all the answer needed. He placed the sleeping baby on the sofa next to her mother.
Rosie's eyes might have opened a slit, but it was impossible to tell. She rubbed a tiny fist against her nose and went back to sleep.
Storm finished getting the kitchen ready for dinner delivered by demon and had just started back into the living room to check on his girls, when Deliverance appeared. Storm wondered for the hundredth time why Litha was the only one who didn't jump when the demon popped in.
"Hi ho." Deliverance announced raising two bulging brown paper sacks, one clutched in each hand, and looking as pleased with himself as if he’d retrieved the Golden Fleece.
Litha's mouth suggested a wisp of a smile. "I keep telling you not to call me a ho."
The demon giggled and handed the bags to Storm one at a time. "Done and done." He knelt down next to the sofa where Litha was stretched out and ran the back of his index finger over Rosie's cheek. "Have I mentioned that you’re the two most beautiful females in the universe?"
Litha's eyes sparkled. "You haven't, but you’re pretty good at communicating your emotions. I guessed you felt that way."
Deliverance stood and gave his daughter an adoring look, nodded to Storm and disappeared.
Litha gathered up the baby before trying to swing her legs to the floor. Storm made two long-legged strides.
"Here. Let me do that." He scooped Rosie into the crook of his arm and used the other hand to help Litha stand. "I can bring the food in here if you'd rather."
"Don't be silly. I'm not an invalid. In fact, since our daughter is the most considerate baby in the history of babies, I can only imagine that I'm doing a hundred times better than most moms with one-day-olds." She cut Storm a suggestive leer. "There could be some benefits to you as well."
"Like..."
"Sex sooner. Less wear and tear on the equipment." She wiggled her eyebrows.
"Okay, stop. I get it."
"Am I making you uncomfortable? Please tell me you're not going to be one of those men who loses interest once the hot mama becomes a mama."
Storm grinned. "That had better not be wishful thinking on your part because, no." He used his free arm to gingerly pull her in close to his side then looked down at her with a sexy little crooked grin full of the promise of lots of living yet to come. "I'm never gonna give up any part of you."
"Well said, knight. Is that pasta primavera I smell?"
"Indeed. A feast worthy of my lady."
For almost six weeks after Rosie’s birth, everything proceeded normally. Storm's mother stopped over every few days to bring flowers or food or flowers and food. And hold the baby, of course. She was over the moon and kept calling grandparenthood a transcendent experience.
Sol left for vacation. As a favor to his daughter, Deliverance agreed to help simplify things by showing up at the vineyard every day to give Storm a "ride" to work at Jefferson Unit and stopping in to pick him up and return him six hours later. Glen was such a natural for the job that he didn't require much supervision, or even guidance.
Six weeks after they brought her home from the hospital, Rosie slept through the night without waking. Storm and Litha had gone to sleep facing each other, talking quietly about the future, reveling in the simple pleasure of their little family’s cocoon. Storm said he was looking forward to teaching Rosie how to swim and ride a bike.
When they woke they were still facing each other. Hearing the baby's cry, they opened their eyes and watched each other's features transform into surprise when they realized it was light already.
"She slept all night." Storm said it like he had not really believed that would ever happen. Then his mouth curved up to show how much he appreciated that it had.
Litha returned his smile as she pulled on her robe and padded down the hall. Storm stretched in their bed enjoying the feeling of sleeping naked between clean sheets. The thought crossed his mind that he was going to have to give up that luxury, sooner or later, with a daughter in the house.
He was completely relaxed and completely content, when he heard Litha call his name in a way that couldn't be good.
“Storm!”
He scrambled up, not bothering with clothes, and hurried to the nursery next door. Litha was standing just inside the door with wide eyes and her hand over her mouth.