didn’t leave because I didn’t want you or your mom. I left because I wanted you so badly to be mine, but at the time, I believed the doctor. I didn’t ask the right questions and because of that I missed a lot of your life.”
“I asked Mom for a brother or sister and she told me no.”
Holden’s gut clenched at what was coming next.
“Now that you’re my dad and we’re gonna live together, can I have a brother or sister?”
Punch to the throat.
“I’d like that very much, but that’s something I have to talk to your mom about.”
“She’ll say yes.” Faith solemnly nodded.
He had no doubt. Charleigh had wanted kids—plural, as in as many as they could have and still live a life that was full of adventures and outings. The problem wouldn’t be talking her into more, it would be whether or not Holden was capable of producing them. Not that Holden would explain that to Faith. Nor would he tell her that for the time being she would be an only child. He wanted time to get to know her and build a solid relationship before they added to their family.
Then a thought hit him—he’d taken Charleigh bare. Not once had he used a condom. It hadn’t occurred to him he could get her pregnant and he hadn’t asked if she was on birth control.
She could be pregnant right now.
It was a whisper that fluttered over him. A fantasy, a wish that even in his darkest days without her had never gone away. Knowing Faith was his, and there was a possibility they could have more, revived his dream.
Maybe.
That was the best he could hope for until things settled down and he sought a second opinion.
“Time for bed. It’s been a busy weekend and you have school tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait to tell Andy I have a dad.”
Good Christ, that felt good.
“You do that. And make sure you tell him that your dad owns—”
“Holden,” Charleigh snapped and his gaze went to the door.
“What?”
“We talked about this.”
Had they? He didn’t think they did. They’d talked about when Faith could date, which he was holding firm on sixteen—eighteen if he could push it and get away with it. And they’d talked about him not being allowed to threaten a little boy. But they had not talked about Faith telling Andy and all the other little twits in her class that he owned guns and a lot of them. They hadn’t even touched on the fact that he knew a multitude of ways to inflict bodily harm. Nor had they discussed that he had zero issue kicking teenager ass if one of them tried to put his filthy hands on his girl. But if Charleigh frowned upon that, he would make sure Alec’s boy, Caleb, was up for the task. He smiled at his fiancée and added giving Caleb hand-to-hand combat lessons on his mental to-do list. Alec would be all for it—as a matter of fact, Alec might have started his training already.
“We didn’t, but I’m sensing you don’t like the idea of Faith telling—”
“No, I don’t like the idea. Unless of course, you want our daughter’s classmates to think you’re Rambo.”
Holden took a moment to consider her question.
“I see you like that idea.”
“I do,” he admitted.
“Who’s Rambo?”
“Who’s Rambo?” Holden mock gasped. “Only the best action hero of all-time.”
“Never heard of him.”
“Charleigh, you’ve deprived our child of Rambo?”
Faith giggled and Charleigh smiled.
“Yeah. Call me crazy but I think she’s got a few more years before she’s ready for blood, guts, and gore.”
“Well, there’s something to look forward to.” Holden tousled Faith’s hair and said. “In five years you and me got a date. Rambo marathon and popcorn.”
“Try seven,” Charleigh returned.
“Six,” he countered.
“Fine, six. But only if you promise not to call Andy’s father.”
“Deal,” he gritted out because he really did want to call Andy’s father but he couldn’t wait to introduce his daughter to action movies.
“Time for bed, sweets.”
“I know, Dad already told me.”
Holden chuckled and Charleigh huffed.
Then Faith did the third best thing that ever happened to him, when she scrambled up on her knees on the bed next to him, grabbed his face, and rubbed her nose against his. “Eskimo kiss.” She bent his head forward and pressed her lips to his forehead. “Sweet dream kiss.” Then she righted his head and kissed both cheeks. “French kisses until the morning comes.”
Holden sat in stunned silence as a golden stream flowed through him.
“Your turn,” Faith declared, looking at him