Lush Curves (Dangerous Curves 8) のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 71 - チャプター 78

Because they were struggling, both of them, struggling hard. Sam’s struggles were challenging, but mostly had to do with juggling it all as a single Dad while getting to know this small person, with all her feelings and thoughts and needs. He had help, naturally, but still… at the end of the day, it was Sam who Cindy looked to for comfort, reassurance, safety, stability. For hugs and bedtime stories and gentle pats on her head as she nodded off to sleep. For love.That little girl needed her father, and the fact that Sam had been a stranger until a little over a month earlier suddenly meant less than nothing to her. He was the one that she was counting on, depending on, leaning on, and Sam was determined to answer the call each and every time she made it. She reached for him often, needing him to hold her close as she cried or asked the same questions over and over – Where is Mommy? When is Mommy coming back? Can we call Mommy? – or sat silent and shaken when the realization hit her,

Sam watched Annie walk away from Noah, walk across the dance floor. Walk over to him. She looked so beautiful in that pale pink dress, the shade just soft enough to complement and not clash with her hair. Her makeup was subtle and elegant, her hair was framing her heart-shaped face, and she was moving with a regal grace that stole his breath.His princess.Dear God, how he’d missed her.And suddenly there she was in front of him, a bit taller than usual in higher heels than she’d ever worn with him before, but still looking up at him. He grappled for the words to begin this conversation, and she seemed to know that he needed a few seconds, because she just stood there and waited.It occurred to Sam just how much waiting Annie had done for him. Oh, five weeks wasn’t forever, that was true, but it wasn’t about the time, was it? It was about the intensity of events that had unfolded, the avalanche of things that had washed down and over them, and most of all, about the pain of just not k

Annie took a shaky breath, but said nothing.“If you can't be a Mom to my daughter, I understand. I promise you, I do, and it's OK. It doesn't change a damn thing for me though, princess, because I want you in my life, in my bed. You could live in your house, and I'd live with Cindy in mine, and we'd see each other whenever you wanted. I could arrange for a babysitter overnight and stay with you, or you could come stay with me. I'm good either way. I can tell you that you'd be the only woman in my life, that I'd be with nobody but you... we'd be together in every way that mattered, but you wouldn't have to take on any responsibilities. You'd still be free.”Tears were rolling down her cheeks now. Sam's face tightened and he brushed them away.“Why are you crying?” he asked softly. “Why are you sad?”“Oh, Sam. I'm not sad.”“No?”“No.” She shook her head, managed a tiny smile. “I want to be there for both of you. I want to help raise that strong, beautiful little girl.”“You do?” Sam s

Five hours later, the hospital waiting room was packed with Jax and Sarah's anxious friends and family. Jax had come out of the delivery room an hour earlier and told everyone that Sarah's doctor had decided that she needed a Caesarian after all. He'd been worried and distracted, and everyone had offered their words of support. He'd nodded, then dashed back to his wife.King turned to Sam now. “Shouldn't it be done?"“If everything went fine, then yes." Sam cuddled a sleeping Cindy closer as she sighed and moved around a bit. He dropped his voice. “They'll have to check the babies, then Sarah and Jax will get time alone with them. The doctor will want Sarah to have skin-to-skin time, maybe try feeding them. I say give it another hour."“Can we ask?" Curtis growled, his large hand on Tessa's stomach. She was due in three months, and she was watching all of this unfold with barely-restrained panic. Curtis knew that his wife was suddenly imagining all kinds of complications with her own