Page 75 of Untroubled Heart

He huffs a breath through his nose like a bull. “If you hurt her,” he says low and menacingly, “I’m not afraid to do jail time.”

“Got it.” I nod.

His arms drop from where they were crossed over his chest before he steps forward, kisses his niece on the cheek, and storms back over to his house.

“Hey, West!” I call before he reaches his door, making him stop. “Hurting her is the last thing I plan to do.”

He doesn’t turn around, but he glances halfway over his shoulder and gives me a single nod, then disappears inside.

I guess that’ll do until I prove it to him. It’ll be the easiest thing to show him, and everyone, that I’m serious when it comes to Callie and Navie.

I wonder how long you’re meant to date before asking someone to be your girlfriend? I’m pretty sure it’s not as simple as in high school when you hand someone a note that said, “Do you wanna be my girlfriend? Tick yes or no.”

A notepad and pen sit on the end of the kitchen counter. Tucking them under my arm, I finish prepping Navie’s bottle, and sit down with her on the couch. I test the temperature on my wrist first, place the notepad and pen beside me, and arrange Navie in my arms. She takes the bottle with ease, her tiny fingers wrapping around mine where I hold it. With her content, I pick up the pen and start writing what comes to my heart.

Callie,

From the moment I saw you, I wanted more. For years, I had built up the idea of love and forever, and it had grown so big that it started to feel just like that. An idea. A dream. An impossible reality I’d created in my head. But that night was only the start of what reset the course of my life over the coming weeks.

This morning was the first time I woke up with you in my arms. You don’t know it yet, but it’s where I’m going to keep you. I think it’s where you were always meant to be.

I’m going to make you fall so hard for me. I promise I’ll always look after your heart.

Yours. Always. Mason.

Navie finishes her bottle, so I bring her to my shoulder like I’ve seen Callie do and gently pat her back. She lets out a deep burp, making me laugh, before she sighs against my shoulder. I start talking to her about my niece, which then becomes my siblings and my parents, until I realise she’s fallen asleep on me. Before I know it, an hour’s passed, and Callie comes stumbling out of her bedroom. I quickly tear the page from the notepad, fold it as best I can with one hand, and shove it in my pocket as she moves towards me. One eye is still shut, her hair’s a tangled mess, and she’s thrown on my shirt from last night. Damn, my clothes look good on her. Bet my last name would too.

“Hey, Trouble.”

She pauses when she spots us sitting on the couch, a smile catching in surprise. “I didn’t hear her wake up.”

“No, you were very tired.” I wink.

Her smile grows bigger as she sits beside me, resting her head on my shoulder next to Navie’s as she rubs her back.

“I can’t believe you got her to settle without a feed.” Her brows knit together. “Did you change her?”

“Yes, and I used the bottle you made last night. Got her to burp, and also… exchanged some words with your brother.”

Callie’s head snaps up, a myriad of thoughts exploding on her face. “You changed her. You feed her. You somehow got her to keep the bow on her head, and you exchanged words with my brother. W-what words?”

“I’ve changed and fed my niece plenty of times. Little Blue was more than happy for me to do it for her.” I press a kiss to Navie’s head. “And, yeah, I kinda opened the door without my shirt on, holding your daughter. I can say with confidence your brother knows you’re not just my assistant.”

Callie chews her lip. “Did he seem mad? Concerned? Disappointed in any way?”

I rest a hand over her bare thigh, rubbing over the smooth skin to settle her. “No. He just wanted to make sure my intentions were in the right place. Same as both my brothers and I would do for Beth.”

She blows out a breath and links her fingers through mine over her leg. “I’ll go talk to him later.”

“Much later, though, right? I was hoping you two might want to spend the day with me?”

She squints her eyes in amused assessment. “Both of us?”

“Obviously.” I lean forward and kiss her.

She sighs happily, shifting her gaze to Navie. “I love my mornings with her, but I won’t lie, it was an unexpected luxury to wake up slowly like that. Thank you.”

“Mmm, maybe I should be here more often to help out.”