Page 31 of Stealing Home

He carried Lucia over to the crib and laid her down long enough to change into a clean team-issued shirt before gathering everything they’d need for the morning. The diaper bag had become as essential as his equipment bag, and he mentally ran through the list as he checked every item inside. Three weeks ago, he’d forgotten the formula and had to leave the complex halfway through the morning because he’d packed everything except a really important thing she needed to survive. He hadn’t made that mistake again.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand, and he glanced at the screen, expecting a message from Evan or CJ or some reminder from the social media team. Instead, Gavin’s name lit up the display.

Gavin

Morning. Hardwood’s going in today.

A second message followed almost immediately.

Gavin

Thought you’d want to see.

Three pictures followed.

The first showed the upstairs hallway, the old carpet gone, with neat stacks of hardwood planks waiting to be installed.

The second was the nursery. Fresh white paint brightened the room and sunlight poured through the oversized windows. Blue painter’s tape still lined the baseboards. Dominic hadn’t decided on a final color yet, so Gavin was leaving the tape in place until he did.

The third picture made him laugh. A pink rattle sat in the middle of the empty nursery floor with a handwritten note beside it: Reserved for the boss. Dom shook his head, smiling as he typed out his reply.

Dom

Smartass.

The typing bubble appeared almost instantly.

Gavin

Occupational hazard.

Dom

Looks amazing.

This time, it took Gavin a little longer to answer.

Gavin

It’s getting there.

Should be able to start the deck tomorrow.

Another pause.

Gavin

How’s Lucky?

Dominic’s stomach fluttered. The question had started showing up sometime during the first week. It was usually the first thing Gavin asked. Dom wasn’t entirely sure when that had happened. Or when he’d started looking forward to those texts.

He snapped a quick picture of Lucia sleeping peacefully in the crib, one hand somehow sticking straight into the air.

Dom

Recovering from breakfast

The reply came less than a minute later.