Read Always With You: Part One for Free Online

what I do tell my wife is the truth as I see it.  “No human will be as beautiful as our child will be, though.  Her dazzling green eyes will confound scientists.  Her creamy skin will entrance artists.  And her brilliant smile will be the envy of the stars.”
    “God I love the way your mind works,” she replies, a hitch in her voice.
    I release her only enough to turn her toward me.  Her emerald eyes are shiny with unshed tears.  “I’m right, you know.  There will be no comparison to what we create together.”
    She nods, but doesn’t speak for a few seconds.  “But still, she’s beautiful,” she says, tipping her head back toward Isabella.  “And you’ll love her, too.  Because that’s just who you are.”
    Even though her heart is breaking right inside her eyes, she’s trying to make the best of this. To think the best of me.  It makes me love her that much more.
    “I’m the best me when I’m with you.  I’m the best me because of you.”
    As I watch, fear skates in across Olivia’s features, draining all the color from her face.  “Cash, I’m scared.”
    I pull her hard against me, burying my nose in her neck and bending to lift her off her feet.  “Don’t be scared.  You’ve got me.  All of me.  You had me from the second you took my shirt off. You stripped me that night. More than you’ll ever know.  No one could ever take me away from you, or from the family we’re going to have. No one. I swear it.”
    I feel the shudder that trembles through her slight body and I squeeze her tighter, wishing I could absorb her hurt.  Take it away.  Make all of this better.  Because it seems to be getting worse.  Now not only do I possibly have a daughter, but my ex is staying in my apartment and working in my bar.  With my wife.  And while Sophie always had a good heart, she’s devious and determined. If she thinks she can get me back, she won’t think twice about doing whatever she thinks she needs to in order to get Olivia out of the way.  That’s why I’m going to have to set her straight as soon as I can get her alone.  And keep an eye out for anything suspicious.  I still care about Sophie, but I can’t say I’m glad to see her again.  She was trouble before. I get the feeling she’s gotten even worse with age.
    But still, she is an old friend. An old family friend.  And my mom loved her.  And more than any of that, she might be the mother of my first child.  The results of that paternity test will set us on a path forward. Until then…I just have to bide my time.
    “I love you,” Olivia mumbles as she turns her face toward my ear.
    My favorite words. 
    “I love you more,” I tell her.
    “Not. Possible.”
    “Quite. Possible.”
    “Never.”
    “Always.”
    I feel her lips spread against my skin and I know she’s smiling.  That’s become sort of our thing.
    “I think we’ve got some…work to do tonight, don’t you?”
    “I think you might be right.  How about we light up the Christmas tree at the condo?  The right way?”
    “Mmmm,” I growl against her throat, my dick twitching at the imagery. “You, naked, bathed in twinkling lights, moaning my name?  Hell yeah!  That really is the right way!”
     
     
     

 
    CHAPTER TEN
     
    Olivia
     
    I have just finished packing the last of our things and stripping the sheets from the bed when my phone rings. I answer it, tucking my cell between my shoulder and my ear as I take the sheets to the washing machine and stuff them inside.  “Hello?”
    “May I speak with Olivia Davenport please?”
    “This is she.”
    “Yes, ma’am, I’m calling from St. Joseph’s Hospital.  You’re the emergency contact listed for Darrin Townsend.  Do you know someone by that name?”
    My heart begins to pound wildly as my hands still on the closed lid of the washer.  “Yes, he’s my father. Is something wrong?”
    “We have your father here in the cardiac cath lab.  He was transferred from an urgent care