Kay looked down at her clothes. She’d changed into a nightshirt before coming in to rock the baby. It was stained with drool on the shoulder and wrinkled in a million places from all the times Hope had grabbed it.

So much for romance, she thought. The sleep-deprived mommy look was hardly sexy.

“I’ll just go make her a bottle. Maybe something warm will calm her down enough so she can sleep. She usually doesn’t take a bottle before bed, but I’m willing to try almost anything at this point.”

Kay walked down to the kitchen. She grabbed the baby formula from the pantry and added some distilled water from the refrigerator. She didn’t have a bottle warmer, so she heated it in the microwave, shaking it thoroughly afterward.

She tested the temperature on her inner arm, then shook the bottle again and did a second test just to be sure. On the way back to the room, she grabbed an extra baby blanket from the diaper bag. After she drank the bottle, Hope would need to be burped. It couldn’t hurt to have an additional barrier over her clothing in case she spit up.

In the hallway outside the room, she took a moment to pause, listening to the soft rumble of Eli’s deep voice through the door. Her feet were exhausted from walking the baby around, and she was so tired it was a wonder she hadn’t fallen asleep standing up. But at the very least, she knew she could take this last moment of calm because she trusted Eli had everything under control.

This must be what it was like to have a husband. Someone who loved you and whom you trusted completely so you could feel safe leaving your baby in their care. Someone to carry part of the weight.

Finally, she pushed the door to the third bedroom open slowly. Eli stood next to the window, talking to the baby in a low voice, his deep baritone rumbling across her worn and weary nerves. Hope was cuddled up on his shoulder, contentedly snuggled against his wide chest.

As the rumble of his deep voice carried across the room, Kay’s heart melted observing them. Her gentle warrior. She didn’t blame her daughter one bit for her fascination with Eli. She knew from firsthand experience that it was pretty much impossible not to feel safe when being held in those strong arms. When he saw her in the doorway, he waved her away. Startled, she backed out of the room and eased the door closed.

It looked like he didn’t need her help.

In the living room, she collapsed on the couch. She massaged the tender balls of her feet before propping them up on the other end of the couch. A ragged sigh escaped her lips. She would just rest her eyes for a moment. Eli would probably be out soon. Hope had looked to be halfway to la-la land already.

ELI WATCHED THE gentle rise and fall of Hope’s back, waiting until her breathing was deep and even before he moved closer to the playpen. After spending most of the day going over strategy with Matt and Tank, he was exhausted and had been looking forward to a beer and bed. Kaylee had looked just as wiped out after a day entertaining the baby.

It was amazing how such a tiny person could get into so many things. It was hard to stay in the house as an adult, so he could imagine the forced seclusion was taking its toll on the baby as well. He resolved to find a safe way to get them out of the house. Even if he took them to headquarters with him for the day, that would be better than being in hiding all the time.

He looked down at the baby and then smiled triumphantly. She wasn’t asleep yet, but she was almost there. She was a gentle weight on his shoulder, her fingers curled against his neck. So peaceful. So trusting. He had a real knack for this baby stuff.

Then she opened her mouth in a wide yawn and let out a high-pitched screech guaranteed to raise the dead.

“Oh no. Don’t do that. Please don’t do that again.” He bounced her gently, looking around the room for something to distract her. Unsure what to do, he picked up the small notebook on the dresser. Every page contained lines of poetry in Kaylee’s careful handwriting.

“Maybe your mom’s poetry will calm you down. Let’s try reading some. Would you like that?” She seemed to enjoy it when he talked to her, so Eli opened the book to a random page and started reading.

Don’t stay so far away from me

It hurts when you stay

It hurts when you leave

Don’t stay so far away from me

You, and only you

Are all that I need.

Hope stopped whimpering and relaxed against his shoulder again. A few minutes later, she was asleep.

Eli set the notebook down, then moved closer to the playpen, slow and easy. He eased her down, afraid to move too fast and jostle her awake. Remembering Kay’s words about the blankets, he didn’t cover her, just let her curl on her side. He’d accomplished a lot of things in his life, but none felt as monumental as coaxing a cranky baby to sleep.

This was what it truly meant to be a man. To have the love and trust of the people who needed you. He’d spend the rest of his days being the man they needed him to be.

He left the room, turning the knob all the way so the latch wouldn’t catch as he shut the door behind him. His breath left his lungs in a satisfied rush when the door closed without a sound. Now that the baby was asleep, he could have Kay all to himself. Maybe he’d get a fire going and see if he could get her down on that rug with him again. A little quality time with his woman was exactly what he needed.

He turned the corner into the living room. “Are you warm enough, angel? I can start the fire—”

Kay lay asleep on the couch, snuggled up with one of the accent pillows under her head. Her feet were bare and the nightshirt she wore had ridden up to expose the temptation of her thighs.