Night Shift 2(10)

She just wanted to see him.

When she heard the door creak, her eyes flew open to see her father and Markus coming into the room. “Hey.”

“Hey, you,” her father said, coming to her side and taking her hand in his. Leaning down, he kissed her temple as Markus rubbed her thigh. “You gave us one hell of a scare.”

“You sure as hell did. Don’t do that again,” Markus said, a smile on his lips. “Who’s gonna boss us around if you’re not here?”

Baylor grinned. “I’m sorry. Where is Jayden, my baby?”

“Coming,” River answered, kissing the back of her hand. “That poor boy was stricken.”

“I’m sure,” she agreed. “I feel horrible.”

“It isn’t your fault,” Markus said, giving her a small smile. “It just happened. He was just lost, though. I am pretty sure I’ve never seen him cry so much in life, and I watched that sugary sweet wedding last night.”

That made Baylor smile as her father chuckled. “Yeah, so know that boy loves you.”

“Oh, I know that,” she said softly, just as the door opened once more. She couldn’t see past her father and Markus, but then at the end of the bed appeared her husband with a blue bundle in his arms.

“If I didn’t love this little guy so much, I’d drop him to hold you,” he said, his eyes holding Baylor’s as they filled with tears.

“Well, come here. Let me hold him, and you can hold us both.” She decided, and then he was moving and doing just as she suggested. As her son cuddled deep into her arms, Jayden climbed into the bed, taking her in his. When she heard the door shut, she looked up to see her father and Markus had snuck out. She was thankful. She needed it to be just her and her boys right then.

Turning to look at Jayden, her eyes full of tears, she cried, “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Just look at this little guy.”

She smiled. “He’s perfect.”

He nodded. “Yup, ten fingers and toes, and he’s hung. He’ll thank me later.”

Sputtering with laughter, she rolled her eyes. “Freaking nerd.”

Leaning into her, he kissed her temple, his nose ghosting across her cheek as he breathed her in. “Baylor, I’ve never been so scared in my entire life.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Stop that. Just know that I prayed for God to take me, so… I might die.”

Looking up at him, she blinked back her tears. “You did?”

“Yeah, no hesitations. I need you.”

“Jayden.”

“No, really, there was no other option. This world is nothing without you. Looking at y’all now, I’m pretty sure I’ll never love anything as much as I love you and him.”

Leaning her head to his, she nodded. “Same here.”

Pressing her lips to his, she felt her eyes drift shut, and she knew she was completely whole.

Maybe a little weak and tired, but whole.

Pulling back, he kissed her nose before they both looked down as their baby let out a small whimper. He looked just like Jayden the more she looked at him, and she was all right with that. Just another reason to love the little guy even more, and boy, did she. After everything she had been through—the hell-driven pregnancy and the even more nightmarish birth—Elli was right, she had forgotten it all. All Baylor cared about was this perfect baby.

Moving her fingertip along his delicate nose, she and Jayden both smiled when he wrinkled his nose, moving away. “I can’t believe he is here.”

“Me either,” Jayden agreed, reaching for his tiny hand and bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss. “He’s everything I dreamed of.”

“Me too.”

Sharing a smile, Jayden gave her a kiss on the nose before pulling back and asking, “Okay, you need to name him because I was lost. So, which is it? Dawson or Rhett?”

Looking back to their bundle of perfection, she exhaled loudly. “Dawson.”

He nodded. “I thought so too. Dawson River Sinclair.”

She grinned up at him, and her eyes sparkled. “My dad will love that.”

“Good strong hockey name, too.”

“He has some big skates to fill,” she said, her heart exploding in her chest.

“Yup, especially if he is going to wear number fifty,” he said, and when she looked up, his eyes were full of tears. “I personally know that number was worn by the most amazing player I’ve ever known. And if he is going to wear it, he’d better be ready to win, just like his momma did.”

Choking back her sob, she nodded. “Yeah, he better be.” Looking down at their baby, she said, “You hear that, Dawson? You are a winner, little man. Don’t ever forget that.”

Leaning his head to hers, Jayden sighed loudly, moving his finger along Dawson’s face. “I thought I knew what love was, but after almost losing you and meeting this little guy, I’m pretty sure I was mistaken.”

Baylor grinned. “Yeah, I couldn’t agree more.”

Looking up at her, Jayden reached out, taking her face and moving his finger along her bottom lip. “So, Mrs. Sinclair, I have a question for you.”

“And I have an answer.”

“Good,” he said, his lips pausing in the middle of her mouth. “Are you ready for this thing called life? ’Cause I can’t do it without you.”

With a grin on her lips and her arms full of as much love as was in her heart, she nodded. “Yes, ’cause I’m not going to let you do it with anyone but me and this little guy.”

“Awesome, since that’s how I planned my life, anyway.” Grinning back at her, Jayden pressed his lips to hers, and Baylor was lost.

Lost in the pure love Jayden gave her constantly.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Her husband’s lips pressed to hers and her baby in her arms.

What a beautiful addition to her forever.

The End





Also by Toni Aleo





Assassins Series

Taking Shots

Trying to Score

Empty Net

Falling for the Backup

Blue Lines

Breaking Away

Laces and Lace

A Very Merry Hockey Holiday

Wanting to Forget

Overtime

Rushing the Goal



Bellevue Bullies Series

Boarded by Love

Clipped by Love

Hooked by Love



Taking Risks

Whiskey Prince

Becoming the Whiskey Princess



Patchwork Series

Pieces



Standalones

Let it be Me



Make sure to check out these titles and more on Toni’s website.





About the Author





My name is Toni Aleo, and I’m a total dork.

I am a wife, mother of two and a crazy dog—and also a hopeless romantic. When my family leaves me alone, I’m also a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author.

I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and I can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!

When my nose isn’t leaving marks on the glass, I enjoy going to my husband’s and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competitions, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.

I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life…probably Belle.

…And did I mention I love hockey?



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Connect with Toni

@tonilovesweber6

tonialeo1

www.tonialeo.com





Kindle Alexander





Secret prequel bonus scene by Kindle Alexander - A man must reveal his deepest secret to keep the ones he loves.





Copyright





Secret Prequel

Copyright © Kindle Alexander, 2016

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Edited by Jae Ashley

Cover by Reese Dante

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, Kindle Alexander, kindle@kindlealexander.com. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Kindle Alexander, LLC. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author's rights and livelihood is appreciated.

Secret Prequel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.





To Kindle and Perry. It’s always about you.

Bo, you inspire.





1





1998 Dallas, Texas