Cooper sat on the edge of the bed holding Stormy’s hand as the family members fought over who got to hold the baby next. He couldn’t keep the smile from his lips. What a fool he’d been such a short time ago to think this wasn’t the life he wanted to live.
And what a difference he was seeing in his brothers, who were grumbling at each other, both fighting to hold the baby first. But then they were so gentle as they gazed at their nephew in adoration.
Mav won the argument and with gentle hands picked up the bundle. He grinned as he looked at the bright eyes before him, and using a soft voice, said, “I’ll definitely be your favorite, little guy.”
Finally, Mav passed the baby boy to Nick before he had a heart attack. Nick was the most eager of all to be involved. That was something Cooper had never thought he’d see.
Nick cradled William to his chest as he began speaking. “You really turned out much cuter than I thought you would after having my older brother as your dad,” he said, making several people in the room chuckle.
Cooper wasn’t one of them.
“Now, I have a lot of stories to tell you about him. I’ll start with the time your dad was helping me climb a tree and . . .”
The story continued as Cooper leaned down and kissed his wife.
“I love you, Mrs. Armstrong,” he whispered.
“I love you, Green Eyes,” she replied.
“How about we kick all of these people out and get working on baby number two,” he said with a waggle of his brows.
Stormy laughed deeply at her husband’s sense of humor. It very much needed to be improved. “You’re a brave man to say that to a woman who’s just given birth. Now kiss me and shut up.”
He gladly did.