Consolation (Consolation Duet #1)(37)

I check Aarabelle’s room to see if she’s in there, but it’s empty. Afraid of what I might find, I head to the living room where nothing could’ve prepared me for what I see.

Lying on the couch is Liam with Aarabelle fast asleep on his chest. Her tiny hand is wrapped around his and they’re both holding on to each other. His huge body shields her as his arm holds her tight. It breaks my heart and mends it at the same time. Two parts of me are pulled apart. The one side that’s sad it’s not her father. The other part which is grateful it’s Liam. Aarabelle shifts a little, and even in his sleep, he moves to accommodate and protect her.

“Feeling better?” Liam’s rich voice cuts through the silence and I jump.

“Hi,” I whisper and kneel so we’re face to face. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

His eyes crinkle and he nods. “I don’t think I ever sleep fully. I could feel you watching me. Plus,” he yawns and shifts Aara, “She moves every five seconds.”

“I can take her.”

“No, she’s fine.”

The television is muted but it illuminates the room. Liam’s eyes are tired and yet he still won’t let me take her. He lies here and lets my daughter listen to his heart. I place my hand on her back and Liam places his over it.

“Thank you,” I smile softly.

“I wouldn’t thank me yet . . . I made a mess.”

I grin and look around the room. He’s not kidding. There are bottles, food jars, and about ten diapers strewn around the room. For the first time, I really notice that Aarabelle doesn’t have clothes on and I burst out laughing.

“Oh my God,” I whisper and try to calm my laughing. “Why does she have two diapers on? And is that rope?”

Liam shifts and cradles Aara into his arms so he holds her like a football. “Who made these stupid things? Those tabs rip off for no reason, then who the hell can figure out which way the thing goes? So I tied it on.”

“With rope?”

“I had some in my bag,” he whispers and kisses the top of her head. “It works.”

“I don’t even know what to say to you,” I giggle and cough a little.

“How about . . . ‘Oh, Liam, you’re so amazing, sexy, funny, and I owe you a lifetime of favors which you can collect at any time,’” he quirks his brow.

“Not likely, dumbass.” I stifle my laugh and kiss his cheek. “Give her to me, I’ll put her to bed.”

He hands Aarabelle over and I grab a diaper as he stands there with his arms crossed.

“You know how long it took me to put that on?”

I look down and there are at least three knots and the rope is looped around her waist and under her legs. I can’t believe she even fell asleep with this thing on.

“Watch how long it takes me to put it on the right way,” I laugh and look at the knots. “What the hell kind of knots are these anyway?” I ask while he stands there looking proud of his work.

“Need help?”

“I need a knife to get her out of this!” I whisper-yell. He’s insane. I start at the one knot and it lets out. I glare at Liam in mock anger. “I swear if she wakes up, I’m going to tie you up.”

He huffs, “I might like that.”

“You wish.” I sneeze and cough wishing I were back in bed. Liam crouches down and unties the other two knots on the makeshift diaper. I look over at him, “I’m surprised you didn’t use duct tape.”

“I would’ve if I knew where it was,” Liam scoffs jokingly.

The emotions swirl through me. He could’ve woken me but he handled it. Yes, he tied a diaper on her, but it’s sweet and shows, once again, how lucky I am. We both have fears about going into this, but right now, I don’t want to fight it anymore. There are things we have to figure out, but Liam has given me a part of myself I’d forgotten about. He sees me as a woman, not a widow.

“Look,” I say as he sits beside me. “It’s easy.” It takes me literally ten seconds to have the diaper on her.

“I swear I had defective ones.”

“Sure you did,” I say as I pick up Aarabelle. Liam follows behind me to her room. He kisses her head and says goodnight then I place her in her crib. Every night when I put her to bed, I say a prayer for her and ask her daddy to watch over her. Then we thank him for allowing Liam in our lives and ask for him to help us heal.

When I turn, Liam is standing at her door, leaning against it. I stand across from him and we gaze at each other. Both of us are saying so much right now even though nothing is being spoken. My heart and my eyes tell him everything.

Liam leans forward and brushes the hair from my eyes and lingers a little longer. His thumb brushes across my lip and I sigh.

“Liam,” my voice is a breathy whisper.

“I should probably leave,” he says as his finger rubs back and forth.

My eyes close and I breathe him in. “You probably should.”

I want him to stay, but I need him to go. My defenses are down and I’m not ready.

“Okay,” his voice is low and rough. “I should. Plus, you’re sick and need to rest.”


“Yeah, probably . . .” I grip his shirt and hold on. “Or . . . we could snuggle on the couch?” I say, reluctant to let him go. I want him to stay and this is my safe way of having him close. I know men don’t want to freaking snuggle, but I just want to lay with him, and there’s no way I’m ready to have him in my bed.