day along with their herd of bridesmaids and groomsmen. The lone redhead in the group caught Casey’s eye and made her smile.
It was through Nate she met her best friend, Emma Harrison. Another life-time ago, Nate’s med school roomie had been a hell of a nice guy named Travis. After spending a few nights hanging out with him at the apartment, Travis insisted that she needed to meet his high-school sweetheart and fiancée, Emma. Just like that first dinner with Nate, Casey knew the moment she met Emma that she had met a best friend for life. It didn’t hurt that the two shared a major and even some classes. Of course, Casey often found herself corrupting the shy, sweet girl, but at the same time, Emma had the same affect as Nate and tempered her outrageous antics.
But it had been tragedy that bonded their friendship even deeper than she could have ever imagined. Travis had been killed in a car accident just a year before his and Emma’s wedding. Casey immersed herself in the role of comforter for both Nate, who had lost his best friend, and to Emma, who had lost the love of her life. Those dark, agonizing days, weeks, and months had moved them all past friendship into a family.
The rumbling sound of the garage door rising up had Casey popping out of her chair. Olivia grunted softly in protest at being jostled as Casey padded across the hardwood floors to the kitchen. Just like clockwork, Nate arrived through the door at seven forty-five. Before Olivia came, he made it home much earlier, but now after his shift ended, he grabbed a quick shower in the doctors’ lounge to wash away any germs before being around the baby.
A beaming smile stretched across his lips at the sight of her. “Hey gorgeous,” he said, as he pulled her close to him. Even though she had shed her work clothes for a ratty sweatshirt and pair of leggings, Nate had the ability with one look and a few words to make her feel like a million bucks and wearing the finest couture.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her face against his chest and inhaledhis comforting, familiar scent of Dior cologne and fresh soap. “How was work?” she asked, as she pulled away.
In the past, she would have been pissed at him ignoring her question. But in this case, she had to smile at the way he was staring adoringly at Olivia’s dark head. Without pressing him for information, she gently passed the baby into his eager arms.
Olivia only stirred slightly as she settled against Nate’s broad chest. “Hey, baby girl. How was your day? Did you have fun with Nana?” Nate crooned softly.
Since Casey had returned to work a few days a week, Nate’s mother had been keeping Olivia. While Emma had been happy to quit work to be a full-time mom, Casey knew she would never be able to give up completely on her career. After initially having a rough start settling on what she wanted to do in life, she adored her job. She dealt with the obligatory “mommy guilt” of working, but she knew that Olivia was in the best hands with Nate’s mom. The retired kindergarten teacher was already itching to start lessons with Olivia.
“She did. She had her first taste of some applesauce.”
Nate’s brows rose as he momentarily tore his gaze away from Olivia. “Did she like it?”
Casey smiled. “She did—at least what she actually ended up getting in her mouth.”
A hearty chuckle rumbled through Nate’s chest. “My baby girl is growing too fast. First it’s food, and then it’s—”
“Dating?” Casey teased.
Nate’s expression became pained like he’d been sucker punched in the gut. “God forbid.”
With a smile, Casey mused, “Between you and Aidan, I don’t think Caroline and Olivia will see the light of day outside of a convent.”
“Sounds good to me,” Nate replied with a wink.
Casey rubbed Olivia’s plump cheek. “Don’t worry, Liv. I’ll save you from your Daddy’s overprotectiveness.” Tilting her head thoughtfully, she then added, “But not if you
It was through Nate she met her best friend, Emma Harrison. Another life-time ago, Nate’s med school roomie had been a hell of a nice guy named Travis. After spending a few nights hanging out with him at the apartment, Travis insisted that she needed to meet his high-school sweetheart and fiancée, Emma. Just like that first dinner with Nate, Casey knew the moment she met Emma that she had met a best friend for life. It didn’t hurt that the two shared a major and even some classes. Of course, Casey often found herself corrupting the shy, sweet girl, but at the same time, Emma had the same affect as Nate and tempered her outrageous antics.
But it had been tragedy that bonded their friendship even deeper than she could have ever imagined. Travis had been killed in a car accident just a year before his and Emma’s wedding. Casey immersed herself in the role of comforter for both Nate, who had lost his best friend, and to Emma, who had lost the love of her life. Those dark, agonizing days, weeks, and months had moved them all past friendship into a family.
The rumbling sound of the garage door rising up had Casey popping out of her chair. Olivia grunted softly in protest at being jostled as Casey padded across the hardwood floors to the kitchen. Just like clockwork, Nate arrived through the door at seven forty-five. Before Olivia came, he made it home much earlier, but now after his shift ended, he grabbed a quick shower in the doctors’ lounge to wash away any germs before being around the baby.
A beaming smile stretched across his lips at the sight of her. “Hey gorgeous,” he said, as he pulled her close to him. Even though she had shed her work clothes for a ratty sweatshirt and pair of leggings, Nate had the ability with one look and a few words to make her feel like a million bucks and wearing the finest couture.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her face against his chest and inhaledhis comforting, familiar scent of Dior cologne and fresh soap. “How was work?” she asked, as she pulled away.
In the past, she would have been pissed at him ignoring her question. But in this case, she had to smile at the way he was staring adoringly at Olivia’s dark head. Without pressing him for information, she gently passed the baby into his eager arms.
Olivia only stirred slightly as she settled against Nate’s broad chest. “Hey, baby girl. How was your day? Did you have fun with Nana?” Nate crooned softly.
Since Casey had returned to work a few days a week, Nate’s mother had been keeping Olivia. While Emma had been happy to quit work to be a full-time mom, Casey knew she would never be able to give up completely on her career. After initially having a rough start settling on what she wanted to do in life, she adored her job. She dealt with the obligatory “mommy guilt” of working, but she knew that Olivia was in the best hands with Nate’s mom. The retired kindergarten teacher was already itching to start lessons with Olivia.
“She did. She had her first taste of some applesauce.”
Nate’s brows rose as he momentarily tore his gaze away from Olivia. “Did she like it?”
Casey smiled. “She did—at least what she actually ended up getting in her mouth.”
A hearty chuckle rumbled through Nate’s chest. “My baby girl is growing too fast. First it’s food, and then it’s—”
“Dating?” Casey teased.
Nate’s expression became pained like he’d been sucker punched in the gut. “God forbid.”
With a smile, Casey mused, “Between you and Aidan, I don’t think Caroline and Olivia will see the light of day outside of a convent.”
“Sounds good to me,” Nate replied with a wink.
Casey rubbed Olivia’s plump cheek. “Don’t worry, Liv. I’ll save you from your Daddy’s overprotectiveness.” Tilting her head thoughtfully, she then added, “But not if you
Similar Books
