To Love & to Protect Read online

Page 3

The roosters wake me up at 6am, but it’s just as well because Amelia is awake, too, reading a picture book on the couch half wrapped in a flannel blanket.

  “Where is your brother?” I ask sleepily.

  “In bed,” she says with a shrug. “He loves to sleep in.”

  I waddle into the kitchen and peer into the refrigerator over my pregnant belly. I pull out what I need to start making the kids’ lunches.

  “You have ballet today after school,” I remind her.

  She wanders into the kitchen, standing on her tiptoes to look over the counter as I work.

  “Do you make the same stuff for Dad for lunch?” she asks.

  “No way! You know I hate peanut butter,” Joseph teases from the hallway. Amelia’s face lights up when she sees him, and she promptly forgets about me. Joseph lifts our daughter into the air.

  He wasn’t sure if he wanted it, but I think taking the job as captain of the police force was the right choice. My favorite part is that it’s a desk job 99% of the time, keeping Joseph out of harm’s way and in city council meetings. He slides his hand across my belly and kisses my cheek.

  “Good morning, beautiful.”

  I turn my head to kiss him back, this time on the lips.

  “Good morning, love.”

  A Man Who Knows What He Wants Series

  Book 1: Claiming Alexandra

  Book 2: To Protect & to Love (this book)

  More to come...

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