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One kiss had opened a whole new world for her. Seeing him holding a chubby-cheeked baby in his big hands had all her female hormones on high alert.
What would it be like to have a baby?
After her assault, she’d lived in fear of being pregnant with a rapist’s baby. She’d wept when her period came, thankful a baby hadn’t been born of such a violent beginning.
“Want to hold her?” Jacques asked, holding her out before Danny could form a response.
He gently laid the baby in her arms.
Danny stared down at the little human looking up at her so trusting, so innocent. “She’s beautiful,” she whispered. “What’s her name?”
Chrissy smiled. “After five boys, we didn’t even want to know which sex the baby would be, certain it would be another boy. Allen and I had lost hope of ever having a girl.” She laughed. “Her name is Hope.”
Moisture welled in Danny’s eyes. “It’s a perfect name for a perfect girl.”
“We thought so, too. But now that we finally got our little girl, we’re done. Half a dozen children is more than enough. But I wouldn’t trade any of them.”
“I wouldn’t either,” Danny said.
Chrissy checked one item at a time and loaded them into bags. “I was shocked to hear you had a scare yesterday. What’s wrong with people going around shooting others?” She shook her head. “Makes me worry about folks.” Her gaze went to the baby in Danny’s arms. “And I worry about my little ones.”
Danny nodded and met Chrissy’s concerned gaze. “It must be hard to be a mother.”
“It seems like you can never do enough to keep them safe. And yet, this is the world they live in.” Chrissy checked the last item and ran Jacques’s credit card.
“I’ll give you half,” Danny said.
“This one is on me,” he said. “You can get the next round.”
“Deal.” Besides, she wasn’t ready to let go of Hope.
Chrissy handed Jacques’s card back. “As crazy as things can be, we’re lucky to live in a community of friends and family to hold us up and look out for us. It was beautiful how everyone came together after the hurricane to help rebuild. It’s been great having the Brotherhood Protectors here. With the sheriff’s department stretched thin, it’s nice that they help out whenever they’re needed.” She held out her hands. “Here, let me take her.”
Danny reluctantly handed the baby back to her mother, the tug on her heart real. Chrissy had six children and appeared to love all six with all her heart.
What was it like to have a husband who loved you and who you loved as deeply?
“Thank you, Chrissy. We’re off to make jambalaya.” Jacques gathered the bags and followed Danny out of the store to his SUV. After helping stow the groceries in the back, Danny climbed into the passenger seat and stared at the store where Chrissy and Allen Broussard had built a life and family.
She was right about Bayou Mambaloa being full of family and friends looking out for each other. Danny had come here to hide in plain sight, where everyone knew everyone’s business. Despite being standoffish at first, the community had accepted her as one of their own. She’d found her home here after leaving the military.
Could she take the next step and find someone she trusted, someone to love? Someone to build a family with? Someone gentle, who cared enough to take things slowly? Someone like Jacques who’d see her at her worst?
“Chrissy has her hands full with six little ones to look after,” Danny said to fill the silence.
“She does,” Jacques agreed. “But I’ve seen Allen put in as much time with them. They love them and each other. Gerard was assigned to protect them back when we first arrived in Bayou Mambaloa. The boys still call him Uncle Gerard. I never saw a confirmed bachelor become such a softy so fast.”
“I don’t know how they run a store and care for such a large family and keep up with all of it.”
“Me either.” Jacques shook his head. “I think it’s because they share all the responsibilities equally. Allen does a lot of the heavy lifting, while Chrissy manages the books and orders stock. Gerard says they share cooking and cleaning, and once a month, they hire a babysitter and have a date night.”
“They’re amazing parents and business owners,” Danny said. “They know what they want, and they’re doing it.”
“What about you?” Jacques shot a glance her way. “Do you have what you want? Do you like what you do?”
Danny shrugged. “I like working at the bar and grill for the most part, minus dumbasses like Bobby Ray. Rene’s good to me. He gave me a job when I came here with very little money in my pocket. I rented the room above the bar until the apartment over Yaya’s studio opened up. I make good money between my salary and tips, enough that I’ve built a little nest egg.”
“What are you going to do with it?” he asked.
