Bittersweet Catastrophe (Second Chances #2.5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

brown eyes and smiled. “But the second you give me the green light, you better believe I’m gonna plaster that shit all over town. Flyers, billboards, you name it.”
    “Baby, you can do whatever you want. You can hire a freakin’ marching band and parade around town, for all I care.” She giggled as I pulled her against my chest and held her tight.
    “Now there’s an idea…” I tapped my chin and she swatted my hand away, crushing any possibility of that happening.
    “I was kidding! Don’t you dare, Shayne Thompson, or so help me–” 
    I threw my head back and laughed, because it was just too easy to get a rise out of her. I quickly swept her up and threw her over my shoulder, making a spectacle in front of the neighbors as I spanked her ass and carried her down to the beach. She pounded her fists against my back, spewing out names that only turned me on even more, and I knew she’d make me pay for that later.
    Maddie and her eleven-month old daughter were busy playing in the sand, but it was Iris who noticed us coming up behind them first. I set Liberty down, and Iris reached out her tiny, chubby hands the moment she caught sight of her.
    “There’s my favorite little princess!” Liberty extended her arms, waiting for Iris to crawl over to her, but to my surprise, as well as Liberty and Maddie’s, she bypassed her and came straight me. Well, that’s a first.
    “Up!” She latched onto my leg, unsteadily pulling herself up to a standing position. “Up!”
    I looked over to Liberty and Maddie for help, and they both just sat there, biting back their laughter. I was glad they were finding this so funny. After all of the times Maddie had brought her daughter over to our house, not once did she ever show any inkling of wanting attention from me. Hell, I’d never even held her!
    “Uh, I think she wants you to pick her up, Uncle Shayne,” Maddie smirked, nodding down toward my legs.
    My gaze followed hers, and Iris had one hand in her mouth, covered in a steady stream of drool, the other gripping my pants. I reached down, carefully slipping my hands beneath her little arms as I lifted her up, and seated her on my hip. While she looked up at me, wide-eyed and grinning happily, I couldn’t stop the wave of calmness that washed over me. I smiled down at her, and just as I was picturing my own future children in my arms, Iris reached up and slapped me across the cheek with her drool-coated hand. She let out a tiny laugh and placed her hand back in her mouth as if nothing had happened. “I see where you get your sassy attitude, little lady.”
    Liberty and Maddie laughed as I set Iris back down, and she crawled back into her mother’s lap. “See, Liberty? He’s a natural.”
    I quirked an eyebrow in Maddie’s direction, and Liberty stepped back into my arms. “I have to admit, Shayne. You do look good with a baby in your arms.” Liberty’s cheeks were flushed, and I picked up on the meaning behind her words. I wasn’t the only one imagining our children in my arms. She saw it, too.
    “Now, if you two would just get down to business and start popping out some kidlets, then little Iris here could have some playmates.” Maddie nuzzled her daughter’s cheeks, and Iris giggled playfully.
    I couldn’t help the smile that proudly spread across my face, the good news just begging to pour out of me. “We’re working on it.” I shot Maddie a wink before capturing my wife’s lips in a searing kiss. Pulling back just slightly, I looked down at her glowing smile and slowly traced circles across her stomach. “I’m gonna grab a drink. Can I get you ladies anything?”
    “Just water for me, babe,” Liberty breathed against my mouth, and I dipped down to place one last kiss on her perfect, pouty lips before disentangling her from my hold.
    “Hey, lover boy, can you grab me a beer? I’m finally done breast-feeding this little munchkin, and I’d give my left tit for a nice, cold Corona.”
    I bit back a