With This Man (This Man, #4)

by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Because this is my little live wire of a daughter, and she’s a little fucker when she wants to be. Like, all the time.

There’s only one way to approach this. Gently. Patiently. Sensitively. Softly-softly. I blow out a breath, laughing at myself. Good God, this is going to be a battle like no other.

“You feel that?” I whisper, starting to fiddle with her ring myself. Her slight nod forces me to swallow down my relief before it chokes me. “That’s just the very beginning, Ava. That’s just the spark that set our worlds alight.” Determination is now running rampant through my veins, that small reaction driving it. “This head of yours.” I gently stroke down her cheek, relishing her slight nuzzle into my palm. “It’s been consumed by me for twelve years, lady. I’m not about to let you forget our story. I will make you

remember. It’s my mission objective. I’ll do anything.” She sniffles, nodding, and everything tells me that she’s accepting so easily because there’s something inside telling her that she should trust me. That she belongs with me. “That smell,” she says out of the blue, tugging me toward her. I go with ease, a little taken aback when she buries her face in my neck, no matter how amazing it feels to have her so close. She inhales deeply and I wrap my arms around her as best I can, not missing the opportunity she’s instigated. “It’s my favorite smell.” I smile and close my eyes. “I know.”

She reigns supreme. She is my world. My life. My day, my night, my air, water, and fire. Fuck, what would I ever do without her? I’d die of a broken heart, I just know it. Turn to dust. Fade to nothing.

time stops for no one. Life continues no matter if you’re happy with where yours has been or where it is heading. You can’t stop it. You just have to tilt the scale and

make it the best it can be. Change the direction toward somewhere you want to go.