Another Cold State Line

I helped Julianna select her outfit. There were days she loved to get dressed up, but I had never seen her this excited to pick out her outfit. Matt said they were on a break before the next leg of their tour and would be stopping by for the weekend. My little girl could not be more excited. She was beaming ear to ear.

"Mommy, when is he coming?" Her voice was higher pitched the normal because she was so excited. I loved seeing her like this. She was so happy, and that was something she needed. I had done my best over the last five years, but I hadn't always been the best mother. That's why Tina and Alex had been helping me. It's why they moved with me.

"Soon, baby. He said he'd be here in an hour." I watched as she frantically started getting ready. I loved that little girl.

She was my everything. When I had found out that I was pregnant, I had been so scared. The scariest part of all of it was when I had gone into labor. I thought I was going to die and lose her. The damage Clay had done to me almost killed both of us.

But she was my little miracle. I almost named her that. I have no idea where Julianna even came from. It just seemed like the type of name that Matt would enjoy. And Matt played such a huge role in me being a mother. Nothing I did was without thinking of him. That's why my daughter had always known who her father was.

"Mommy, is it time yet?"

I guided her dress over her head, smoothing out the lines that occurred. I brushed her hair out and kissed her. "Baby, not yet. Why don't we start dinner for him, okay?"

With a huge smile across her face, she took off down the stairs. This was the kind of excitement I always wanted her to have. I wanted her to have a real family, and I was so happy that Matt was willing to make it work.

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Matt looked nervous as I answered the door. He peered around me, the first time since we knew each other that he wasn't focused on me. That brought a smile to my face so quickly. He hadn't even officially met my baby girl, and he was already head over heels for her.

"DADDY!" Fifty pounds of little girl ran straight into those muscled arms. My face felt like it was going to break from the sheer power of my grin. They were so cute. Matt placed kisses all over her face as Julianna hung off him like they had always been together.

"Come on you two, let's get lunch on the table."

Matt slowly set her down and grabbed her hand. His eyes were sparkling as were hers. It was such a sight, and I wasn't sure how my heart was going to burst. I felt so loved and so overcome with emotion watching those two interact for the first time.

"I'm so glad you're my daddy," Julianna said and kissed Matt's cheeks.

The big rockstar looked shock and then those dimples popped. "I'm glad to be your daddy, baby girl. I love you."

And that's how the rest of the day went. I just stood in the background and let those two interact. I watched as my daughter guided her father all over our ranch. She pointed out all the horses, cattle, and structures. She would ask questions, and he would answer. Then they would switch. I thought I would need to be there to help them, but they were so natural together. They were fucking adorable.

"Mommy, can Daddy put me to bed tonight?" She asked, fluttering her big eyes at me.

"Of course he can, baby. Go get changed and brush your teeth. I'll show daddy what book to read."

We watched our daughter race up the stairs and took our time after her. When we heard the water turn on, I guided him into our daughter's room. It was a strange combination of princess and rodeo. But it was all Julianna.

"I love her so much already, Hayley. You've done an amazing job," Matt said, sitting down on a chair. "I want to spend all my time with her."

"She's amazing, Matt. I'm so glad you too are getting along."

"Yeah, maybe we can get along like that again too." His dimples popped, and I could feel myself start to swoon.

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