The Intelligence Unit Series

One month later

Sawyer walked a six-foot loop at the back of the Crooked Angel, a sleepy infant in the crook of his arm and a pacifier in his opposite hand, just in case.

"Okay, little dude," he said, bouncing the baby the way Kennedy had advised when she'd passed him off ten minutes ago. "Your mom's gotta work and your dad got stuck fighting a fire and he's running late, so you're stuck with me."

Theo squirmed a little and yawned, starting to fuss. Luckily, Sawyer knew just what to do. Popping the pacifier into Theo's mouth, he lifted the baby up to his shoulder, patting the baby's back and taking steady, measured steps until Theo's fussing stopped and his little body went lax. Sawyer knew better than to claim victory just yet, though-Theo was a tougher customer than Elijah, a fact that Sawyer had learned the hard way over the past few weeks since Kennedy had started to work a few shifts here and there. But Sawyer didn't mind helping out. After all, he'd learned how to soothe babies from a consummate pro.

The fact that he was head over heels in love with her and wouldn't mind having a baby or two of his own with her one day didn't hurt, either.

"Well, well. Look at you," Kennedy murmured, her darkly lipsticked mouth parting in a smile as she walked into the alcove. "If word gets out that you're the Baby Whisperer, you're going to be in high demand."

"I can't take much credit," Sawyer said softly, taking care to shrug with only his non-baby shoulder. "Jo's the one who taught me how to do this, remember?"

Kennedy had laughed her head off at the re-telling of that story. Naturally. "Well, I, for one, am damned glad she imparted her wisdom on you." Reaching for Theo, she slid him into the baby sling situated over one tattooed shoulder, kissing his head before turning back to Sawyer. "You must be excited she's coming back into town today."

After Jo had found out she'd landed her dream role, she'd spent two weeks in Remington. One of those had been for rest and relaxation. The filming schedule was going to be both long and arduous, and Jo wouldn't have much, if any, downtime for a while. The second week had been spent on logistics. Jo's ex, Derek, had brought Mikayla to Remington so Jo could show her the city and introduce her to Sawyer. Although they'd technically "met" via FaceTime over the course of the week prior, Sawyer had been nervous as hell to meet Mikayla face to face. But, as it turned out, Mikayla loved ice skating and Go Karts, and she'd even gotten Sawyer to try a drop-in karate class with her to see if she might like to start lessons once she moved. They'd gotten along incredibly well, and the week they'd all spent together had been one of his happiest. Jo had invited him to go apartment hunting with her and Mikayla, then privately asked if he'd consider moving in with them once Mikayla was settled into a routine and felt comfortable enough with him around full time. His answer had been a resounding and immediate hell yes. Jo and Mikayla had gone back to Savannah two weeks ago, Jo to pack up their place and Mikayla to spend extra time with Derek before making the permanent move to Remington. Today.

"Yeah, although it's a little hard to believe today is finally the day. I'm so freaking happy to not have to say goodbye to them ever again, you know?" Sawyer said, knowing his grin was big and wide and more than a little lovestruck, but honestly not caring that there was a ninety-nine percent chance that Kennedy would give him a huge raft of shit for it.

To his surprise, her expression softened. "I'm so freaking happy for all three of you. You've been through a lot, Sawyer. You've faced more than anyone should ever have to. I'm so glad you followed your heart. You deserve every minute of the happiness you get to share with Jo and Mikayla."

Sawyer's heart squeezed. "Thank you, Kennedy. But the truth is, I wouldn't be here without you and Gamble."

"I'm not so sure about that," came the masculine voice of the man in question, and Sawyer turned to catch sight of Gamble just in time to catch the guy's big, wide, lovestruck grin as he crossed the alcove to kiss his wife and son.

"Hey, man," Sawyer said, shaking Gamble's hand and clapping him on his opposite shoulder. "I don't normally make it a habit to argue with guys who are bigger than me, but..."

"Yeah, do yourself a favor and don't start tonight," Gamble said, one corner of his mouth still lifted in a smile. "Because I'm right. You're a fighter. You'd have been okay no matter what."

"Okay, maybe," Sawyer conceded. "But if it weren't for you two, I wouldn't have this job that I love and the family that goes with it, and without this job, I never would have met Jo. So, yeah. I'll argue, respectfully," he added, because while he wanted to make a point, he also wasn't brainless, "that without you two, I wouldn't be here."

He rubbed a hand over his sternum to hammer the sentiment home. Kennedy's eyes filled with tears-an absolute rarity Sawyer was sure he wouldn't see again for a long, long time-and Gamble held up his hands.

"Just glad you're happy, man. Speaking of which, there are two pretty ladies sitting at the end of the bar, asking for you. I told them I'd see what I could do about turning you up."

Sawyer's smile took over again, his feet already in motion. "Thanks. Sorry to rush off, but-"

"Go!" Kennedy said, although any seriousness with which she'd intended to deliver the order was erased by her laugh. Sawyer rushed out of the alcove, scanning the bar with hope in his heart, searching, searching...

His eyes met Jo's as if they were both magnets being pulled together by some force of nature too strong to ever be denied. Her hair was loose around her face, her expression lighting fully as she nudged Mikayla and gestured to Sawyer. Mikayla got to him first, scrambling down from her perch to zip across the glossy floorboards and jump into his arms.

"Sawyer!" She hugged him tight, but only for a second before pulling back to give him a gap-toothed grin. "Look! I lost another one!"

"Ahhh, you know what that means?" he asked, trying to look as serious as possible.

Her brow furrowed. "What?"

"Ice cream, of course. How will you be able to eat anything else without both front teeth?"

Mikayla cheered and hugged him again before letting him put her down and turned toward Jo. "Mommy said the Tooth Fairy will know where our new apartment is. Right, Mommy?" "Absolutely. I sent the Change of Address form to the post office, remember? She gets all of those."

"Okay. Can I go color with Isla while we wait for ice cream?"

"Yep."

Mikayla turned to give Sawyer one last hug, and man, this kid was making quick work of his heart, for sure. "You'll come over tonight and make sure the Tooth Fairy finds us, right?" "Wouldn't miss it, kiddo."

Mikayla made her way over to the table where Frankie, Shawn, and Isla were all sitting with the rest of the Intelligence crew, leaving Sawyer to pull Jo into a not-quite-suitable-for-kids embrace. "Hey, you," he said, brushing a kiss over her mouth, then kissing her again to capture her smile. "I missed you something fierce."

"Mmm. I missed you, too. But I've got a solution to that problem."

"Oh, yeah?" Sawyer asked, pulling back a little but not quite willing to let her go. "What's that?"

Jo slid a hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out a key. "This. I am officially a Remington resident, which means you can see me any time you want."

"Well, that's a relief, because I'm officially in love with you."

Jo gave up a big, wide, lovestruck smile of her own, and damn, Sawyer would never get enough of her. "I love you, too, Sawyer."

And as he made his way to go have ice cream with his two favorite people in the world, Sawyer knew this was the beginning of forever.