" Good morning, mama. " Madeline whispered giggly into my ears as she kissed all over my face.

A huge grin formed on my lips before my eyes fluttered opened. My daughter straddled on my stomach happily with each of her little fists under her chin as she watched me sleep. I pulled my arms from under the duvet and wrapped it around her tiny body, bringing her into my chest.

" Good morning, baby. Why is my little mads so happy today? " I cooed kissing his chubby cheek.

" Spring is starting, mama. Let's go ride our horses and see our flowers. " she squealed pulling away from my grip and started jumping up and down.

First of all, who the fuck got up at seven in the morning to go see flowers. But, what could I possibly say? My daughter was a ray of sunshine.

Flowers were starting to turn into their full blooms, decorating our farm with rainbow color. Madeline rode on the back of her snowy white pony along side me, on my own horse. A huge grin stayed on her lips as we made ours way into the farm to meet up with our new ranch hand for the season.

The sun was high and bright yellow among the clear blue sky. Trees swaying along the wind as the newly grown leaves danced in rhythm. Mixed smell of all kind of flowers and the lemons on our trees filled the air, freshening the whole farm. This was home.

My heart skipped at the sight of the man standing under the lemon tree in the middle of our farm. Tall and a mass of golden brown hair. I couldn't see his face as he had his back toward us. I scanned his black dress shirt, fancy matching trouser, and a pair of black boots with curiosity, eyebrows raising in disbelief.

Madeline and I got off our horses a few feet away from the tree before we both walked toward the man, hand in hand.

" Nick? " My eyes widened at when the ranch hand turned toward us.

Grey eyes glinting with amusement. His signature smirk playing on his lips as he looked at me. He was here for something and I knew he had a plan.

" Nicholas Evan. Pleasure to meet you ma'am. " he smirked, holding out his hand.

I quickly recovered from my shock and shook his hand, eyes blinking furiously. " Anastasia. "

What the fuck was he doing here?

" Daddy. " Maddie squealed as she skipped happily into her father's awaiting arms.

" How's my princess doing? " he chuckled, picking her up before planting a kiss on her cheek.

" We're meeting our new ranch hand. " she grinned wrapping her arms around his neck.

" What are you doing here? " I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.

The smirk on his stupid face seemed to grow even wider at my question. I narrowed my eyes at him, arms crossing over my chest.

" I'm the new ranch hand. " he shrugged making Madeline squealed in excitement.

I totally didn't see any excitement in this situation.

" No. You're not. Leave. "

" But, mommy I want daddy to stay here with us. " mads pouted, turning her face toward mine, eyes started to glisten with clear water.

You had got to be fucking kidding me.

" You're making her cry. " the idiot glared at me playfully, pulling her head into his chest.

" He knows nothing about farm, mads. Do you want the chickens to eat your daddy? They might not like him. " I shrugged, gesturing to the small wooden house.

Madeline looked between her father and the chicken house, furrowing her eyebrows in curiosity. She put her tiny hand under her chin in daze, seeming to be lost in her own thoughts while Nick's mouth turned into a thin line as he pressed his lips together, eyes fading into oblivion.

They were flesh and blood, all right. The girl got nothing from me and I raised her for christ sake.

" We can get rid of the chickens. " Madeline answered, shrugging her shoulders without a care in the world.

I gasped, jaw dropping and my hand flew to my chest. " You love those chickens. "

" But, I love my daddy more. Can we please please keep him, mama? " Madeline pleaded with her huge puppy eyes.

Fuck. Me. That sly little brat knew I could never say no to her especially when she pulled out those adorable eyes and her cute little pouty mouth.

Madeline had spent months going back and forth between our home and London for the past months. It was safe to say that she was absolutely in love with her father as he completely took over the center of her whole universe. It made me sad that I had to share her love but at the same time this new father and daughter's bond was everything I wanted to protect with my life.

Feeling defeated by the world, I sighed and nodded my head while muttering a small fine. Madeline squealed again throwing her arms around her father giving kisses all over his face as he chuckled at her softly.

My eyes widened in shock. " For your information I was the one who gave him the job. Where are my kisses? "

" Maddie wants daddy. Can we go play, mommy? I want to show him my horses. " she said, placing her head on the nape of his neck.

I was about to protest when the little brat told her dad to turn around and started to head toward the barn. I stood still in my spot watching the two talked together happily with my mouth hanging opened.

Daddy was finally here after four years and suddenly mommy was no longer important? Fucking great!

The two spent the whole day together liked they hadn't met in years when she stayed over at his place just three days ago. Truth to be told, I was definitely jealous as they suddenly forgot all about little old me but who was I to complain. They had lost enough time.

The sun was setting when he walked through the back door of our house with Madeline asleep in his arms, looking exhausted like she had been working the whole day.

" She is a daddy's girl. " Nick chuckled as I showed him around the farm.

" Rub more salt on my wound, will you? " I rolled my eyes, walking up the stair case of our barn.

There was a small attic up there where our previous ranch hand usually stayed. I couldn't understand how he insisted to stay here when he had a whole mansion just down the street. I wanted to argue but Nicholas Salvatore was a stubborn bastard and I didn't want to lose my energy fighting over a pointless battle.

If he wanted to be the ranch hand, I would show him the living hell as my employee.

" Why are you here? " I asked, glaring at the idiot in front of me.

He looked around his room, scanning everything carefully. The attic of the ranch was small and nothing liked his usual bedroom that fit for royalty but if I wanted him to leave this place as soon as possible I needed to give him the worst.

" I told you. I will make us a family. " he shrugged, sitting on the wooden bed carefully.

" By becoming our new ranch hand? " I scoffed.

" Anything that could keep me close to you and our daughter. "

He said as his eyes finally landed on me, boring into mine searching for my soul liked he always did. I turned my head away not wanting to look at him another second longer because I knew he had this effect on me still and if I wouldn't be careful I would get lost in him, again, liked I always did.

" I gave you months and all the space you needed to rethink your decision. Don't you think it's finally time to start over? " he hummed.

" Nick, I was certain when I said we will never get together again. We can't keep hurting each other. You and I will not happen again. " I sighed turning my heels, ready to leave the room and him.

I didn't hear him getting up from his new bed. He was as fast as lighting strike when he strode toward without making a single sound. He grabbed my wrists spinning me backward. Pressing me against the attic's door, he held my wrists above my head caging me under his grasp. I could feel his hot breath fanning my face as he stood so dangerously close towering my body with his huge one.

My heart thumped picking up its pace when he leaned closer that our faces were inches away. His eyes trained on lips while mine never left the stormy grey, watching and predicting his next move. I wanted to push him away and ran for my life but i was stuck, body unable to move liked he casted a spell to make me stayed. I was under his trap, again.

His lips touched mine and my soul flew out of the window. He kissed me. Without permission and warning. He just simply did because he knew I was his. His kiss was slow and passionate, but it felt like he was telling me that he wanted the breath I was holding, and everything else. It belonged to him and he wanted it all back.

I was still in daze when he pulled away from my mouth and started planting light kisses on the corner of my lips and down to my jaw, leaving electricity dancing across my skin on every places he kissed.

Then he looked into my eyes again with his hooded eyes. And, this time I didn't see any storms, just pure adoration and longings.

" You and I will happen because this is still mine. Please do us both a favor and stop lying to yourself. "

He planted one last kiss on my forehead, his hand covering mine as he placed it on my heart then before I knew it I was pushed out of the room following by the loud thud of door slamming closed.

What the fuck just happened?

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