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I’m barely a minute into the story when her breathing evens out, and I know she’s out. I read a little longer, just to be sure, before putting the book off to the side and sliding away from her. Once on my feet, I bend to pick her up and place her in her crib. Kissing the tips of my fingers, I place them to her forehead. “Night, Finny,” I whisper before turning off the light and switching on the small lamp, just like I’ve seen Mara do every night this week.
Every night I’ve been here for bedtime, and I don’t hate it. In fact, I enjoy it more than I ever thought I would. I also enjoy the time with Mara after. Nothing like Monday night, but lots of kissing and her in my arms, so that’s a win in my book.
Quietly making my way down the hall, I find Mara on the couch, with tears in her eyes and a tissue in her hands. “Hey.” I rush to her, sitting as close as I can. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She laughs through her tears. “I’m just emotional, that’s all.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that? What’s causing these tears?” I ask gently, wiping them from her cheeks with my thumbs.
“She’s never wanted anyone but me,” she says sadly. “It’s a new concept for me.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. I hate that Finley wanting me to read to her has caused this.
“Don’t be. It’s silly. I love that you’re so good to her. I love that she has someone other than me in her life who she can turn to. I just…. It’s hard when it’s been just the two of us. Amelia moved home when she was still pretty young, and she was still in the mommy stage. She really likes you.”
“I like her too. She’s a good kid.”
“I really like you too.” Her confession is whispered. “It’s fast and overwhelming, and I don’t know how to handle it all.”
“One day at a time. There is no timeframe we have to live by. We do what’s best for us.”
“Thank you for being so good with her.”
“She’s a part of you,” I say, cupping her cheek. “How could I not be?”
She laughs and her smile overcomes the sadness that shadowed her face just moments before. “She’s going to love you even more once she sees her big-girl bed and that you’re the one putting it together for her.”
“All in my master plan.”
“Oh, yeah? Care to enlighten me?”
“Easy.” I shrug. “I get Finley to fall in love with me, and then by default, you won’t have a choice but to follow suit.”
“Is that what you want? For me to fall in love with you? For both of us to fall in love with you?” she asks. Her tone tells me she’s cautious of my answer, but not so much that she’s afraid to ask.
“I don’t hate the idea.” I wink, and her face lights up.
“Thank you for today. I’m sure you had better things to do than hang out here and paint all day.”
“It was fun. A challenge to keep Finny’s hands out of the paint, but it was a good time. I like being here with the two of you.”
“She’s going to be so excited tomorrow when we go shopping for her big-girl bed. You sure you don’t mind going?”
“Not at all. I’m invested at this point. Not to mention, I promised her a surprise.”
“That’s right. She never forgets either. A few weeks before we moved here, she saw a commercial for ice cream and was determined to get some that night. It was way too close to bedtime, so I appeased her, saying she could have some the next day. She woke up asking for ice cream.”
“What did you do?”
She shrugs and grins. “We had ice cream for breakfast.”
“What? No, I can’t see you doing that.” I laugh.
“Normally, I wouldn’t. She looked so sweet with her hair a tangled mess, rubbing her eyes, asking for ice cream. It was a Saturday, and I knew we would be cooped up all day packing, so I figured why not. It’s okay to live a little. I want her to be spontaneous and adventurous. I just don’t want her to be a wild child and eat ice cream for breakfast every morning.”
“She’s too sweet to be a wild child.”
“Don’t let her innocent looks and that pouty lip fool you.”
“I think it’s her eyes. They’re just like yours, and that makes it even harder for me to say no to her.”
“When have you ever tried to tell her no?”
“At the store when we bought her seat. I really wanted to buy her all three that night.”
“Well, thank you for not.”
“I said that night.”
“What did you do, Seth Jennings?” She playfully smacks my arm.
“What? I had to. I ran to the store after work the next night to pick up the other two. I’ll save them for a rainy day. She wuved them all,” I say, mocking Finley.
“Sucker.” Her grin is wide as she speaks.
“It’s those eyes, I’m telling you.”
“Wait until I tell the guys.” She chuckles.
“Go right ahead. They’ll all get it. Well, Kent will, but not to the extent that the others do. They all have kids. Ridge and Mark specifically with little girls. I mean, how do you discipline her? One wobble of that little lip and a bat of those eyelashes and I’d be toast.”
“If it’s to teach her right from wrong, I don’t have an issue with it. It’s my job to make her a functioning member of society, but if it’s something like repeating a cuss word, it’s hard to keep a straight face.”
“No. No way does my little Finny cuss.”
“She does when she hears her mommy say it when she stubs her toe. I was so afraid that she was going to go to daycare and sing ‘shit’ all day long. I’ve learned to watch my mouth.”
“Yeah, we’ve all gotten better as well. The wives keep on top of us when the kids are around. It was hard with Knox, but now, between the five kids, there is always one lingering and we’re getting used to it. At least I am.”
“Yeah.” She places her hand over her mouth to cover her yawn. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. We’ve been at it all day. I guess I should head home. What time do you want to leave tomorrow?”
“The store opens at eleven since it’s Sunday. So sleep in.”
“How about I take you girls to breakfast?”
“How about I make us breakfast instead? You don’t have to keep taking us out. You took us out Monday, brought dinner Wednesday and Friday, and then paid for takeout yesterday.”
“I want to.”
“Well, I want to make you breakfast.”
“Okay. What time do you want me here?”
She thinks about it while biting on her bottom lip. “Ten? I think we should be at the store when it opens. I have to go to the store tomorrow for next week as well.”
“Ten it is. You need me to bring anything?”
“Just you, Seth. You’ve already done too much.”
“Never.” I lean in and kiss her softly. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“I thought maybe it was just me.”
“Definitely not.”
“One more,” I say, pressing my lips to hers. I kiss her lips, then trail my kisses across her jaw and down her neck.
“Seth.”
I’m not sure if it’s a warning or a plea, but I pull back and kiss the tip of her nose. “I’m going to run out and start my truck. Be right back.” I stand and rush to the door, sliding my feet into my boots and head out the door. The cool wind does nothing to cool my body’s reaction to her. At this point, I don’t know if anything ever will.
“You should have worn your coat,” she says, standing by the door when I get back inside. “You’re going to get sick.”
“Me? I’ll be fine.” I wrap my arms around her and she shivers from the cold.
“I forgot that Amelia is coming over tomorrow for breakfast so we can catch up.”
“Okay. So I’ll come a little later.” Not an issue. Sure, I want all their time, but I know she hasn’t been able to catch up with Amelia this week, because she’s been with me.
“
No, I still want you to be here. I’ll text her and tell her to come a little earlier because we’re going bed shopping.”
“You sure? I know you’ve been missing her calls all week.”
“I’m sure. I’m not going to shut you out to see her or shut her out to see you. Although you’re so distracting I’m sure that’s how it seems.”
“Distracting, huh?” I ask, my lips nipping at her ear.
“So distracting.”
“I’ll be here,” I whisper in her ear. “Sweet dreams, Mara.” Standing to my full height, I pull her into my chest and hug her tight.
“Drive safe. Let me know when you make it home.”
