The back door opens while Nicole's mid-spin, and I don't notice at first, too busy trying to catch her before she topples over from dizziness.
"Welcome home, big bro!"Ella calls out, phone still angled toward us."Macie and I have had such a good day!"
I finally look up, catching Darren standing in the doorway, still in his uniform, keys in one hand, and the look on his face stops me cold.It's not annoyance, and it's not even surprise exactly.It's something softer than that, something that looks almost like he's not sure he's allowed to be happy about what he’s seeing.
Nicole comes to a stumbling stop, then goes running straight for him."Daddy!Macie was dancing with me!"
He catches her, swings her up onto his hip like she weighs nothing, but his eyes stay locked on me the whole time, taking in the kitchen, the smell of taco meat, his sister leaning against the counter with a shit-eating grin, and me standing in the middle of his kitchen floor with my hair falling out of its ponytail.
"Son of a bitch," he says quietly, scoffing.
"Language," Ella singsongs, nodding toward Nicole.
"Sorry, sorry."He presses a kiss to Nicole's temple, but he's still looking at me, and there's something in his expression I can't quite name, something that makes my chest go tight and warm.Is this what I’ve wanted my entire life?"I just wasn't expecting to come home to this."
"To what?Dinner?"Ella smirks, clearly enjoying every second of this.
"To my kitchen looking like a home instead of just a house."His voice drops lower on the last word, and it's not meant for Ella at all, it's meant for me, and I feel it as if it’s a physical touch.
"We made tacos," Nicole announces, patting his cheek to bring his attention back to her."And I danced with Macie."
"I saw that, baby girl.You looked like you were having a lot of fun."He sets her back down, and she runs off toward the table where Ella's already setting out plates, leaving the two of us standing there in the space she left behind.
"Good day?"he asks, stepping closer, close enough that I catch the mix of his cologne and whatever he had for lunch clinging to his uniform.
"A really good day."I reach up, straightening his collar without really thinking about it."Your sister's great, by the way.She walked in on and immediately interrogated me like she’s the cop in the family."
He laughs, the sound low and warm."Sounds about right.She's protective."
"I noticed."
"Good."He leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead, lingering there a second longer than necessary."Somebody around here should be, besides me."
"Are you two gonna eat or just stand there making sex eyes at each other all night?"Ella calls from the table, and Nicole giggles like she understands exactly what her aunt means, even though she can't possibly.
"Coming," I call back, but Darren catches my hand before I can walk away, pulling me back for one more kiss, quick this time, but no less meaningful than the first.
"Thank you," he murmurs against my lips.
"For what?"
"For all of this."He shakes his head like he's trying to find better words and can't quite push them past his throat."I'll explain later.Right now I'm starving, and apparently my daughter's been dancing without me."
We head to the table together, and Ella's already got Nicole settled into her booster seat, taco shells lined up and waiting.Darren pulls out my chair before he sits down himself, and under the table his hand finds my knee, resting there through the entire meal like he doesn't ever want to stop touching me.
Chapter16
Darren
This has been one of the best nights of my life.Having Macie here has turned my house into a home, and I didn't even realize how much I needed it until she came into my life.Ella left a few hours ago, and I've gotten Nicole down for the night.
The crack of thunder can be heard from outside as a storm system moves into our area.It's supposed to be a lot warmer over the next few days, and I can't wait.Macie and I meet in the living room, both of us changed for relaxation.
"Wanna go out on the back porch?"I ask her.
"It's raining," she reminds me.
"I know, but I love the rain."I always wanted to be out in it my entire life.I don't know what it is that draws me to it, but I love it.Reaching over, I grab a hat, putting it on my head to try and ward off some of the moisture.
