“Not a word,” Rebel replied.
“It’s not a big deal,” Dakota said. “Just a formality.”
“It’s a big deal when Z finds out,” she murmured.
Dakota draped his arm over Rebel’s shoulder. “Don’t tell me he’s not fan of this guy?”
“Not yet,” Rebel replied. “But he will be.”
“That’s the attitude,” Providence said. “How ‘bout I open a bottle of wine?”
“Another time.” Rebel set the gift bag on the table. “I just wanted to make good on a promise I made to Sammy and Graham.” He unearthed a toy. “Happy belated birthday, Sammy.”
Her face lit up and she grinned at him, then accepted the brightly colored box. It was a loom kit.
“I love it!” she exclaimed. “It’s a machine to make friendship bracelets on. One of my friends has one and it’s sooooo much fun.” She hugged him. “Thank you.”
“You can make all of us friendship bracelets,” Rebel said.
She opened the box. “I’ll make yours first.”
Graham had gone into the family room to play, so Rebel grabbed the bag, and Brit’s hand. “Be right back.”
Tingles fluttered through her as the warmth from his hand traveled up her arm. She loved that he’d shown his boss, and hers, that he considered them a couple.
In the family room, Graham looked up from his train set.
Rebel sat on the floor next to the tyke. “Graham, when I was here on Sammy’s birthday, I promised you and your sister a present.”
Graham eyed the shopping bag. “Is that for me?”
“Sure is.”
Graham pulled out the monster truck and grinned. “That’s so cool!”
Rebel opened the box, but there were wires holding the truck to the thick cardboard box. He showed Graham how to untwist the ties, then watched as Graham undid one himself.
Brit was captivated by how patient Rebel was, how invested he was in a child that wasn’t even his own. Brit loved this side of him because it reminded her of her dad.
Then, her chest tightened. How could she deny him something he would be so good at, and something he wanted so badly?
“Okay, Graham, have fun with your truck.” Rebel turned to Brit. “Ready to take off?”
She said goodbye to Graham.
As they were exiting the family room, Dakota said, “Gray-Gray, what do you say to Uncle Joaquin and Britain?”
“Thank you for my present.” The tyke ran over and threw his arms around Rebel’s legs.
What a sweet little boy.
After saying their goodbyes, they left.
Beautiful, oversized snowflakes were falling at a rapid rate. The air was crisp and the ground was covered in a light layer of freshly fallen snow.
“I didn’t know we were getting snow.” She hopped on her phone’s weather app. “Looks like we might get a few inches.”
He opened the passenger door of the SUV, waited for her to get settled. Then, he leaned in and kissed her. “You do it for me, you know that?”
