Page 22 of I Loved You First

Cam grinned as Brady looked at him with hopeful eyes. “I like the way you think. But let’s save ice cream until after we have some lunch. We’ll get something soon.”

Brady nodded. “Okay.” Then he gasped and broke away from Cam, running through the crowd.

“Brady!” Cam hurried after him, keeping track of Brady’s bright-orange T-shirt as he skirted around several people.

Moments later, Brady crashed into the golden goddess, throwing his arms around Fiona’s smooth, toned thighs in a hug as she perused the selection of greenhouse tomatoes.

Her eyes grew huge as she looked down, then grinned one of her glorious grins.

Damn, she was sinful. She wore a sunhat, sandals, and a simple black V-neck romper that buttoned up her front and belted at her waist.

Cam finally caught up, frowning as he knelt before his son. “Running off like that isn’t okay, Brady. It isn’t safe.”

Brady’s face fell. “I saw Fiona. I wanted to say hello to my best friend.”

Cam sighed because no one knew how to tug at his heartstrings like Brady did. His son so rarely misbehaved. “I understand. But we have to hold hands when so many people are around. I don’t want you getting lost.”

Brady nodded. “I’m sorry I made you mad.”

Cam shook his head. “I’m not mad. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find you in the crowd.”

Brady nodded again as he stared at the pavement.

“Hey,” Cam said, gently nudging Brady’s chin until their eyes met. “We all forget sometimes. We all make mistakes. What do you say we have some fun?”

Brady smiled. “Okay.”

Cam gained his feet, taking Brady’s hand again as he met Fi’s gaze. “Hey.”

She smiled. “Hey.”

“I’m sorry about the near takedown. Brady got a little excited.”

Her smile returned. “All’s forgiven.” She slid Brady’s hair back from his forehead as she looked at him. “I see you’re feeling better today.”

Brady nodded. “I read a book and felt better again. And I opened your presents when my friends left. I brought my dinosaur today.”

“I see that, too.”

“He’s my favorite. And the Jurassic Legos. And the boy superhero books.”

Cam had loved how excited Brady had been to open Fi’s gifts. He’d loved it even more that she’d put so much thought into her selections for his son. “The presents were great, Fi. We read a couple of the books this morning, and the Legos are on the agenda for this afternoon.”

“Aw,” Fiona said as her smile bloomed into a grin. “I’m glad.” She gave her attention back to Brady. “A special boy deserves special presents on a very important birthday.”

Brady nodded. “When you’re five, you go to kindergarten at big kid school.”

“Are you going to kindergarten this fall?”

Brady nodded. “With my friends.”

“Then I guess that makes you an official big kid.”

Brady beamed as he hopped from one foot to the other. “Yup.” Brady hopped again. “Do you want to hold my hand and be at the farmers market with me?”

Fiona’s dimples popped again. “I do.”

“Dad, you can hold my dinosaur while I hold Fiona’s hand.”