Page 42 of Mitch

Chapter Sixteen

Mitch openedthe car door and leaned in to lift Maggie’s car seat out. Autumn walked towards her, her eyes on the big house in front of them full of trepidation.

“Don’t look so nervous.” He laid a hand on the small of her back as he ushered her towards the large double front door, which was opening.

Ava was smiling at them, a welcome expression on her face which he appreciated.

“What if they don’t like me?” Autumn whispered out of the side of her mouth.

His shoulders tensed at the worry in her words. He forced them to relax and pulled her close, his hand sliding into the back pocket of the jeans she wore. “How could anyone not like you? You’re beautiful and funny and sweet.”

Autumn turned her eyes to him and raised a delicate brow. “Flatterer.”

Mitch winked. “Truth, baby.”

Ava stepped back as she greeted them. “It is so lovely to meet you. I have to say it’s so exciting to meet the woman who’s responsible for wrangling Eidolon’s office into submission.”

Autumn laughed. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say submission, but we are making progress.”

Mitch angled her way. “Nonsense, the place is already running more smoothly.”

Autumn dropped her gaze at the compliment, and it made him want to punch the person who’d made her doubt herself. She was everything—kind, smart, beautiful, and yet she didn’t seem to get that. It made him rage inside that it might be someone he’d grown up with that had started this self-doubt.

“And who is this little angel?” Ava crouched down and took Maggie’s hand with a smile.

“This is Maggie.”

Ava looked up with warmth in her eyes. “What a beautiful name for a beautiful baby.” Her voice had taken on the sing-song quality that most people did when they talked to a child.

“Thank you.”

Mitch could feel Autumn relax a little as Ava showed them to the room they’d share tonight.

Her wide eyes took in the large suite as she walked to the window, much like she had the day she’d come to look at the flat. It felt like a lifetime ago, and yet like it was yesterday. It was hard to imagine what his life had been like without these two females who were winding themselves around his heart like a vine.

“Wow, this is gorgeous.” She turned to him. “Can we explore the gardens before we get ready?”

Mitch wasn’t sure what she needed to do to get ready. She looked amazing in fresh box braids twisted into a bun on top of her head, her face beautiful without a spec of make-up on.

“Sure, we have time.”

Her face lit up, and his heart constricted as she moved to lace her arms around his waist and reach up to kiss him. Mitch deepened the kiss for a moment, loving the taste of her and the way she leaned into him, before pulling away. The heavy bead of desire hung in her dark eyes, and his body responded.

“You’re dangerous.” His eyes held hers as he tried to push the tingle of fear at losing her away.

“Why?” Her lips quirked, and she frowned.

“Because you can wind me around your little finger with just a look, and I haven’t even been inside you yet.”

“Oh.”

He pressed his lips to her neck, chuckling against her skin. “Yeah, oh.”

A cry tore his focus from the woman in his arms, and he looked down at Maggie

“How about we go meet Mimi and David and the others who’ll be taking care of this little one? They’re also the resident gardening committee here, so you can talk plants and weeds to your heart’s content with someone who doesn’t zone out from boredom.”

He smirked at her outraged expression. “Jerk.” Her words held no heat as she batted his arm.